Lightning-induced weathering of Cascadian volcanic peaks

Abstract The process of meteorological lightning-induced modification of coherent volcanic rocks is examined by geochemical, textural, and experimental analysis of fulgurites from South Sister volcano, Oregon Cascades, USA. Lightning's effects on volcanic target rocks was simulated with an arc-welding device in order to reproduce the geochemical and textural features of natural fulgurites and to constrain temperatures of melting and devolatilization behavior during lightning strikes. Melting of volcanic target rocks produces melts of exceptional compositional diversity, ranging from those with pure mineral compositions (e.g., diopside and plagioclase), resulting from congruent melting react…