Sunday, January 10, 2010

Macro Monday #45: Modern Magma


"When High Voltage Hits the Dirt"
Raleigh, NC - December 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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12 comments:

Mojo said...

This is what happens when a hot high voltage line hits the dirt. What you're looking at is earth fused into glass. The molten dirt literally boiled, trapping air bubbles inside so these "rocks" are actually very light compared to "natural" rocks of the same size. They're also quite hard. I don't know, but I suspect that since this occurred in a blinding thunderstorm, the rain rapidly quenched the magma, tempering it in the same way you'd temper steel. But not being a geologist, that's just a guess. the same power line also melted part of the sidewalk next to where these bits were formed. If you needed a reason to keep well clear of a downed power line, just think about that.

Amanda Moore said...

Wow that is very cool or hot however you look at it. BTW Mojo likes it hot? Hmmmmmmm.....

Jay said...

Wow, very impressive! Did this happen near you? Scary, too, then.

There are some rocks - whose name I forget - which are formed by the same process when lightning hits sand. Must be some form of glass, like obsidian, I would think.

Colleen said...

Fascinating!

Ingalill said...

Cool photo :)

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

That really cool ~ thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I had no idea! It kinda looks like dog poo, lol. When I lived in MO I once had a line come down in front of my house, it danced around sparking until they came and fixed it.

Kim, USA said...

I thought this is some kind of a chocolate ^_^.

MacroMonday:Guess what?

Anonymous said...

I saw the sizzle in this hot shot. First impression was browned stew meat. Thanks for the clarification. An electric wire came down across the street from our apartment building one time and burned a hole (not a huge one) in the sidewalk.

Gena D said...

Very interesting!
Gena @ thinking aloud
Blog/ post : http://tobethinkingaloud.blogspot.com/

CameoRoze (Margaret) said...

Due to your photo, I've learned my new factoid of the day. Thanks. :)

Lovin' Macro Monday,
Cameo @-->-->---

Anonymous said...

Hot damn.

Literally. This is fascinating!