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Rapid Raman mapping of a fulgurite

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Abstract

A fulgurite is a naturally occurring glass formed when lightning hits sand, rock, or soil. The formation of fulgurites is accompanied by mineralogical and sometimes compositional changes, and may record information about the environment in which they were formed. A previous investigation using Raman point spectroscopy discovered the presence of anatase, a low-temperature polymorph of TiO2, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons within a fulgurite. These findings indicate that there were regions within the sample that were not subjected to temperatures of 2,000 K or more that the matrix is reported to attain when struck by lightning. This paper seeks to expand the previous research by utilizing the capabilities of a new Raman spectroscopic technological development that enables rapid mapping. The entire surface area of a cross-sectioned fulgurite (∼40 mm × 23 mm) sample was mapped allowing several regions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and anatase to be located. Furthermore, shocked quartz was found within the boundary regions of the fulgurite, and is proposed to have resulted from contact with vaporized material during the lightning strike. Shocked quartz is typically indicative of extraterrestrial impact, yet its discovery here suggests that its formation is not exclusive to the impact process.

Raman map illustrating the distribution of normal and shocked quartz in a fulgurite

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Australian Research Council (International Linkage and LIEF grants), as well as the USYD/NHMRC Major Equipment Funding Scheme, and grant NNX07AU08G from NASA Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology (MAP). The authors are grateful to Virginia Pasek who developed the program to solve the thermal diffusion equation. EAC would like to thank Sarah Kelloway for brainstorming, reading and editing this manuscript, and her photographic skills. The authors also acknowledge the facilities as well as scientific and technical assistance from staff in the AMMRF (Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility) at the Electron Microscope Unit, The University of Sydney.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vibrational Spectroscopy Facility, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

    Elizabeth A. Carter

  2. Department of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Matthew A. Pasek

  3. Spectroscopy Products Division, Renishaw plc, Old Town, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7DL, UK

    Tim Smith

  4. School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Terence P. Kee

  5. Electron Microscope Unit, Australian Key Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility (AMMRF), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

    Peter Hines

  6. Centre for Astrobiology and Extremophiles Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK

    Howell G. M. Edwards

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  1. Elizabeth A. Carter
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  2. Matthew A. Pasek
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  4. Terence P. Kee
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  6. Howell G. M. Edwards
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Carter.

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Carter, E.A., Pasek, M.A., Smith, T. et al. Rapid Raman mapping of a fulgurite. Anal Bioanal Chem 397, 2647–2658 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3593-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3593-z

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