Lightning-induced shock lamellae in quartz
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Date
2015-06-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mineralogical Society of America
Abstract
Using transmission electron microscopy we show that planar deformation lamellae occur within quartz in the substrate of a rock fulgurite, i.e., a lightning-derived glass. These lamellae exist only in a narrow zone adjacent to the quartz/fulgurite boundary and are comparable to planar deformation features (“shock lamellae”) caused by hypervelocity impacts of extra-terrestrial objects. Our observations strongly suggest that the lamellae described here have been formed as a result of the fulgurite-producing lightning strike. This event must have generated a transient pressure pulse, whose magnitude, however, is uncertain at this stage. © 2015 GeoScience World
Description
Keywords
Lightning, France, Metamorphic rocks, Lamellae, Electric currents, Europe, Electron microscopy, Granites, Silicates, Plutonic rocks, Quartz
Citation
Gieré, R., Wimmenauer, W., Müller-Sigmund, H., Wirth, R., Lumpkin, G. R., & Smith, K. L. (2015). Lightning-induced shock lamellae in quartz. American Mineralogist, 100(7), 1645-1648. doi:10.2138/am-2015-5218 %J American Mineralogist