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When a bolt of lightning strikes loose sand, the electric charge vaporizes a thin hole and melts the zone around it, creating an instant froth of natural glass. These tubes-fulgurites-can be a meter long or more, but they're fragile, and what you see in rock shops is usually a piece like this, 4 centimeters long and as light as pumice. Sometimes a fulgurite forms in solid rock. This fulgurite specimen came from the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Fulgurite is scientific Latin for "lightning stone."
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoA fulgurite (note spelling) forms when a powerful lightning bolt melts sand to form a material similar to glass & often resembles the shape of corals. this is from wikipedia
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How do you determine the rare earth element concentrations in a fulgurite?
To measure the abundances of rare earth elements in clinopyroxene and olivine of iron-silicon in a fulgurite, were made to determine the oxygen fugacity required.
What is the name of glass that is made by lightning striking beach sand?
The energy of a lightning bolt striking in sand can heat the sand and fuse it into simple glass. The glass forms as tubes called fulgurites (thunderbolt rock) and the material is called lechatelierite.
Why does sand turn to glass when struck by lightning?
Yes it does. The sand is formed into a substance called fulgurite by the heat of the lightning. Below is a link to a company that sells several examples. http://www.sciencemall-usa.com/fulgurites2.html
When Lightning hits sand does it form a piece of glass in the shape of the lightning bolt itself?
yes, if you consider that the current flowing into the ground makes a fulgurite along its path of highest current density. What happens is that when lightning strikes the ground, the current flow follows pathways of least resistance. These pathways are the routes the high current is taking into "ground" to be neutralized, and the current heats the material through which it is flowing tremendously. It actually superheats and fuses it along pathways where high current is flowing. Eventually the current "thins out" as multiple pathways bleed off the moving charges. It is around the spot where the bolt struck the ground that the ground gets the most heating, as you'd expect.
How do you make fulgurite on alchemy classic?
Lightening+Sand = Fulgurite
How much is fulgurite worth?
Nothing unfortunately
What is the name of a tube of sediment caused by lightning?
Fulgurite
What is a rock caused by lightning contact with sand called?
fulgurite
How do you determine the rare earth element concentrations in a fulgurite?
To measure the abundances of rare earth elements in clinopyroxene and olivine of iron-silicon in a fulgurite, were made to determine the oxygen fugacity required.
What is sand that got hit by lighting called?
fulgarite (sometimes spelled fulgurite)
What is molten sand called?
It turns into a rock called fulgurite (fused quartz). When sand is struck by lightning, the silica in the sand melts and fuses, forming a glass tube called fulgurite. Fulgurite is generally rare, but can be found all over the world. The fulgurite can be a variety of different colors depending on the mineral content of the sand. (see related link)
Can you make glass with lightning?
lightning makes glass when it hits sandy soil. its called a fulgurite.
What would happen if electricity hit cement?
You could get a fulgurite. But you'd probably just get damaged concrete.
Lightning sometimes leaves behind a strange calling card what is it called and how is it formed?
If lightning strikes a sand bed, it will form a fused tube in the sand, known as Fulgurite. This form is not confined to surface conditions, tubes are found up to 15m below the surface, and Fulgurite tubes may be up to a few cm in dia.
What is the name of glass that is made by lightning striking beach sand?
The energy of a lightning bolt striking in sand can heat the sand and fuse it into simple glass. The glass forms as tubes called fulgurites (thunderbolt rock) and the material is called lechatelierite.
Is lightning a solid a gas or a liquid?
Lightening is NOT A solid (although fossil lightening called a fulgurite is) A liquid A solid It IS another state of matter called a plasma.
