fulgurite

fulgurite
/ful"gyeuh ruyt'/, n.
a tubelike formation in sand or rock, caused by lightning.
[1825-35; < L fulgur (see FULGURATE) + -ITE1]

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      a glassy silica mineral (lechatelierite or amorphous SiO2) fused in the heat from a lightning strike. Fulgurite is a common mineral with two varieties. Sand fulgurites, the more common, are branching, more or less cylindrical tubes that are about one centimetre (one-half inch) to several centimetres in diameter; they are commonly less than 3 metres (10 feet) long but sometimes reach 20 m (66 ft). The central cavity is usually lined with glass, and the exterior shows adhering sand grains. The shores of Lake Michigan and the Atlantic coast are typical sites.

      Rock fulgurites, the other variety, are thin, glassy crusts on rocks. They generally occur on mountain summits, as at Toluca, Mex., and Mt. Thielsen, Oregon.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • fulgurite — ● fulgurite nom féminin (latin fulgur, uris, foudre) Portion d un sable, limon ou sol siliceux, qui a été fondue par la foudre, puis qui s est consolidée. ⇒FULGURITE, subst. fém. Portion de sable, limon ou sol siliceux, qui a été fondue par la… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Fulgurite — Ful gu*rite, n. [L. fulguritus, p. p. of fulgurire to strike with lightning, fr. fulgur lightning: cf. F. fulgurite.] A vitrified sand tube produced by the striking of lightning on sand; a lightning tube; also, the portion of rock surface fused… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fulgurite — Fulgurite, die durch Blitzschlag erzeugten Gesteinsabänderungen. [207] Sie bestehen in der Regel in einer Schmelzung und Verglasung der vom Blitz getroffenen Gesteine, und zwar muß die Entwicklung der Temperatur bei der elektrischen Entladung… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • fulgurite — s. f. 1. Vitrificação produzida na areia pela passagem do raio. 2. Explosivo moderno …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • fulgurite — [ful′gyoo rīt΄] n. [L fulgur (see FULGURATE) + ITE1] a glassy substance, usually tube shaped, formed by fusion when sand, rock, etc. are struck by lightning …   English World dictionary

  • Fulgurite — Fulgurites (from the Latin fulgur meaning thunderbolt) are natural hollow carrot shaped glass tubes formed in quartzose sand or soil by lightning strikes. Fulgurites can also be produced when a high voltage electrical distribution network breaks… …   Wikipedia

  • Fulgurite — Fulgurit Fulgurite (von lat. fulgur, „Blitz“), auch Blitzverglasung, Blitzsinter, Blitzröhren, sind durch Blitzeinschlag im Gestein entstandene Röhren. Durch die beim Einschlag entstehenden Temperaturen von bis zu 30.000 °C verglasen die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fulgurite — Des fulgurites. Les fulgurites (du latin fulgur signifiant foudre) sont les morceaux de verre naturel, généralement en forme de tuyau creux quasi cylindrique, formés par les impacts de foudre dans un matériau siliceux, généralement du sable …   Wikipédia en Français

  • fulgurite — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin fulgur Date: 1834 an often tubular vitrified crust produced by the fusion of sand or rock by lightning …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • FULGURITE — n. m. T. de Physique Tube vitrifié dû à la foudre qui, tombant dans le sable, le fond sur son passage …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

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