Quartz - "Lightning Struck". Diamantina, Minas Gerais. Brazil. ...

Description

Quartz - "Lightning Struck"
Diamantina, Minas Gerais
Brazil

This remarkable Quartz specimen-nicknamed "Lightning Struck"-comes from the Serra do Espinhaço Mountains of Brazil, a region frequently impacted by orographic thunderstorms. Local miners have long reported finding what they refer to as "flash stones," a term now understood to describe Quartz crystals altered by direct lightning strikes while still underground. The intense electrical discharge, combined with rapid thermal expansion and contraction under high pressure, produces a signature pattern of shallow, zig-zagging surface fractures. These lightning tracks are clearly visible on this large, cabinet-sized crystal, offering a dramatic and tangible record of a rare natural event. Specimens like this, marked by the raw force of nature, are extraordinarily rare and highly sought after by collectors and geoscience enthusiasts alike-not only for their beauty, but also for the compelling story they tell about the interaction between Earth and sky.
Measurements: 11.00 x 7.00 x 3.00 inches (27.94 x 17.78 x 7.62 cm)

Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern California Collector

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