Sand Struck by Lightning The strange looking sand formation above is called a fulgurite. Also known as petrified lightning,…
Sand Struck by Lightning
The strange looking sand formation above is called a fulgurite. Also known as petrified lightning, fulguritesare formed when lightning instantaneously melts the mineral grains in sand and fuses the grains together.The result is ahollow glassy tube with a root-like appearance.The estimated temperature required to create a fulgurite varies, but it is believed to be between 1500°C to 4000 °C. Their size can range from just a few centimeters to several meters long. The longest fulgurite on record is 4.9 meters.
photo by Ken Smith, National Geographic