fulgurite
Fused sand tube
Fulgurite is a glassy tube or crust formed when lightning strikes sand, soil, or rock, fusing the material through intense heat.
These natural formations preserve the lightning's path underground, sometimes branching like roots.
Fulgurites are collected as curiosities and studied for what they reveal about lightning's energy: We found a fulgurite buried in the dunes.
Silicon dioxide compound
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- specimenIndividual for examination
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
desert · beach · dunes · shoreline · coastal · soil · clay · rock
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- sandFine rock particles
- fuseProtective melting wire
- meltChange from solid
vitrify · tubular · hollow · branching · rootlike · discharge · thunderbolt · flash
Smooth and shiny
- tubularHaving cylinder form
- hollowEmpty within
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
rough · crystalline · translucent · opaque · fragile · brittle · porous · cylindrical
silica
Silicon dioxide compound
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- specimenIndividual for examination
sediment · desert · beach · dunes · shoreline · coastal · soil · clay · rock · petrified
lightning
Atmospheric electrical discharge
melt · vitrify · tubular · hollow · branching · rootlike · discharge · thunderbolt · flash · impact
glassy
Smooth and shiny
irregular · rough · crystalline · translucent · opaque · fragile · brittle · porous · cylindrical · tapered
rare
Seldom found or seen
rockhound · display · cabinet · museum · treasure · valuable · fragile · delicate · excavate · preserve
talisman
Magical protective charm