Phosphate minerals such as those in the apatite group tend to be the dominant forms of phosphorus in minerals on the Earth’s surface. Phosphates can be created from phosphides during high-energy events, such as lightning and impacts. New research led by the University of South Florida shows that, in addition to formation of metal phosphides, a new phosphite material was formed by lightning in a fulgurite from New Port Richey, Florida, the United States.
The New Port Richey fulgurite images and microscopy. Image credit: Bindi et al., doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-00736-2.
“When lightning strikes a tree, the ground typically explodes out and the surrounding grass dies, forming a scar and sending electric discharge through nearby rock, soil and sand, forming fulgurites, also known as ‘fossilized lightning’,” said University of South Florida’s Professor Matthew Pasek, senior author of the study.
In their study, Professor Pasek and his colleagues examined a fulgurite found in New Port Richey, Florida, the United States.
“In wet environments, such as in Florida, iron will often accumulate and encrust tree roots,” Professor Pasek said.
“In this case, not only did the lightning strike combust the iron on the tree roots, but it combusted the naturally occurring carbon in the tree as well.”
The two elements led to a chemical reaction that created a fulgurite that looked like a metal ‘glob.’
Inside the fulgurite, a colorful, crystal-like matter revealed a material never before discovered.
“We have never seen this material occur naturally on Earth — minerals similar to it can be found in meteorites and space, but we’ve never seen this exact material anywhere,” Professor Pasek said.
The study authors then attempted to remake the material in a lab. Their experiment was unsuccessful and indicated the material likely forms quickly under precise conditions, and if heated too long, will turn into the mineral found in meteorites.
“Previous researchers indicate that lightning reduction of phosphate to have been a widespread phenomenon on the early Earth,” said Dr. Tian Feng, a researcher at the University of South Florida.
“However, there is an environmental phosphite reservoir issue in Earth that these solid phosphite materials are hard to restore.”
“Our research may reveal other forms of reduced minerals are plausible and many could have been important in the development of life on Earth.”
“It’s unlikely this material could be mined for uses similar to other phosphates, such as fertilizer, given the rarity of it occurring naturally,” Professor Pasek said.
“However, we plan to further investigate the material to determine if it could be officially declared a mineral and bring additional awareness to the scientific community.”
The study was published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
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L. Bindi et al. 2023. Routes to reduction of phosphate by high-energy events. Commun Earth Environ 4, 70; doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-00736-2
