Obsidian
Rectangle-cut corners obsidian
14.46 carats
© Rarestone.com
Obsidian Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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| General Information | |
|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Glass |
| Varieties/Types: | Sheen Obsidian - A variety of obsidian exhibiting a golden sheen effect. Snowflake Obsidian - A variety of obsidian containing white "snowflake" crystal patterns of the mineral cristobalite. |
| Other Names/Trade Names: | |
| Physical Properties of Obsidian | |
| Mohs Hardness | 5 to 5.5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
| Specific Gravity | 2.33 to 2.50 +, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) |
| Optical Properties of Obsidian | |
| Refractive Index | 1.450 to 1.550, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
| Optical Character | Isotropic, Gemstones (2009) |
| Colour | |
| Colour (General) | Black, brown, partly iridescent or with silvery or golden sheen (opaque) Brown, green, red (transparent), Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references |
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent,Opaque, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references |
| Lustre | Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) |
| Crystallography of Obsidian | |
| Crystal System | Amorphous, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references |
| Habit | Massive, Gemstones (2009) |
| Inclusions in Obsidian | |
| Torpedo shaped gas bubbles, needle-like inclusions, smooth undulating growth structure - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 8 Gas bubbles, swirl marks, crystal inclusions, white spherolites ("snow flake obsidian") - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 2 | |
| Further Information | |
| Mineral information: | Obsidian information at mindat.org |