Diorite | Gabbro | Granite |
Pegmatite | Peridotite |
Obsidian | Andesite | Basalt |
Dacite | Pumice | Rhyolite |
Scoria | Tuff | Fire Opal |
Class: Igneous RocksSub-Class: Medium Hardness Rocks Family-Group: Volcanic Category: Opaque Rocks Alternate Names: Lava, Glassy Lava, Xaga, Royal Agate, Glass Agate, Volcanic Glass, Glass Gem, Guardian Gem, and Black Beauty |
Natural Stone Pavers Collection | ||
Exotic Collection | Premia Collection | Porcelain Pavers |
Steps Stones | Window Sills | Pool Copings |
Streaks & Colors of ObsidianThe streak of obsidian is white, but various colors occur in nature. Frequently found colors of Obsidian rocks are: The highest occurrence of obsidians is in Black, but it also available in Brown, Green, or Tan. Rarely found colors of Obsidian rocks are: A very rare occurrence of obsidians is in Blue, Orange, Red, and Yellow. The occurrence of color is due to the presence of different trace elements in obsidian rocks. | The hardness of Obsidian (How Hard Is Obsidian Rocks)In physics and geology, the hardness of the physical objects or rocks is measured in Moh’s scale, which rates the objects in question on the scale from 1 to 10.
Based on Moh’s hardness scale, obsidians fall into a medium hard category of rocks because obsidian rocks have 5-5.5 Moh’s hardness scale. It also means obsidian is easy to scratch. |
Compressive Strength of ObsidianWhen a compressive pressure (In Newton unit) applied on the rocks a permanent deformation of rocks takes place at a point of pressure. It is termed as the compressive strength of rocks and obsidians fractured or permanently deformed at 0.15 N per square millimeter. It means obsidian is easy to break and chipped by some impacts. It also renders obsidian as the unfit stone for rings and bracelets like jewelry production. | Porosity of ObsidianIt is a less porous rock, so it has a medium hardness. |
Obsidian FractureObsidians breaks into the conchoidal fracture. Obsidian has no natural or defined planes of separation when a pressure exceeding its physical strength exerts on it. Therefore, smoothly curved fracture takes place on the surface of obsidian glass rock. The images at the side are depicting the phenomena beautifully and precisely. | Luster & Transparency of ObsidianIn Obsidian, only 1% of water exists. It means it is vitreous and due to the high presence of silica and other glass-forming minerals, it is translucent in transparency. |
Mahogany Obsidian | When two colors, Black and Brown swirled together in a single obsidian rock, Mahogany Obsidian takes place. |
Obsidian is kind of glass and chemically unstable. Overtime crystallization process takes place in the mass of rock. If the formation of crystals happens in a radial cluster of white or gray crystals (cristobalite) at different and isolated locations, it referred to as Snowflake obsidian. | Snowflake Obsidian |
Rainbow Obsidian | Seldom obsidians have an iridescent or metallic “Sheen” thanks to the reflection of light rays. It used to takes place due to minute inclusions of mineral crystals, gas trapped in obsidian, and some debris. It results in a prismatic effect found due to the glass matter of obsidians, and white light rays are fragmenting in the rainbow color spectrum. |
If metallic sheen reflecting light rays in golden color, the gold sheen obsidians occur. In black obsidian, golden inclusions take place it shines as yellow and honey metals in the mass of obsidian. | Gold Sheen Obsidian |
Silver Sheen Obsidian | Similarly, if metallic sheen found in silver color, the silver sheen obsidians take place. |
When tiny bubbles of gas trapped in the rock and resulting in a reflection of purple color, a purple sheen obsidian happens. | Purple Sheen Obsidian |
Double Flow Obsidian | Sometimes the two different colors exist in the same specimen of the obsidian rock. Moreover, the occurrence of different colors takes place in a pattern of flows, and it is flowing in a different direction, we termed it a double flow obsidian. |
Black is the most common color found in obsidians. Therefore, the highest occurrence of obsidians found in the black glass. It projects a shiny black hue and popular as a black gemstone in the jewelry industry. | Black Obsidian |
Pumpkin Obsidian | When obsidian is reflecting mainly pumpkin color in pale brown shades, it called as pumpkin obsidian. It resembles Mahogany obsidians in looks and brown to black and beige bands of colors found in the mass of obsidians. |
Green-colored obsidians occur seldom and when polished they resemble emerald and used for jewelry purposes. It found in mossy to pickle green color shades. | Green Obsidian |
Asia: | Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. |
Africa: | Kenya. |
Europe: | Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Scotland, and Turkey. |
North America: | Canada, Mexico, and the USA. |
Central America: | El Salvador, Guatemala, and Papua New Guinea. |
>South America: | Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. |
Australia: | New Zealand. |
Arizona | California | Idaho | Nevada |
New Mexico | Oregon | Washington | Wyoming |
Colorado | Texas | Utah |
Obsidians as Weapons & Tools:The human civilization has used obsidian rocks to make knives, spear points, arrowheads, scrapers, and various weapons. Knives and blades were fine for kitchen applications. Scrappers were used in land digging, agriculture, and gardening applications. Arrowheads and spear points were provided the sharpest tools for warriors in the creation of various weapons. |
Obsidians in Construction Industry:Obsidian rocks use in interior and exterior decoration. Decorative aggregates, gravels, and pebbles from obsidian rocks are a favorite material for creating architectural beauty and artwork on walls, ceilings, and floors of the buildings. Artworks in gardens, patios, swimming pools, fire features, and water features look amazing when obsidian rocks applied along with other Gemstones. It also used as mirror elements in the decoration of the interior, exterior, and construction of artifacts for various applications in life. |
Obsidians in Medical Surgery:Obsidian rocks are continuously used in the modern era to create cutting-edge surgical tools. Studies have revealed the fact that thin blades for scalpel of obsidians are superior in sharpness and performance than or equivalent to blades created from the latest surgical steel. Do you know household razor blades are 300-600 Angstroms while obsidian can produce blades of 30 Angstroms? It means obsidian can produce the sharpest materials that only Nanotechnologies can produce. If you look at the sharpest edge of the steel blade in the microscope, you will notice almost saw-like teeth on the edge. Whereas, the obsidian blade has no bite because it has an evenly smooth edge at the microscopic level. Therefore, wounds cut by obsidian blades are healing significantly faster than wounds by steel blades. |
Obsidians in Antiquity and Jewelry Industry:Obsidian rocks often cut into beads and cabochons. Mahogany and Snowflakes obsidian types of rocks are providing gemstones for earrings, brooches, and pendants. In the creation of Opal Doublets and Triplets, a thin slice of obsidian is glued as a backing material in the construction of composite gemstones. The black obsidian is an ideal material in making Opals to offer color-contrasting background. However, medium-strength of obsidian with 5.5 hardness creates durability concerns and the jewelry industry avoids its use as they apply diamonds and other gemstones. |
Apache Tears | Spiderweb | Cat Eye |
Flame/Fire | Peanut | Midnight Lace |