Strange static electricity?

[sYNTHwAVE]

Alright, so not really a troubleshooting topic (yet), but dunno where else to put this.

 

I had my new motherboard on a rubber work mat. This one to be exact;

 

I needed to move the board to another location, so I grabbed the mat on either side and lifted it, with the board resting ontop. This caused the mat to bow slightly in the center, creating a gap between it and the board ontop. I heard a faint crackling sound, but thought nothing of it.

 

I went to place the mat and board on the table, and I recieved a shock of static discharge when my hand moved closer to the board (no physical contact).

 

Can anyone explain this. If there was friction between the mat and the back of the motherboard, could that have generated a charge in the board? Should I be concerned about any of this?

[SkyHound0202]

If you rub rubber against fur (or clothing), you will produce negative charge on the rubber surface.

Always checks for grounding and/or discharge before working on electronics.

[Snifferdog3]

It's Possible you've ruined the board but try it anyway, see if it works. Static is never good for electrical stuff. 

[sYNTHwAVE]

Is it the actual discharge event that causes the damage? I think it arced from a heatsink, so I might be safe, assuming no damaging interaction can occur between just the board and rubber (I did hear an odd crackling sound)?

 

Does anyone know if the back of the board is any more or less vulnerable to this type of thing? I suppose I am going to have to power before installing now. sigh. Funny how I was trying to be extra safe and it completely backflipped on me.

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

1 hour ago, sYNTHwAVE said:

I heard a faint crackling sound, but thought nothing of it.

prop not static elec, it not that easy to build up harmful static elec.

describe more, (coil whine?)