1. It\u2019s Not a Stone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"obsidian](\"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/obsidian.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nObsidian isn\u2019t a rock or stone. It\u2019s a glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obsidian is actually an amorphic solid, despite the fact that it appears to be a stone at a casual glance. The difference here is simple: obsidian lacks an internal crystalline structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, the fact that obsidian is glass instead of a crystalline mineral is responsible for many of the unique properties that humans take advantage of. The actual makeup is very similar to rhyolite, with an extremely high silica content laced with impurities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also not really possible to call it a mineral as the individual makeup of various obsidian flows are too different from each other. Minerals are usually a known chemical compound crystallized into whatever form, sometimes with impurities either in the crystalline matrix (as seen in amethyst) or just present throughout the structure (for material like chrome chalcedony).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it may seem a small thing, since it still looks, feels, and carves like a stone, it\u2019s actually an important distinction that puts obsidian\u2019s shiny black surface into a different context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obsidian Was an Ancient Trade Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"obsidian](\"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/obsidian.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nObsidians use in artifacts dates back to the dawn of humanity. While flint is the material known best to many people, obsidian is a superior material for tools in almost every way. It\u2019s also more highly regarded for ornamentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cool thing is that it works just like every other knappable stone (ie: flint, jasper, chert)… but better. The conchoidal fracture travels more smoothly than in stones with a crystalline grain structure, no matter how fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of this, obsidian was transported across large areas as an important trade good. It doesn\u2019t occur everywhere, so groups that lived near large deposits could bring it to trade for other goods during their travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In North America, the subject has been studied extensively<\/a>. The studies were prompted by discoveries of obsidian artifacts in regions known to not hold obsidian. The Mayan and Aztec empires also used it extensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile not the only trade good from early in human history, the use of obsidian in tools<\/a> undoubtedly made it one of the most important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Obsidian Can Hold a Monomolecular Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/obsidian-arrowhead.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMonomolecular edges aren\u2019t just a hallmark of cyberpunk stories. Obsidian can be knapped to an edge so fine that air<\/em> will dull it over time, a true monomolecular edge is possible if the flakes are placed properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis has lent use to obsidian well into modern times. One of the most \u201ccommon\u201d uses is in obsidian scalpels. While these are often pushed as a superior alternative to steel, they do have some problems and aren\u2019t replacing steel anytime soon. Regular scalpels hold an edge better, and extra sharpness isn\u2019t required in most surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, they do find use in eye surgery, where small and ultra-clean cuts are a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This edge is also why obsidian has been used since the dawn of our species for weapons. Many people are surprised to find out, for instance, that an obsidian arrowhead is often sharp enough to penetrate entirely through a deer\u2019s rib cage and pass through the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. There Are Many Varieties of Obsidian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Various](\"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/various-types-of-obsidian.jpg\")
Various types of obsidian<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhile most of us think of obsidian as a black stone, the massive differences in impurities actually create dozens of varieties of obsidian<\/a> to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmong the more common are Snowflake Obsidian, Golden\/Silver Sheen Obsidian, and Mahogany Obsidian<\/a>. All of these are commonly available, although costs vary, and there are rarer forms like Fire Obsidian that have emerged as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a truly dazzling display of diversity. Who knew volcanic glass could be so varied<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, obsidian is a glass<\/a> and that also means plenty of unscrupulous dealers will sell slag glass, or even outright fabricated fakes, to the unwary. The most common fake, in my experience, is \u201cgreen obsidian\u201d which is usually just green-colored glass. Red is also another common fake. These varieties do<\/em> exist, but even finding a picture of one is hard\u2026 let alone finding it for pennies per gram on eBay and Etsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ll give you a hint: if the obsidian variety you\u2019re looking at is called [color] obsidian and it\u2019s largely transparent\u2026 it\u2019s a fake.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBut as long as you can sort the good from the bad, obsidian has many, many variations to choose from without needing to get into \u201cexotic\u201d fakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Obsidian Emerges in a Variety of Forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/apache-tears.