Lake Michigan Destinations

A fulgurite is often referred to as "petrified lightning".

When lightning strikes the sand, the heat fuses the sand into fascinating structures. The long, slender glass tubes are below the surface of the sand and can be found by looking for uneven coloring on the sand's surface where the lightning has entered. The glass structure is usually an irregular shape and is not transparent but has a greenish cast from the hue of the sand. They are very delicate in nature and are sometimes used in making jewelry.

The very brittle fulgurites break easily while removing them from the sand. Each fulgurite is different and can have a main branch and then many smaller branches that resemble the actual flash of lightning. Some fulgurites are round and hollow while others are flattened into rough shapes caused by the pressure of the sand.

There are generally two types of fulgurites--sand and rock. Sand are the more common of the two, and the kind found at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. They have a glassy interior, due to the rapid cooling of the sand after the lightning strikes. Most are one to two inches in diameter, and are also found in Utah's deserts. Mountain peaks are continually get hit by lightning, and that's where most rock fulgurites are found.

Fulgurites are used by some people as a tool for prayer and meditation. It is said to arouse energy and help one focus.