Welcome to the Rebersburg Fulgurite Galleries

The Rebersburg Fulgurite was discovered near Rebersburg, Miles Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania in November 2015. The result of a massive lightning strike, the fulgurite formed what can only be described as an obsidian tree, wide at the base with a diminishing diameter farther from the initial strike, with bifurcating branches along the main trunk. This is the largest fulgurite ever discovered in Pennsylvania and it may well be one of the largest fulgurites discovered in modern times.

Geochemical analysis of fulgurite glass, soil, and rock fragments was performed at Lock Haven University using a Tescan scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an Oxford Instruments Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectrometer. Geochemical analysis of metallic nodules and rock samples was performed at the West Chester University Center for Microanalysis and Imaging Research and Training (CMIRT) using an FEI Quanta 400 environmental scanning electron microscope and an Oxford Instruments Aztec X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). Test results have been published by the Pennsylvania State Geological Survey in the Spring 2023 Pennsylvania Geology magazine featured article, The Rebersburg Fulgurite, available at the DCNR website.

All specimens of the Rebersburg Fulgurite have been sequentially numbered, labelled, photographed, and cataloged by Penn Minerals, including those gifted to Lehigh and West Chester University. Specimens shown here are guaranteed authentic, included in the catalog, and only available through Penn Minerals. 

RF001a, RF001b, RF001c
The Rebersburg Fulgurite
Solid Black Glass Fulgurite
Approximate dimensions 4" x 8" x 22" (100mm x 200mm x 560mm) over 20 kilograms
Three pieces total, largest specimens recovered