7.25" Fulgurite lightning fused sand ALABAMA Fossil Lightning Museum Piece

 This interesting specimen is a Fulgurite. A product of a lightning strike - the lightning is so powerful it melts the sand and rock as it passes through it!  As the lightning strikes the Earth and courses downward through the sand, the sand is instantly super heated (i.e., melted and fused). After cooling, glass-like hollow tubes (Fulgurites) can sometimes be located beneath the surface of the sand, generally decreasing in diameter and sometimes branching as they descend, sometimes extending for several feet. The outer surfaces of sand fulgurites are often rough with adhering, unfused Quartz sand grains. This specimen clearly demonstrates the awesome power which Mother Nature has at her disposal.