| Snowflake Obsidian |
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Obsidian Obsidian is a rock which is a type of naturally occurring glass, produced by volcanoes (igneous origin) when a felsic lava cools rapidly and freezes without sufficient time for crystal growth. It is commonly found within the margins of felsic lava flows, where cooling is more rapid. Because of the lack of crystal structure, obsidian blade edges can reach almost molecular thinness, leading to its ancient use as arrowheads and its modern use as surgical scalpel blades. While a rock like basalt is dark because of ferromagnesian enrichment, obsidian consists mainly of silicon dioxide, usually 70% or more. Obsidian is mineral-like, but not a true mineral because it is not crystalline. Its composition is very similar to that of granite and rhyolite. It is sometimes classified as a Mineraloid because obsidian is metastable at the earth's surface (over time the glass becomes fine-grained mineral crystals). The breakdown of obsidian is accelerated by the presence of water. Tektites were once thought by many to be obsidian produced by lunar volcanic eruptions, though few scientists now agree with this theory. While pure obsidian is always dark in appearance, the color varies depending on the presence of impurities. Iron and magnesium typically give the obsidian a dark green to brown to black color. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered crystals of Cristobalite in the black glass develop a blotchy or snowflake pattern producing what is known as Snowflake Obsidian Obsidian is relatively soft with a typical hardness rating of 5 to 5.5. Obsidian, unlike crystals, has no regular structure and therefore fractures in smooth conchoidal (curved) shapes. The intersections of these fractures can form edges sharper than the finest steel blades. For this reason, obsidian was used by many native cultures to make arrowheads and blades. The Nevada, Utah and California area, referred to as the Great Basin, is an ideal location to find Obsidian. There are a myriad of colors, patterns and mixes of Obsidians, making them a very desirable collector item. |
| Item # OBS17003 Snowflake Obsidian Rough $7.95 |
Snowflake Obsidian Rough from Utah (photographed dry in its natural state)
This specimen weighs 0.54 pounds ( 249g ) and measures 2.6 x 2.4 x 1.8 inches (66 x 61 x 41mm)
This specimen weighs 0.54 pounds ( 249g ) and measures 2.6 x 2.4 x 1.8 inches (66 x 61 x 41mm)
| Item # OBS17004 Snowflake Obsidian Rough XL Flakes! $12.95 |
Snowflake Obsidian Rough from Utah (photographed dry in its natural state) Extra Large Flakes!!
This specimen weighs 1.47 pounds ( 665g ) and measures 4.5 x 3.3 x 2.5 inches (114 x 84 x 64mm)
This specimen is face cut and shows the orbicular centers of the large pieces of cristobalite in this mix. This piece
is from the outer edge of a flow where the minerals did not get quite hot enough to fuse as thoroughly as they
normally do. A very unique specimen with the largest flakes we have seen. There are many fractures in this piece
making it most usable as a display piece. The specimen is solid, but would not cab well.
This specimen weighs 1.47 pounds ( 665g ) and measures 4.5 x 3.3 x 2.5 inches (114 x 84 x 64mm)
This specimen is face cut and shows the orbicular centers of the large pieces of cristobalite in this mix. This piece
is from the outer edge of a flow where the minerals did not get quite hot enough to fuse as thoroughly as they
normally do. A very unique specimen with the largest flakes we have seen. There are many fractures in this piece
making it most usable as a display piece. The specimen is solid, but would not cab well.
Click on any photo to see a larger version
 |
| Snowflake Obsidian is a black obsidian with white spots (spherulites) of radiating needle-shaped cristobalite (high-temperature quartz) crystals. Below are some pieces from some of our trips to Utah. (Photos of rough shown wet) Nice Snowflake Obsidian is getting hard to find..... It is from the Black Rock Desert in western Utah where it was geologically deposited approximately 2.5 million years ago (the late Tertiary Period), during volcanic eruptions in the Black Spring area of the Black Rock Desert area in western Utah. |
| Item # SO06104381 1 Face Cut and Polished Snowflake Obsidian $35.00 |
| Item # SO06105381 1 Face Cut and Polished Snowflake Obsidian $35.00 |
| Item # SO0610300A3 452g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $10.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1lb (452g) and measures 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.6 inches (87 x 63 x 66mm) |
| Item # SO0610300A4 480g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $11.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1.08lb (480g) and measures 4.3 x 2.5 x 2.4 inches (108 x 63 x 61mm) |
| Item # SO0610300A5 404g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $10.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 14.2oz (404g) and measures 3.1 x 3.1 x 2.1 inches (77 x 77 x 53mm) |
| Item # SO0610300A2 276g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $8.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 9.7oz (276g) and measures 2.9 x 2.6 x 1.4 inches (74 x 67 x 34mm) |
| Item # SO0610300A1 236g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $7.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 8.3oz (236g) and measures 3.2 x 2.2 x 1.5 inches (82 x 56 x 37mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B6 582g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $11.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1 lb 4.5oz (582g) and measures 3.9 x 2.8 x 2.4 inches (101 x 72 x 61mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B2 844g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $16.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1 lb 13.8oz (844g) and measures 3.6 x 2.9 x 3.3 inches (92 x 73 x 83mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B4 242g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $7.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 8.5oz (242g) and measures 3.3 x 2.6 x 1.7 inches (83 x 66 x 42mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B5 168g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $6.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 5.9oz (168g) and measures 2.9 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches (73 x 55 x 40mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B1 470g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $14.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1 lb .06oz (470g) and measures 3.4 x 2.6 x 2.7 inches (86 x 66 x 67mm) |
| Item # SO0610300B3 116g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $5.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 4.1oz (116g) and measures 2.5 x 1.9 x 1.2 inches (62 x 50 x 31mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C1 266g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $6.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 9.4oz (266g) and measures 4.2 x 2.1 x 1.4 inches (107 x 52 x 34mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C3 258g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $6.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 9.1oz (258g) and measures 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.7 inches (83 x 61 x 42mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C4 136g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $4.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 4.8oz (136g) and measures 3.4 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches (86 x 62 x 20mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C6 658g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $11.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 1 lb 7.2oz (658g) and measures 4.3 x 3.1 x 2.8 inches (110 x 80 x 70mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C5 170g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $6.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 6oz (170g) and measures 2.8 x 1.7 x 1.7 inches (70 x 43 x 43mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C7 1110g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $16.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 2 lb 7oz (1110g) and measures 5.2 x 3.1 x 3.6 inches (133 x 77 x 91mm) |
| Utah Cut and Polished specimen weighs 0.73 lb (332g) and measures 3.1 x 2.3 x 2 inches (79 x 57 x 51mm) |
| Utah Cut and Polished specimen weighs 0.76 lb (346g) and measures 4.3 x 2 x 1.9 inches (109 x 50 x 48mm) |
| Cut and Polished Face! |
| Cut and Polished Face! |
| Item # SO0610300A6 196g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $7.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 6.9oz (196g) and measures 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.6 inches (72 x 60 x 42mm) |
| Item # SO0610300C2 200g Rough Snowflake Obsidian $6.95 |
| Utah specimen weighs 7.1oz (200g) and measures 2.6 x 2.6 x 1.8 inches (65 x 65 x 47mm) |
| Notice to Our Customers We will be closed from May 18th through August 15th 2012 to relocate our business. Orders placed during this time will not be shipped until after August 15th. Purchases or Reservations will be honored in the date order they are received. 1st purchaser is served 1st. |