![]() ![]() Black Obsidian and Clarityīlack obsidian should be, by definition, clear from any inclusions. The obsidian stone bears its name after the Roman Obsius who was the first European to discover this volcanic glass in Ethiopia. Obsidian can be recognized by its glassy structure and single refraction. Pure black obsidian is quite rare because, more often than not, the rocks will include some inclusions which will give it a brownish, yellowish, or reddish coloring. When the formation of the volcanic glass is free from inclusions, the end result is clear black obsidian. The dark color of obsidian is largely due to the presence of iron and magnesium. It doesn’t have the typical cleavage of other gemstones, plus its conchoidal fracture and acute edges when broken allow it to form very sharp and smooth edges. See it here.īecause obsidian is only found in locations that have experienced volcanic eruptions, the most common mining sources for this gemstone are, in alphabetical order, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Greece, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Scotland, Turkey, and the United States.Īs a volcanic glass, obsidian resembles a mineral but it’s not a true mineral because its composition is too complex and lacks the typical mineral crystalline structure.Īs a type of volcanic glass, obsidian is hard, amorphous, and brittle. Black Obsidian Arrowhead Necklace by JaneR Jewelry. That, together with the other specifics of the chemical content allows a high viscosity, which is what allows the lava to form into glass. The reason this is so is that these flows are rich with silica, and obsidian is typically made of 35% – 80% silica. The most common place to look for obsidian rocks is in the margins of the rhyolitic lava flows that are otherwise known as “obsidian flows”. Such cooling typically happens rapidly after a volcano becomes inactive. ![]() What is Black Obsidian?īlack obsidian, like other types of obsidian, is a naturally produced volcanic glass formation that results from the cooling off of felsic lava. Let’s take a detailed look into everything you need to know about black obsidian. So, what should you look for when buying black obsidian jewelry? What can you expect to get and what should you be prepared to avoid? In some cultures in the past, obsidian has also had other practical uses ranging from home appliances to weapons. As a gemstone, black obsidian is among the most widely used stones in jewelry and artisan crafts. ![]()
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