Fulgurite. Sahara Desert. Egypt. ... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Science

Fulgurite
Sahara Desert
Egypt

Fulgurites are natural glass formations created when lightning strikes and instantaneously melts and fuses Silica-rich sand, preserving the path of the electrical discharge in solid form. Named from the Latin fulgur, meaning lightning, these rare specimens represent one of the few tangible remnants of a lightning strike, formed under extreme heat where the surrounding air can reach temperatures near 50,000 degrees. This example from the Sahara Desert of Egypt is uncommonly elongated and tubular, measuring approximately 9 inches (23 cm), retaining the hollow core that traces the original lightning channel. The exterior exhibits a rugged, sand-textured surface, while the interior reveals a smoother, subtly lustrous finish, characteristic of the rapid glass formation. Mounted on a custom black metal armature, the unique piece represents both a scientific curiosity and a striking natural sculpture, embodying the fleeting yet powerful and highly intriguing force of the atmospheric phenomenon known as lightning.
Fulgurite Measurements: 9.06 x 1.93 x 1.43 inches (23.00 x 4.90 x 3.62 cm)

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