Black Obsidian Raw Stone
This raw black obsidian from Mexico has a deep black colour and an incredibly glossy finish.
Black obsidian gets its dark colour from iron within the glass and tiny mineral inclusions, including magnetite, an iron oxide.
By geological standards, Obsidian: A Natural Volcanic Glass. Volcanic glass is unstable over long periods and gradually crystallises, losing its glassy structure. This process is called devitrification.
For this reason, obsidian is rarely more than about 20 million years old.
Obsidian from different sources often has a distinctive chemical fingerprint, allowing archaeologists to trace ancient obsidian tools back to their volcanic source.
Black obsidian is one of the sharpest natural materials. Its edges can be razor-sharp, so raw stones must be handled carefully.
Mother of Pearl
