THIS IS A LIGHTNING... fossilized

Lightning lasts only fractions of a second, but under particular conditions, traces of them can be preserved for centuries in the form of fossils. If lightning strikes the sand, a stone tube may form, called fulgurite.

The exact composition varies by location, but the most common constituent is silica, the key ingredient used to make glass. Glass is produced by melting sand at temperatures above 1700 degrees Celsius, and lightning delivers more than enough energy to create it naturally.

Sand does not normally conduct electricity, but when it is wet provides a pathway for lightning. The spaces between the sand grains trap the water and when lightning hits the ground, it goes through the liquid. The intense release of energy produces burning heat, melting the kernels and leaving behind a glazed fossil that traces the outline of lightning.