Obsidian

Obsidian
Obsidian, the gemstone in use since Stone Age is an ideal stone for making tools. The gemstone was discovered way back in Ethiopia by Obsius.

Obsidian
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Obsidian Facts and Buying Guide
After the volcanic eruption, while hot lava flows into the water some changes takes place during that time.

Obsidian
Obsidian belongs to the quartz group, and it is also called volcanic glass. It is the result of volcanic lava coming in contact with water. Often the lava pours into a lake or ocean and is cooled rapidly.

Obsidian
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Obsidian, also known as Apache tears, is a volcanic glass which is generally black, but is occasionally red, brown, gray, green (the rarest variety), dark with "snowflakes," or even very clear.

Obsidian
Chemical composition -- Naturally occurring volcanic glass (molten silica).
Color -- Black, gray, sometimes iridescent.

OBSIDIAN
Overview: Discovered by Obsius in Ethiopia, Obsidian is named after him. Obsidian is a natural glass. It is formed from volcanic lava that cooled too quickly for significant crystallization to occur.

Obsidian:
The Truth Teller
Obsidian is probably the most challenging stone used in crystal work. It is actually volcanic glass, and has been used by many native cultures to make knives.

Obsidian is regarded as one of the most important “teachers' of the New Age movement. Obsidian is said to sharpen both external and internal vision.

Appearance
Black and opaque, with the appearance of whitish "snowflakes". Snowflake obsidian contains internal inclusions (crystallites) which produce the snowflake appearance. This interesting form of obsidian is found in Utah and Wyoming.

The top picture is with indirect light, and the material looks very much like normal black obsidian.

Obsidian
Obsidian (ub-SIH-dee-in) is a natural glass that forms from volcanic activity. The gemstone is made of the same minerals as granite, but cools so quickly when exposed to air that the minerals do not have time to crystallize.

Obsidian Obsidian is a naturally occurring very dark glass that is sometimes called a mineral. Obsidian is produced from erupting volcanoes when the right conditions are present.

Obsidian ranges in color from light yellow through brown to black and can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. Those of our ancestors, who lived in areas of volcanic activity, made ready use of these natural glasses.
...

Obsidian is a volcanic glass, which is generally black
Onyx is simply a black and white banded variety of quartz allied to agate ...

Obsidian, Snowflake
Snowflake obsidian is a beautiful black and white gemstone. This gemstone is actually volcanic glass that has formed as lava quickly cools. Its snowflake appearance is produced by internal crystallites.

Obsidian. Volcanic glass. Feldspar crystals create the white/grey patches in snowflake obsidian. Iron contributes to the reddish brown color in mahogany obsidian. Effective grounding stone. Draws hidden imbalances to the surface and releases them.

Obsidian: Is a natural glass that is formed from lava that cooled too quickly to crystallize.
Omega: Flat chain with a solid surface formed by the links and worn high on the neck.

Obsidian
Powerful protector, especially for gentle people. Shields from negativity and stabilizes energies.

OBSIDIAN
With Black, Mahogany and Snowflake Obsidian illustrated below: ...

Obsidian
For objectivity, grounding. Helps to absorb anger, criticism, and fear.
Onyx ...

Obsidian is a volcanic glass that is usually black, but is occasionally red, brown, gray, green (rare), dark with "snowflakes," or even clear. It is formed when viscous lava cools rapidly that minerals do not have time to crystallize.

obsidian
Glass that is formed by lava that rapidly cools. Name is derived from its discovery by a Roman named Obsius.
olivine ...

Obsidian
Obsidian is a naturally occurring lustrous volcanic glass
Considered a rock, not a mineral
Hardness: 5 to 5.5
Transparency: Transparent to opaque
Color: Black, gray, brown, blue, red ...

obsidian
A lustrous compund of silica found in volcanic lava flows that is usually black, but can be found in grey, red, brown and green varieties. Obsidian has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs Scale ...

obsidian
Obsidian is volcanic glass formed when hot lava cools quickly. A Roman named Obsius is said to have discovered the stone in Ethiopa, and obsidian was highly prized in antiquity for its sharp edges and glossy luster.

Obsidian: A dark glassy volcanic rock formed by very rapid solidification of lava. In primitive cultures the sharp glassy edges were used for shaving and cutting. It was also used for cutting the umbilical cord of new born babies.

Obsidian
Naturally occurring glass that is formed by rapidly cooling lava and is black and usually banded. Used by the Greeks for mirrors and by Native American Indians for weapons.
Onyx ...

RAINBOW OBSIDIAN
Rainbow obsidian is another name for obsidian that is iridescent.

RAINBOW OPAL
Rainbow opal is a type of precious opal that has curved bands of colors (that resemble rainbows).

obsidian (n) a type of volcanic glass used as a gemstone. Technically obsidian is a mineraloid as the molten lava - from which it is formed - cools too quickly for crystallisation to happen. Usually it is black or red in colour.

Obsidian
Obsidian is a volcanic glass that usually comes in black or brown; some has inclusions that give it a sheen.

Rainbow Obsidian
Mesmerizing rainbow obsidian beads are sparkling smooth with a rich, polished finish. The dark black color of Rainbow Obsidian is mixed with hues of greens and grays that enhance the overall image.
Rhodochrosite ...

Glasses (obsidian), liquids, and gases however, are not crystalline, and the elements in them may occur in any ratios, so they are not minerals. So in order for a natural compound to be a mineral, it must have a unique composition and structure.

