![]() ![]() ![]() The patterns of specimens can be concentric circles, bands, or other geometric shapes. However, they often include red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. The colors of Fire Obsidian can vary greatly. These gems are characterized by their vibrant color and patterns that are caused by the presence of thin layers of Magnetite within the glass. Green Obsidian gets its beautiful green color from the presence of iron oxide and is similar to the color of Emerald.įire Obsidians are an incredibly rare variety of iridescent obsidians that are found in southeast Oregon. While it’s technically a rock, Obsidian has a vitreous or glass-like texture that can be polished to an incredibly high shine and is often used in decorative items and jewelry. Green Obsidian is found primarily in the western United States, in areas that experienced recent volcanic activity. While Obsidian is relatively rare, the green variety is even rarer but the buyer needs to beware of sellers claiming they have natural green Obsidian when in fact it is man-made glass. Green Obsidian is a beautiful green type of volcanic glass. These balls of Obsidian have an interesting history and recommend you read my article dedicated to them. A great example of regular Obsidian is an Apache tear. If it were an igneous rock that formed from magma underground and not from an eruption, it would be called an intrusive rock. These igneous rocks form from melted rocks or magma. Obsidian is often formed in Rhyolite lava flows where the lava cools so incredibly quickly that crystals don’t have time to grow. Rainbow Obsidian displays a multicolored iridescence caused by inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles, which results in an incredible rainbow-like pattern. Obsidian is a dense volcanic glass that usually contains a Rhyolite composition and is typically black but there are varieties that show a play of color. ![]() The Glass Buttes are ancient volcanic hills that hold a stunning variety of gem-quality Obsidian, including red, mahogany, flame, jet black (Xaga), midnight lace, brown, pumpkin, rainbow, silver sheen, gold sheen, lizard skin, snowflake, green, and more. Other types of Obsidian with dark bands or mottling in yellow, gray, or green are also known. While Obsidian is typically jet-black in color, the presence of Hematite or iron oxide has brown and red varieties, and the inclusions of tiny glass bubbles can create a beautiful golden sheen. Obsidian produces a glassy luster and is slightly harder than the glass of windows. It is incredibly rich in silica, low in water, and has a chemical composition similar to Rhyolite. It’s an igneous rock that occurs as a natural glass formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava from volcanoes. If you don’t know what Obsidian is then here is the short breakdown of how it grows and where it can be found. If you haven’t considered adding Obsidian to your collection then I think you should look into some of the varieties below. The material is great for lapidary artists looking to cut and polish them because it’s very forgiving and produces nice-looking cabochons and carvings. Obsidian comes in quite a few varieties and you’re bound to find them at your local rock and mineral show.
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