lechatelierite
Fused silica mineral
Lechatelierite is natural silica glass formed when lightning strikes sand or when meteorites impact quartz-rich soil.
The intense heat fuses the silica into an amorphous glassy substance.
When formed by lightning, the resulting tubes or crusts are called fulgurites: The geologist found lechatelierite fragments at the impact crater.
Glass formed by thunderbolts
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- fusedJoined by melting together
- vitreousGlass-like in appearance
- tubeHollow cylindrical passage
hollow · sand · impact · meteor · tektite · shock · heat · melting
Permitting diffused light passage
- brittleLiable to shatter
- vitreousGlass-like in appearance
- glassySmooth and shiny
- amorphousWithout distinct shape
clear · smooth · lustrous · conchoidal fracture · hardness · refractive · colorless · opaque
Impact or volcanic basin
- meteoriteSpace debris reaching Earth
- bolideDetonating meteor, very bright
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
- collisionForceful contact between objects
shockwave · extraterrestrial · cosmic · fireball · airburst · fragmentation · ejecta · hypervelocity
Silicon dioxide compound
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- amorphousWithout distinct shape
rock · sedimentary · metamorphic · igneous · geode · formation · earth · geological
fulgurite
Glass formed by thunderbolts
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- fusedJoined by melting together
- vitreousGlass-like in appearance
tube · hollow · sand · impact · meteor · tektite · shock · heat · melting · rapid cooling
translucent
Permitting diffused light passage
amorphous · clear · smooth · lustrous · conchoidal fracture · hardness · refractive · colorless · opaque · streaked
crater
Impact or volcanic basin
- meteoriteSpace debris reaching Earth
- bolideDetonating meteor, very bright
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
collision · shockwave · extraterrestrial · cosmic · fireball · airburst · fragmentation · ejecta · hypervelocity · pressure
silica
Silicon dioxide compound
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
amorphous · rock · sedimentary · metamorphic · igneous · geode · formation · earth · geological · specimen
Sahara
Largest hot desert
scarab · Egyptian · ancient · artifact · sunbaked · windswept · scattered · pale yellow · greenish
lechatelieriterock crystal
Colorless transparent quartz
quartz crystal · quartz · amethyst · citrine · smoky quartz