Obsidian - Astrological Sign of Sagittarius - Elemental (see types below) Is a natural glass. It is formed from volcanic lava that cooled too quickly for significant crystallization to occur. The color may be uniform, striped, or spotted.

Flowering Obsidian (also called snowflake obsidian) is a volcanic glass that is usually dark (black or brownish) with white "snowflakes". This glassy, lustrous mineral is found in lava flows, and obsidian stones can be massive.

Snowflake obsidian
A black or nearly black volcanic rock that has flake like grayish white patterns.
Sodalite ...

SnowFlake Obsidian (can it snow in a volcano?)
Sulfur (gunpowder ingredient)
Ulexite...coming sometime..hard to photograph! ...

Snowflake Obsidian resembles flakes of snow floating against a deep black sky. The snowflake appearance in this volcanic glass is produced by internal crystallites formed as lava quickly cooled.
BEADED JEWELS ...

see obsidian
Comments: round or simi round, marble like, dark blackish green.
Apatite Crystallography: hexagonal
Colors: yellow, blue, green, violet
Hardness: 5
Specific gravity: 3.18 to 3.21
Cleavage: none
Refractive index: avg. 1.638 v .003 ...

Apache TearsApache tears (a type of obsidian) is a volcanic glass that is usually black, but is occasionally red, brown, gray, green (rare), dark with "snowflakes," or even clear.

Mahogany Obsidian
A variety of natural volcanic glass which is mottled with deep brownish red and black splotches. Often found in Mexico.
Malachite
A green mineral which derives it's color from copper.

OBSIDIAN
OBSIDIAN Black Psychic protection, grounding, cleansing of negativity, spirit communication
OBSIDIAN Snowflake - Attunement to spiritual guidance, past life recall, spirit communication ...

reflectivity, like pearls or mica), pitchy (tarry minerals that are radioactive, like uraninite), silky (with a fibrous structure, like some tiger's eye or satin spar), vitreous (also known as glassy, like olivine, transparent quartz, or obsidian), ...

Natural glasses, such as Obsidian, are amorphous with a rounded shape, and usually contain conchoidal fractures. natural spring A place where groundwater flows to the surface and issues freely from the ground.

fantasy of the artist; escaping from the conventionalities of platinum and precious stones in their delicate frost and lacework designs, runs riot in turquoise amethyst, tourmaline, topaz, chalcedony, peridot, baroque pearl, rose quartz, obsidian, ...

Naturally occurring glass, such as obsidian, has been used since the stone age. According to Pliny the Elder, the Phoenicians made the first glass.

This glass is sometimes called emerald obsidianite or Mount St. Helens obsidian (but it is not obsidian, which is a natural glass). Helenite is sold as a souvenir of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980. The composition of rock from Mt. St.

The first use of "glass" by early man was in the carving and shaping of simple cutting tools, made with a naturally-occurring volcanic mineral known as obsidian.

Volcanic glass is another name for obsidian.
VULCANITE
Vulcanite (also called ebonite) is a hard, moldable, polished dark colored (ranging from brown to black) early rubber. Vulcanite was produced by adding sulfur to vulcanized rubber.

Because of its abundance, durability, and beauty, chalcedony was, except for sticks, animal skins, bones, plain rocks, and possibly obsidian, the earliest raw material used by humankind.

Xaga
Xaga is a type of obsidian found in California, USA.
Xalostocite
Xalostocite is a pink grossular garnet that is found in a matrix of white marble. Xalostocite is found in Xalostoc, Mexico.

Naqada culture in Southern Egypt import obsidian from Ethiopia for tools. Jewelry made of gold, lapis, and ivory. The Naqada culture starts using symbols.
Nephrite jade used for weapons and ornaments in China
Circa
3500 BC ...

Apache Tears: A glassy type of obsidian found in lava flows in the southwest USA. Apache tears are usually black, but occasionally red, brown, gray, green (rare), dark with "snowflakes," or even clear.

stones are commonly sold as doublets, such as charoite, because charoite is fragile and splits easily, so it is backed with a harder stone like agate to make it more durable. The stone to the left shows a doublet of plume agate over black obsidian, ...

Another name for iridescence, usually found as silvery or golden in some obsidian specimens.
Synthetic Gemstone
A man-made stone that, unlike a simulant, has the same chemical composition and crystal structure as its natural counterpart.

Citrine and Apatite Necklace
by fuchsiabloomstudio
Apache Tears
A glassy, lustrous form of obsidian, a volcanic glass. It is formed when viscous lava flows cool rapidly, and is is usually black in colour ...

Most glass is artificial (made by man) but there are also natural glasses such as Obsidian or Volcanic Glass.
See our full Glass range
Glass Flesh Plugs ...

A thin layer of opal is sandwiched between a layer of clear quartz and a layer of either obsidian or ironstone. The clear quartz is the top layer, making the gem harder (and less susceptible to scratches).

Book IV Sulphur, amber, Pliny's gems, jet, bitumen, naphtha, camphor, maltha, Samothracian gem, thracius stone, obsidianus stone
Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica ...

These are gemstone combinations consisting of a surface from millimetre-thin Opal plates, which have been mounted on Onyx, Obsidian, artificial black glass, or Potch-Opal.

At Spencer the precious opal occurs as one or more thin layers within common opal partially filling gas cavities within a rhyolite-obsidian flow.

See also: Stone, Crystal, Color, Quartz, Gemstone