# Anyone know how to extract a Fulgurite? \[Lightning strike\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821 "2010-07-15T19:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/1 "2010-07-15T19:44:04Z")
For those who don’t know, a fulgurite is a hollow glass tube formed in Silica or Sand when lightning strikes one of those mediums. Basically, when the “circuit” is completed between the ground and the ions in the thunder clouds lightning happens. When this happens in sand the lightning heats it up to melting point and a hollow cone of glass if left, this is called a fulgurite - obviously it happens instantaneously. I happen to live in an area with a lot of lightning strikes and last evening, I saw where one hit and it hit on a very sandy portion of Plains near my house. I walked over to the site and put a rock where the strike happened, I could see the charred small area where the strike took place. I’d like to know if there is any way to get this out intact? Anyone have an idea on this? Is there some sort of tried and true way? I know they are supposed to be very difficult to remove as they are very fragile… ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/2 "2010-07-16T00:52:47Z")
Brush and pick away at the surrounding sand, like you see them doing to extract dinosaur fossils? So you don’t have to get it out intact, you only have to leave it where it is intact, until it isn’t surrounded anymore. I have a little chunk - it’s interesting but feels fragile. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/3 "2010-07-16T15:38:27Z")
Hmm, I wonder how deep it is…I seem to remember that there is a record for how long these are and it maxs out at just a few feel long… ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/4 "2010-07-16T15:59:46Z")
Since no one else has offered an answer from experience… my approach would be to start digging with a shovel around the strike point. Then, get a trowel and start picking away smaller amounts, as Napier describes. If the sandy soil is loose enough, you might even use a brush at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/5 "2010-07-16T16:01:19Z")
That’s cool! I saw a picture of one in a book about lightning and it was kind of coral-shaped. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/6 "2010-07-16T16:11:30Z")
Once again, [XKCD](http://xkcd.com/260/) shows us the way. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/7 "2010-07-16T16:12:28Z")
the top is the thickest and heaviest and i would support the top in a sling as you worked your way down. dig a perimeter and work inward. a 5 gallon garden sprayer can gently and quickly remove soil. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/8 "2010-07-16T17:38:01Z")
Awesome. More image searches that squick me out to look at. Fear of clustered holes and apparently fulgurites as well. ---
**Author:** ![jrepka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@jrepka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrepka)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/9 "2010-07-16T18:49:54Z")
Give it lots of space while you’re digging, and use dental picks and brushes as you get close. Remember that the structure is essentially a foamy glass and is way more fragile than fossilized bone. Expect to get most of it out in pieces no more than a few inches long. The best fulgerites form in soil that is very sandy and dry, since resistance is high and the charge follows a narrow path. [http://jrepka.blogspot.com/2007/12/accretionary-wedge-3-my-pet-rock.html](http://jrepka.blogspot.com/2007/12/accretionary-wedge-3-my-pet-rock.html) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-extract-a-fulgurite-lightning-strike/546821/10 "2010-07-16T19:29:57Z")
**Bouv** That’s awesome! I am going to take my nephew out there to the site this weekend - we are going to bring a spray [mist] water bottle, several sizes of brush, a rock hammer, mini-pick, blower and safety goggles. I’m very excited! He’s going to love it as well! I’ll show pics when we are done!