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GeneralFulgurite

20th Aug 2015 11:10 UTCmaria Christina lohayza

Hello and thanks for your assistance. My question is what is the difference between fulgurite made by man verses lightening striking the ground or a type of pinnacle object such as a power line vs. a downed power line? I found a lightening strike in Palm Springs California where I live. Although it is located in close proximity to some power lines, I am uncertain of their authenticity. I have reviewed images throughout the information super highway thus believing that lightening struck the power line itself creating the fulgurite. I have enclosed a few photos for your review, is there any other information that I can give you to better assess my question? I appreciate your time and assistance.

Thank you and have a great day.:-)

20th Aug 2015 12:30 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

The anthropogenic ones are called pseudofulgurite.

Search also keyword "fulgurite" in the message board for further threads.

20th Aug 2015 14:44 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

My question is what is the difference between fulgurite made by man verses lightening striking the ground or a type of pinnacle object such as a power line vs. a downed power line? Other than the name, like Uwe pointed out this has been discussed at length before. However to save you some time, there is no difference in appearance between the two. However the phenomenon of pseudofulgarites as far as I know has never been studied in order to determine if they are different in some way from natural ones. I would imagine there is some difference in the limit to their size in that lightening can produce larger ones because of the much higher voltage and current. What I am suggesting is that with experimentation it should be possible to determine the upper limit on the size of pseudofulgarites given the voltage of a power line. I have found pseudofulgarites with a diameter of 2.5cm and a meter long along a powerline. They looked exactly like the natural ones. What gave it away is that you could find them for about 30m all along the powerline and nowhere else. An aluminum popcan fused to one pseudofulgarite was also a hint that something was not right. However the powerline would have had to have fallen onto the ground for that to have happened. So location is at the moment the only definitive criteria.

20th Aug 2015 19:13 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

> I would imagine there is some difference in the limit to their size in that lightening can produce larger ones because of the much higher voltage and current.

Yes, definitely. There is also the time factor to take into account.

The size will also depend on:

- nature and chemical-mineralogical composition of soil/country rock

- porosity

- wetness

20th Aug 2015 21:01 UTCChris Stefano Expert

I read a paper recently about a Mexican pseudofulgurite that contained "native" aluminum. This phase has as yet not been identified in a natural fulgurite to the best of my knowledge.

21st Aug 2015 18:21 UTCmaria Christina lohayza

Thank you for your replies. I am including additional information. The measurements for the open end specimen is approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and 18 inches in length. The width's per each specimen range from an 1/8th of an inch, up to 4 1/2 inches in diameter and from 1 inch to 3.5 feet in length. The larger more ornate specimens are truly spectacular. As for the environment /nature, the strike is located in a desert near Palm Springs California. Palm Springs is known for its high temperatures throughout summer with an occasional cooling in the early mornings. If the porosity you are in reference to is the surrounding sand, the porosity at the strike location is a high grainy grade. I dug approximately 1.5 ft. when I reached wet sand. At that level the porosity of the sand was low and had a burnt/smokey smell to it. If by porosity you mean the Fulgurite its self, it has a very porous look but I have yet to put water on any of it. On several occasions I observed split rocks and boulders, and white sand throughout the dark gray sand with the pattern of lightening upon the soil. The find was made 2 days after a good rain. This particular area is known to capture lightening due to slight elevation and power lines being present..The strike was approximately 100 yards in length. The dig was extremely hot, very dirty and so much fun. Truly an education. Thanks again.

21st Aug 2015 18:26 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

P. 12 in http://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/jart/prj3/nhm/data/uploads/Redaktion/das%20naturhistorische/092S_Das_Naturhistorische.pdf

shows a photo of a pseudofulgurite from Austria.

Results of a scientific investigation were published in:

Brandstätter, F., Seemann, R., Hammer, V.M.F., Berger, A., Koller, F., Stehlik, H. (2009): Über den Fund eines ungewöhnlichen „Fulgurit“-Objekts bei Kaltenbach, Gemeinde Vitis, Niederösterreich, Österreich. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, 110 A, 1-16 (in German).

http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/ANNA_110A_0001-0016.pdf

21st Aug 2015 19:03 UTCmaria Christina lohayza

Thanx love.

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