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nObsidian\u2019s volcanic birth lends it to appear in many forms. These forms are often collectible in their own right, making some localities hotspots of valuable obsidian when compared to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of obsidian that emerges is in nodules. These can range from a few inches across to large boulders depending on where you\u2019re hunting, and they often resemble agate or jasper nodules in shape. In other words: a bit irregular and rounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Hawaii<\/a>, on the other hand, it\u2019s possible to find both long fibers and fibers with a rounded drop on one end. The latter nodules are commonly referred to as Pele\u2019s Tears in a nod to the island\u2019s volcanic goddess<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nApache tears<\/a>, on the other hand, are small, round nodules found in the continental USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy personal favorite form of obsidian is the needles that emerge very rarely, but are mainly found in the Davis Creek area of California. These elongated needles occur in black, mahogany, and the occasional rainbow obsidian variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re hunting for obsidian, then the location you journey to is going to largely determine what you\u2019re going to find. Why not take a look at our guide<\/a> to places with obsidian in the US!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nObsidian isn\u2019t a rock or stone. It\u2019s a glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obsidian is actually an amorphic solid, despite the fact that it appears to be a stone at a casual glance. The difference here is simple: obsidian lacks an internal crystalline structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, the fact that obsidian is glass instead of a crystalline mineral is responsible for many of the unique properties that humans take advantage of. The actual makeup is very similar to rhyolite, with an extremely high silica content laced with impurities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also not really possible to call it a mineral as the individual makeup of various obsidian flows are too different from each other. Minerals are usually a known chemical compound crystallized into whatever form, sometimes with impurities either in the crystalline matrix (as seen in amethyst) or just present throughout the structure (for material like chrome chalcedony).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it may seem a small thing, since it still looks, feels, and carves like a stone, it\u2019s actually an important distinction that puts obsidian\u2019s shiny black surface into a different context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obsidian Was an Ancient Trade Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nObsidians use in artifacts dates back to the dawn of humanity. While flint is the material known best to many people, obsidian is a superior material for tools in almost every way. It\u2019s also more highly regarded for ornamentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cool thing is that it works just like every other knappable stone (ie: flint, jasper, chert)… but better. The conchoidal fracture travels more smoothly than in stones with a crystalline grain structure, no matter how fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of this, obsidian was transported across large areas as an important trade good. It doesn\u2019t occur everywhere, so groups that lived near large deposits could bring it to trade for other goods during their travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In North America, the subject has been studied extensively<\/a>. The studies were prompted by discoveries of obsidian artifacts in regions known to not hold obsidian. The Mayan and Aztec empires also used it extensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile not the only trade good from early in human history, the use of obsidian in tools<\/a> undoubtedly made it one of the most important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Obsidian Can Hold a Monomolecular Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMonomolecular edges aren\u2019t just a hallmark of cyberpunk stories. Obsidian can be knapped to an edge so fine that air<\/em> will dull it over time, a true monomolecular edge is possible if the flakes are placed properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis has lent use to obsidian well into modern times. One of the most \u201ccommon\u201d uses is in obsidian scalpels. While these are often pushed as a superior alternative to steel, they do have some problems and aren\u2019t replacing steel anytime soon. Regular scalpels hold an edge better, and extra sharpness isn\u2019t required in most surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, they do find use in eye surgery, where small and ultra-clean cuts are a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This edge is also why obsidian has been used since the dawn of our species for weapons. Many people are surprised to find out, for instance, that an obsidian arrowhead is often sharp enough to penetrate entirely through a deer\u2019s rib cage and pass through the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. There Are Many Varieties of Obsidian<\/h2>\n\n\n\nVarious types of obsidian<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhile most of us think of obsidian as a black stone, the massive differences in impurities actually create dozens of varieties of obsidian<\/a> to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmong the more common are Snowflake Obsidian, Golden\/Silver Sheen Obsidian, and Mahogany Obsidian<\/a>. All of these are commonly available, although costs vary, and there are rarer forms like Fire Obsidian that have emerged as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a truly dazzling display of diversity. Who knew volcanic glass could be so varied<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, obsidian is a glass<\/a> and that also means plenty of unscrupulous dealers will sell slag glass, or even outright fabricated fakes, to the unwary. The most common fake, in my experience, is \u201cgreen obsidian\u201d which is usually just green-colored glass. Red is also another common fake. These varieties do<\/em> exist, but even finding a picture of one is hard\u2026 let alone finding it for pennies per gram on eBay and Etsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ll give you a hint: if the obsidian variety you\u2019re looking at is called [color] obsidian and it\u2019s largely transparent\u2026 it\u2019s a fake.