Fulgurites

Pecos Plains, near Monahans
Ward County, West Texas, USA

Lechatelierite var. Fulgurite is the name given to quartz (Si02), which has been fused by the action of a lightning that strikes the Earth melting the sand. Most of the Fulgurites are found in Quartz sands, and have the form of tubes. When the lightning strikes the Earth and cross through the sand, the components of the sand are super heated (i.e., melted and fused). Once it cools, glass-like tubes (usually hollow) which can be several feet long are formed, this are the Fulgurites. Ouside the surfaces of sandy fulgurites are usually rough with Quartz sand particles adhered. Inside and sides of the tubes are ofteny smooth and glassy. A lot of energy is involved, just think that the melting point of the Quartz is 1620ºC!!!. The color of the glassy, fused SiO2 varies from pale gray, to smoky gray, to shiny black. The name Fulgurite is from the Latin: FULGUR (lightning).
The fulgurites from West Texas are found in the sand dunes of the Pecos Plains, an area with lots of storms and with not vegetation, and high manmade structures (power lines, telephone poles, towers)

OK, OK....these are not meteorites........but they have relation with the sky....or not?