One of the doubts is whether the fulgurite it is a mineral or a rock. We are talking about a mineraloid that is formed by the impact of lightning and its structure is evidence of the shape of this atmospheric phenomenon. Fulgurite is quite well known and belongs to a variety of mineraloids known as lechatelierite.
In this article we are going to tell you all the Characteristics, origin and properties of fulgurite.
Key features
We mentioned that it is a A mineraloid that has been formed by a lightning strike. The fact that a kind of mineral is formed by a lightning strike is impressive enough to investigate further. However, as we investigate, we discover just how amazing this mineraloid is. The name of fulgurite comes from the word fulgur, which in Latin means lightning. They may belong to a valid mineraloid known by the name of lechatelierite. They are amorphous structures with a high content of silicon oxide. For a mineraloid to be considered within this group, they must be almost exclusively formed by silica.
There is another type of fulgurite that is composed of other materials. Some of them have formed in clayey soils and other types of rocks that belong to the metamorphic group. In this sense, it is interesting to know the different conditions that influence these formations.
Properties of fulgurite
This mineraloid is primarily composed of silica sand. Its chemical composition can vary depending on the geological environment where it formed. It also depends on the region of the world where the lightning strikes. Many fulgurites can contain less amounts of aluminum oxide, titanium, etc. They must be composed mostly of silica oxide. For example, one of the reasons some fulgurites have brownish to greenish hues is their iron oxide content.
This mineraloid can come in a wide range of colors, from white to yellowish to black. Fulgurite's structures can be fragile. If we analyze fulgurite's appearance, we see that it is rough and has shapes similar to tree roots. Most roots are cylindrical.
Formation of fulgurite
As we mentioned before, this mineraloid originates from a lightning strike. These powerful atmospheric electrical discharges can form this type of mineraloid. For a fulgurite to form It takes at least 1600-2000 degrees of temperature to form. Scientists estimate that the energy potential of lightning varies between 1 and 30 megajoules per meter.
At the moment of lightning strike we know that it travels across the ground. It is at that moment when it melts and causes the fusion of the soil material. There is a composition rich in sand or clay that can melt from lightning. In this way, branched structures in the form of tubes are generated that They can measure from a couple of centimeters to 15 meters in length.
In many specimens, evidence of a narrow opening of molten glass can be seen in the interior walls. Externally, we can only see a rough texture formed by sand granules and small rocks. The surprising interior shape is revealed when we analyze the fulgurite through an electron microscope.
According to the composition and morphology, fulgurite can be classified into several types:
- Sand fulgurite: It is the one that is generated when the lightning strike falls on soils that have a sandy texture.
- Clay Fulgurite: it is usually formed when the lightning strike occurs in soils with abundant amounts of clay and generates another type of structure in this mineraloid.
- Calcium sediment: It is another variety that has a large amount of calcium in the form of precipitated sediments.
- Rock fulgurite: They usually form on other rocks and in both structures. They are usually slightly larger and harder.
- Exogenous fulgurites: they can be spherical or drop-shaped.
Reservoirs and uses
At the beginning of the article we mentioned that this mineraloid can be found all over the world. We know that every day thousands of lightning strikes the earth's surface. Although specifically in the city we live in, no lightning strikes, they usually fall in natural spaces that are not so inhabited. In order for lightning to strike the surface, there must be some suitable conditions for it.
The favorite places to look for the deposits of this mineraloid are the deserts, coastal dunes and even in the mountains. In the American continent more lightning strikes, so there are some notable deposits of fulgurite. They have been found in Maldonado beaches, Atacama desert, Sonora desert and in the states of Utah, Arizona and Michigan. One of the most famous sources of fulgurite in the world is located in the Sahara Desert, located on the continent of Africa.
As expected, humans find uses for these formations. The applications are clearly important throughout the entire field of science. Thanks to this formation, we can reconstruct the behavior of the prehistoric climate in certain regions. By using this mineraloid, we can learn about the environmental conditions present in a given region thousands of years ago, something that links to other curiosities about storms. This part becomes essential if we want to understand climate change.
Of course, it was only to be expected that humans have managed to obtain fulgurite through artificial means. Handling it can be dangerous, as it requires the use of an electric arc with high voltages. If not done properly, it can be very dangerous. We're talking about working with lightning. This is why artificial fulgurite usually has a higher price than natural fulgurite.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about fulgurite and its characteristics.