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBut as long as you can sort the good from the bad, obsidian has many, many variations to choose from without needing to get into \u201cexotic\u201d fakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Obsidian Emerges in a Variety of Forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nObsidian\u2019s volcanic birth lends it to appear in many forms. These forms are often collectible in their own right, making some localities hotspots of valuable obsidian when compared to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of obsidian that emerges is in nodules. These can range from a few inches across to large boulders depending on where you\u2019re hunting, and they often resemble agate or jasper nodules in shape. In other words: a bit irregular and rounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Hawaii<\/a>, on the other hand, it\u2019s possible to find both long fibers and fibers with a rounded drop on one end. The latter nodules are commonly referred to as Pele\u2019s Tears in a nod to the island\u2019s volcanic goddess<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nApache tears<\/a>, on the other hand, are small, round nodules found in the continental USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy personal favorite form of obsidian is the needles that emerge very rarely, but are mainly found in the Davis Creek area of California. These elongated needles occur in black, mahogany, and the occasional rainbow obsidian variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re hunting for obsidian, then the location you journey to is going to largely determine what you\u2019re going to find. Why not take a look at our guide<\/a> to places with obsidian in the US!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nObsidians use in artifacts dates back to the dawn of humanity. While flint is the material known best to many people, obsidian is a superior material for tools in almost every way. It\u2019s also more highly regarded for ornamentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cool thing is that it works just like every other knappable stone (ie: flint, jasper, chert)… but better. The conchoidal fracture travels more smoothly than in stones with a crystalline grain structure, no matter how fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of this, obsidian was transported across large areas as an important trade good. It doesn\u2019t occur everywhere, so groups that lived near large deposits could bring it to trade for other goods during their travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In North America, the subject has been studied extensively<\/a>. The studies were prompted by discoveries of obsidian artifacts in regions known to not hold obsidian. The Mayan and Aztec empires also used it extensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While not the only trade good from early in human history, the use of obsidian in tools<\/a> undoubtedly made it one of the most important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monomolecular edges aren\u2019t just a hallmark of cyberpunk stories. Obsidian can be knapped to an edge so fine that air<\/em> will dull it over time, a true monomolecular edge is possible if the flakes are placed properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This has lent use to obsidian well into modern times. One of the most \u201ccommon\u201d uses is in obsidian scalpels. While these are often pushed as a superior alternative to steel, they do have some problems and aren\u2019t replacing steel anytime soon. Regular scalpels hold an edge better, and extra sharpness isn\u2019t required in most surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, they do find use in eye surgery, where small and ultra-clean cuts are a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This edge is also why obsidian has been used since the dawn of our species for weapons. Many people are surprised to find out, for instance, that an obsidian arrowhead is often sharp enough to penetrate entirely through a deer\u2019s rib cage and pass through the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While most of us think of obsidian as a black stone, the massive differences in impurities actually create dozens of varieties of obsidian<\/a> to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the more common are Snowflake Obsidian, Golden\/Silver Sheen Obsidian, and Mahogany Obsidian<\/a>. All of these are commonly available, although costs vary, and there are rarer forms like Fire Obsidian that have emerged as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a truly dazzling display of diversity. Who knew volcanic glass could be so varied<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, obsidian is a glass<\/a> and that also means plenty of unscrupulous dealers will sell slag glass, or even outright fabricated fakes, to the unwary. The most common fake, in my experience, is \u201cgreen obsidian\u201d which is usually just green-colored glass. Red is also another common fake. These varieties do<\/em> exist, but even finding a picture of one is hard\u2026 let alone finding it for pennies per gram on eBay and Etsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll give you a hint: if the obsidian variety you\u2019re looking at is called [color] obsidian and it\u2019s largely transparent\u2026 it\u2019s a fake.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But as long as you can sort the good from the bad, obsidian has many, many variations to choose from without needing to get into \u201cexotic\u201d fakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obsidian\u2019s volcanic birth lends it to appear in many forms. These forms are often collectible in their own right, making some localities hotspots of valuable obsidian when compared to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of obsidian that emerges is in nodules. These can range from a few inches across to large boulders depending on where you\u2019re hunting, and they often resemble agate or jasper nodules in shape. In other words: a bit irregular and rounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Hawaii<\/a>, on the other hand, it\u2019s possible to find both long fibers and fibers with a rounded drop on one end. The latter nodules are commonly referred to as Pele\u2019s Tears in a nod to the island\u2019s volcanic goddess<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apache tears<\/a>, on the other hand, are small, round nodules found in the continental USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My personal favorite form of obsidian is the needles that emerge very rarely, but are mainly found in the Davis Creek area of California. These elongated needles occur in black, mahogany, and the occasional rainbow obsidian variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re hunting for obsidian, then the location you journey to is going to largely determine what you\u2019re going to find. Why not take a look at our guide<\/a> to places with obsidian in the US!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"3. Obsidian Can Hold a Monomolecular Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n4. There Are Many Varieties of Obsidian<\/h2>\n\n\n
5. Obsidian Emerges in a Variety of Forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n