This Blog covers nature sightings and related news in the Calderdale area.
It includes all groups - Plants, animals and fungi with links to specialist sites.
Anyone wishing to become a member of this Blog and post sightings please contact us.
If you would like to join the Halifax Scientific Society either email me or come along to the next meeting.
All welcome:
calderdalewildlifeblog@gmail.com
Please contact us about any sensitive records before posting on the blog

Thursday 2 August 2018

Thunderbolts and Corn Mills

In former times, Corn Mills had a habit of burning down. 

When they did so, there was always a large lump of glass at the heart of the burnt out building, which people thought was the thunderbolt that had caused the fire. 

But cereals and grass contain high levels of silica, which is what glass is made of and the heat from the fire had fused all of it into a great ball.

1 comment:

  1. How fascinating! I never knew that grasses and wheat contained high levels of silica either. I wonder if these large lumps of glass can still be found?

    ReplyDelete