HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Lechatelierite variety Fulgurite is the name given to fused Quartz. The name fulgurite comes from the Latin fulgur, meaning “thunderbolt”. Fulgurites have been found worldwide. There are two types of fulgurites, sand and rock. Sand fulgurites are the most common and are often found in the beach or in a desert region that has fine-grained silt or clay (dry sand). Sand fulgurites have been found in Egypt, the Gobi desert as well as Florida, Oregon, Texas, Utah deserts in the United States. The fact that fulgurite has been found in the Saharan Desert confirms that lightning once was an occurrence in that region. You can find rock fulgurites throughout the world, including the French Alps, Pyrenees Range, and the western United States mountains: Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, the Rocky Mountains, and Utah’s Wasatch Range. One of the longest fulgurites to have been found in modern times was a little over 4.9 m (16 ft.) in length, and was found in northern Florida of the United States.

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Fulgurites are formed when lightning strikes sand, sandy soil or rock and fuses.  A temperature of 1800 degrees Celsius is required to form a fulgurite and most lightning strikes are at least 2500 degrees Celsius. Sand fulgurites are on average 1 to 2 inches in diameter and can be up to 30 inches long. The tubes that are formed after it cools are fulgurites. In addition to lightning a high voltage electrical distribution network break when the wires fall onto a conductive surface can also form a fulgurite. Fulgurites may be up to several centimeters in diameter and can penetrate deep into the soil, sometimes occurring as far as 15 m (49 ft.) below the surface that was struck. Rock Fulgurites are formed when lightning strikes the surface of a rock, melting and fusing the surface, and sometimes the interior of the rock. Mountain peaks become lightning rods during storms and rock fulgurites are found on the top or within several feet of mountain summits.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, and USES: It is believed that fulgurite is infused with the energy of the lightning making it a powerful manifestation tool. By saying a prayer and/or stating your intentions and blowing through the tube of fulgurite you are sending out your prayers and intentions to the universe.