Fulgurite — Desert Glass Tube — Specimen Grade

$63.31
Chemical FormulaSilica glass (lechatelierite)
Crystal System
Mohs Hardness5.5–6
Specific Gravity2.2
LusterVitreous
TransparencyTranslucent

When lightning strikes sand, the 30,000°C channel fuses it into a hollow tube of silica glass in less than a second. Fulgurites record the exact path of a lightning bolt’s passage:…

27 in stock

SKU: TC-GEO-0895
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Description

Collectors say that minerals are the universe’s autobiography, written in atoms. When lightning strikes sand, the 30,000°C channel fuses it into a hollow tube of silica glass in less than a second. Fulgurites record the exact path of a lightning bolt’s passage: branching, tubular, with a glassy interior and sandy exterior. The longest ever found exceeded 4.9 meters, tracing a bolt that struck once and left a monument of glass.

This specimen originates from Sahara Desert, Libya, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.

Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.

Formation

This specimen formed through geological processes operating over timescales that dwarf human history. The specific combination of chemistry, temperature, pressure, and time at this locality produced material of exceptional quality that makes it a valued addition to any serious collection.

Locality

Fulgurite — Desert Glass Tube — Specimen Grade from Sahara Desert, Libya. This locality is known for producing specimens of exceptional quality.

Collector Notes

Best displayed where natural light can play across the surfaces at different times of day.