{"product_id":"fulgurite-natural-glass-flanged-tube-formed-by-lightning-strikes-on-sand-from-the-western-sahara-in-morocco","title":"fulgurite - natural glass flanged tube formed by lightning strike on sand from the Western Sahara in Morocco","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #860707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFulgurites form when a lightning bolt strikes the earth’s surface, fusing the material into glass, sometimes with as a tube a hollow center, sometimes flanged, as with these. When lightning strikes sandy soil, the air and moisture in the sand are rapidly heated. Quartz sand melts at a temperature of roughly 1600˚C to 2000˚C depending on the moisture content. The name comes from the Latin \u003cem\u003efulgur\u003c\/em\u003e, for lightning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #860707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNomads occasionally collect these from a western Sahara dune field in Morocco. We have not seen these previously.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #860707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThese are Type 1 fulgurites, sand fulgurites, as classified by Matthew A. Pasek et al in Fulgurite morphology: a classification scheme and clues to formation, \u003cem\u003eContributions to Mineralogy and Petrology \u003c\/em\u003e164 (3): 477 - 492 [2012]. Type 1 fulgurites form in sand as tubular structures, sometimes with the central opening collapsed, and frequently coated with sand.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #860707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThere is little lightning activity in the Sahara today, so the fulgurites found in the Sahara confirm that very different conditions existed in prehistoric times. Since fulgurites are glass, they are resistant to weathering and are usually well preserved for long periods of time.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #860707;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBecause fulgurites are amorphous, they are classified as a mineraloid.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSelect a set:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eYou can select a specimen by telling us what is in the photo with it, a black and silver pen, a black mechanical pencil (it has an eraser), or one of those plus some number of coins, or you can let us make the selection.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaking multiple purchases?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e Click on the \"combine shipping\" button in the shopping cart. We'll send an invoice with combined shipping. A link in that invoice will bring you back to checkout, no hassle.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eShipping:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e By Priority Mail or USPS Ground Advantage, whichever is cheaper, unless we find a better rate. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick \u0026gt; \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/geologicalspecimensupply.com\/pages\/about-shipping\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b00ff;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u0026lt; for shipping rates. Use back button to return to this page.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Geological Specimen Supply","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44196903878743,"sku":null,"price":12.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/7650\/files\/fulguriteWesternSahaaraMorocco12.5pcl3coins_19117f37-9d54-48e7-9d3e-da6ff7f146d3.jpg?v=1787705070","url":"https:\/\/geologicalspecimensupply.com\/products\/fulgurite-natural-glass-flanged-tube-formed-by-lightning-strikes-on-sand-from-the-western-sahara-in-morocco","provider":"Geological Specimen Supply","version":"1.0","type":"link"}