"Fire" or "flame" obsidian reflects bright colors due to the presence of nanometric magnetite crystal layers. The rainbow colors of rainbow obsidian come from the presence of augitic pyroxene. The iridescence of obsidian can be gold, silver, blue, violet, green or combinations of these colors.
Rainbow obsidian is dark-brown to black with an iridescent sheen. Sheen obsidian is dark-brown to black with a golden or silver sheen (this is also called aventurescence). Mahogany obsidian has dark-brown to black and red banding. It gets this color from the presence of iron and magnesium. However, some basic types of obsidian include the following: Mottled (snowflake and peanut obsidian), banded or veined (mahogany, midnight lace and pumpkin obsidian), pebbles or small nodules (Apache tears) and sheen (sheen obsidian, cat's eye, rainbow and fire/flame obsidian).īuying Obsidian and Determining Obsidian Gemstone Value Back to Top Obsidian Color Obsidian can be classified into varieties according to several characteristics. In its pure form, obsidian has a dark body color due to the presence of iron and magnesium. Obsidian has been used to make arrow heads and blades, as well as ornaments for thousands of years by people such as the pre-Columbian Mesoamericans and the ancient Egyptians. Due to its lack of cleavage, conchoidal fracture and acute edges when broken, it has been used to make smooth and sharp surgical scalpel blades. In addition to its decorative use, obsidian has a practical use. Obsidian forms when lava cools and whilst it is mineral-like, it is not considered to be a true mineral because its composition is too complex and it does not have a crystalline structure. Obsidian was named after Obsius, a Roman who discovered a similar stone. Obsidian is naturally occurring volcanic glass which has been used as a gemstone since antiquity. About Obsidian - History and Introduction
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