How are fulgurites formed?
Fulgurites, also known as “fossilized lightning” (even though it’s not a fossil!), are formed when lightning hits sand or other similar sediments. The heat from the strike instantly melts and fuses the material, transforming the sand into a silica-rich type of glass.
How hot does lightning have to be to vaporize the Earth?
Many fulgurites are hollow in the middle due to the extreme heat of the lightning strike that vaporizes the ground it hits. Lightning can heat air to 50,000℉, which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun!
How rare is fulgurite?
Fulgurites are relatively rare due to the perfect conditions that are required for their formation, including a direct hit to sandy or rocky terrain and the energy to fuse the material into glass. Most fulgurites are relatively small, making larger and more structurally intact specimens more valuable to collectors.
What is fulgurite used for?
Fulgurites are used in various fields thanks to their ability to give scientists insight into lightning activity and past climates. This specimen is also renowned in the metaphysical community as a powerful manifestation tool. The intense energy from the lightning strike that created the fulgurite can be used as a catalyst for manifestation.
What are the different types of fulgurite?
There are different types of fulgurites based on the material that the lightning strike hits and the conditions of the strike.
Sand Fulgurites (Class 1): These are the most commonly found specimens and are typically quite brittle.
Soil Fulgurites (Class 2): These are formed when lightning hits clay-rich or gravel-rich soil, and are mainly glass-rich tubes.
Caliche Fulgurites (Class 3): Caliche is a type of sedimentary rock commonly found in arid and dry regions. Often referred to as natural cement, it is plentiful in deserts around the world. The form produced by lightning strikes can differ within this type of rock. These fulgurites feature distinct, narrow channels that run cleanly through them.
Rock Fulgurites (Class 4): When lightning hits rocks, it forms numerous thin, narrow channels, almost like a “splash effect” caused by the rock’s hardness at the point of impact.
Droplet Fulgurites (Class 5): (Exogenic Fulgurites). These specimens have a composition similar to Class 2 and 4 fulgurites, but they develop a botryoidal, or bubbly, texture on the surface they strike. This occurs because the lightning isn’t immediately absorbed by the hard surface, resulting in an ejection and bubble-like formation.