Why is red obsidian red?

Though obsidian is typically jet-black in colour, the presence of hematite (iron oxide) produces red and brown varieties, and the inclusion of tiny gas bubbles may create a golden sheen.

Can obsidian be red?

It can be brown, tan, or green, though. Obsidian may rarely be blue, red, orange, or yellow. Obsidian with multicolored iridescence caused by inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles “caused mainly by trace elements or inclusions”.

Is red obsidian rare?

Varieties. Transparent obsidians are quite rare, as are green, blue, and reddish colors. Hobbyists will occasionally facet these pieces.

What makes mahogany obsidian red?

Mahogany Obsidian is semi precious stone material that is a deep black with blood red streaks. The red coloration is likely the result of trapped hematite or iron. Mahogany Obsidian was probably named that because the reddish brown color is similar to mahogany wood. Obsidian is a natural volcanic glass.

What is red obsidian used for?

In addition to its decorative use, obsidian has been used to make smooth and sharp surgical blades and arrowheads due to its lack of cleavage and acute edges when broken.

What are the Varieties of Obsidian?

How is red obsidian formed?

obsidian, igneous rock occurring as a natural glass formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava from volcanoes. Obsidian is extremely rich in silica (about 65 to 80 percent), is low in water, and has a chemical composition similar to rhyolite.

Where does red obsidian come from?

Red or brown obsidian generally results from tiny crystals or inclusions of hematite or limonite (iron oxide). Abundant, microscopic crystals of minerals like magnetite, hornblende, pyroxene, plagioclase and biotite, combined with tiny fragments of rock, likely produce the jet-black varieties of obsidian.

What is pink obsidian?

About Pink Obsidian

Pink Obsidian - With the same protective, transformative, and grounding properties of regular Obsidian, there are additional attributes brought on by the blue color of this stone. Pink is the color of love and joy, making Pink Obsidian a useful stone for grounding and calming your emotional body.

What is rainbow obsidian?

Rainbow Obsidian was formed when lava once cooled at different times, and captured Magnetite nanoparticles within these layers. The Magnetite nanoparticles cause multicolored iridescence that shines bright when any light hits it.

What is green obsidian?

Green Obsidian is one of Obsidian Rocks that contain impurities as Pure obsidian usually appears to be dark, although the color may vary depending on the presence of impurities. Iron and other elements of transition can give a dark brown to black color to the obsidian.

What is red obsidian?

Mahogany Obsidian is a type of Obsidian with Hematite or Magnetite inclusions within, giving it its red, brownish color. Obsidian is a type of naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.

What is blue obsidian?

Blue Obsidian is a silica-rich volcanic rock with an appearance like glass. Blue Obsidian in its natural form is rare which is why many stones on the market are man-made. It has a similar chemical composition to Rhyolite and is formed when lava cools quickly and when the environment is low in water and high in silica.

What is the rarest rock on Earth?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades.

Is pink obsidian real?

Rainbow obsidian found at the Rainbow Mine and Middle Fork Davis Creek is sought after for its colorful sheen. Pink obsidian from Pink Lady, and the bundles of obsidian needles from the Needles Mine are the most popular.

Where is red obsidian found?

Black Rock Desert, Utah. The Black Rock Desert is located in Millard County in western Utah . Black, brown, red, and snowflake obsidian can be found here. The majority of it is on BLM lands as well, making it available for dedicated collectors.

Can obsidian be purple?

When tiny bubbles of gas are trapped in the rock and result in a reflection of purple color, a purple sheen obsidian happens. Sometimes, the two different colors exist in the same specimen of the obsidian rock.

What is fire obsidian?

“Fire” obsidian is a rare variety of relatively clear volcanic glass that produces vibrant color-reflectance from isolated thin layers contained within the stone (Fig. 1). Color patterns are quite variable and are generally unique from sample to sample from the same locality.

What is strawberry quartz?

Strawberry Quartz is an interesting stone. It's actually a fairly rare type of quartz that contains red inclusions or trace minerals. Strawberry quartz gets its name from its strawberry-like appearance--the red inclusions give the stone a reddish-pink shade, which sometimes can look like strawberry seeds!

How can you tell the difference between Onyx and obsidian?

Main Differences Between Onyx vs Obsidian

Onyx is typically more expensive than obsidian. Onyx is nearly always opaque, whereas obsidian ranges from transparent to opaque. Onyx is much heavier than obsidian. Onyx is a mineral with a crystal structure, while obsidian is volcanic glass.

Is there white obsidian?

Very few samples of obsidian are nearly colorless. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered crystals (spherulites) of the mineral cristobalite in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake pattern (snowflake obsidian).

What is Strawberry obsidian?

Strawberry Obsidian is a good grounding and balancing stone, It helps one to see the changes they need to make in their lives. Strawberry Obsidian is great to work with to help increase your self worth, and helps balance male and female energies. Obsidian is a natural glass that forms when lava goes into water.

What is yellow obsidian used for?

Yellow Obsidian is a powerful stone that burns away negative energy and promotes a well-balanced atmosphere. When meditated with, Yellow Obsidian provides clarity along with an open mind for a greater path towards enlightenment.

Can obsidian be faked?

Obsidian. This can be a particularly insipid fake; true Obsidian is volcanic glass, which is obviously quite similar to man-made glass, both in appearance and composition. Some pieces are easy to identify as fakes – primarily due to their clarity. A clear glass ball is definitely not Obsidian, unless it costs a lot!

Is green obsidian man made?

Is Green Obsidian Natural? Most forms of green obsidian gemstones are formed naturally. However, there are certain lookalikes or imitation rocks created using glass and green dye. These are fakes of course, but they are quite common since naturally occurring green obsidian is rare and expensive.