2007-01-18 03:23:53 · 6 answers · asked by Corey L 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Yes it can, due to the high energy discharge. The link below does a better job at explaining it.
2007-01-18 03:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Ilich 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes because of the high heat generated by the lightning
the color and texture depend on the sand and what else is mixed in with the sand
also downed power lines can also do that but on a much smaller scale
we had a line down due to a car knocking over a pole
after it was fixed i went and checked the dirt there and found some dime and nickle size pieces of melted sand/dirt
or psudo-glass
2007-01-18 03:40:16 · answer #2 · answered by rollerskater 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - The formations are called fulgurites. It is really pretty neat - I have collected several pieces below the grounding wires on fire lookouts and radio towers, and near trees struck by lightening (I used to fight forest fires - most forest fires are started by lightening, and the fires expose the mineral soil). Some of it looks like melted coke bottles in campfire pit, but one piece I found has a metallic appearance that looks like a big cinder from a volcano. The Wikipedia article says that fulgurites are rare, but this is not correct. Large fulgurites may be rare, but fragments can be found all over the place in the Rocky Mountains, but they are hidden unless you dig for them.
2007-01-18 10:31:17 · answer #3 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have seen the glass dug up after a strike. It looked like a tree root about 3 feet long made of glass.
2007-01-18 03:32:07 · answer #4 · answered by B Jones 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it can...and the process is really interesting....but the people that do that have to be very carefull beacuse of the lightning...
2007-01-18 03:37:43 · answer #5 · answered by aly 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no ,it not
2007-01-18 03:46:32 · answer #6 · answered by bramptonparrotorange 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