The third round of ABC Wednesday has reached the letter O this week.
In keeping with my love of rocks and gemstones,
O
is for
OBSIDIAN
Funnily enough, obsidian isn't strictly speaking a rock. It's a naturally occurring glass, formed in volcanos.
More details here.
Although it can appear brown and even appear to have a metallic coating, obsidian is generally thought of as black. Being a glass, it takes a very sharp edge, and was used by the Incas in ceremonial knives.
My samples are a variety known as Snowflake Obsidian because of the whitish included crystals which can look like snowflakes.
These are tumble polished fragments, almost completely black.
The above photo shows slightly larger tumbled stones, some with good snowflake markings.
This last photo includes a much larger natural (unpolished) stone. You may be able to see some ripples in the surface, caused when the piece broke off a larger lump.ABC Wednesday was started by Mrs Nesbitt. More O posts can be found on the Anthology Page and through the Linky site.
46 comments:
Obsidian is really very beautiful. I love some of the almost fossilised shapes in the black stones.
Ray
Obviously wonderful choice.
Wonderful photos of obsidian! Vulcan was being generous when he gave us the present of of such a beautiful mineral. I love the snowflake markings, which I have never found among the samples which I have collected.
Loved the ones with snow-flakes, so beautiful!
Miss Dragon, I just tagged you! Hope it's ok!
Kisses from Nydia - and thanks as always for your sweet words on my little witch. I can't wait for this to be over! :P
I've seen jewellry made of this and it's always stunning!
Obsidian is so pretty! I love it! I love coming here and learning new things! Thank you for sharing all the beauty in your world with us!
Obsidian is a new word for me! And what a great word. Those stones are very wonderful.
Very interesting, I had never heard of it or seen it before, but it's really really beautiful!
I have never seen the snowflake obsidian before. Its beautiful. Great post for the letter O.
Gorgeous! I love the markings. They would make gorgeous jewerly pieces.
Familiar with the black , but not the snowflake design, which is just so delicate as only nature can do. My friend's mother from Tuam (and I hope I have spelt that right) has just started making jewellery from precious stones, and I must say they are beautiful, like these.
I've always known about obsidian but never about the snowflake markings! How beautiful!
Those are beautiful stones, and your photos really showcase them nicely. I don't think I've ever seen snowflake obsidian before.
beautiful art work of nature.:)
Obsidian really is quite beautiful isn't it?
Thank you for sharing your photos.
Bear((( )))
Have always liked this stone.
Obsidian is a lovely stone indeed. Good choice for O!
Beautiful stone Obsidian.
Thank you for the information you are very kind.
Have a nice day.
I guessed right - LOL!
Imagined your O would be for Obsidian - your snowflake tumble stones are very pretty.
Funnily enough, I don't have any myself but do have a raw piece that's almost glasslike.
This reminded me of Whitby Jet!
Lovely and simple, yet so dramatic!
My older son had a thing for snowflake obsidian when he was quite young and into minerals. When he got his two pet mice, he called the white one 'Crystal' and the black and white one 'Obsidian'. She was a lively little thing!
I would love to know more about stones and take up polishing - oh for retirement and the time to do all the things I want to do :-)
They do look like snowflakes!
Here in California (long before there was a California) the indians made arrowheads out of it... It was a very valuable commodity in areas where it didn't naturally occur...
All we need to know about Obsid ... obdis ... obisd ... sigh. :)
Beauties indeed - and you have taught me that they are not rock but glass!! Not a day wasted for, then
Obsidian is such a beautiful stone. Opal would be another great choice.
Obsidian is certainly a beautiful rock. I like the snowflake patterns. Your pictures are great.
Obsidian is beautiful. I've never seen it before, or maybe seen some jewellery but neverr knew it was obsidian.
Lovely pictures of the stone.
Oh my! WHat a lovely rock it is! O-some choice!
Oh sO nice ...
:-Daryl
great & unique choice, Dragon Star.
O, O how I love Obsidian here on Oahu! The volcano produces rock, glass, lava, obsidian. . . and paradise islands.
Thank you Dragon, for this meditation on dark beauty.
Aloha from Waikiki (Oahu)
That is such a beautiful stone, I would like to touch and hear them! (I like the sound when you scrunch them together!!)
wow..that was very interesting..and a lovely looking kind of rock..I have learnt something new. So thanks for visiting my abc O post too!
Annie(Australia)
I never heard of Obsidian... I learned something new. It's so beautiful. I love the feel of smooth rocks in my hands. It's so therapeutic. A very nice post.
Gorgeous stones!
Lovely colours and textures!
I love those. I have a rock collection that needs some Obsidian.
:-)
Those are beautiful. I used to have some of those and had no idea what they were .
I've never heard of Obsidian. Looks like a lovely glass. I can just feel and hear them. I'd be touching them all the time! Jane
Brilliant ! A wonderful and mythic stone, black as death ...
miss Yves
Perfect O post. I didn't remember obsidian wasn't a rock - thanks for the reminder!
oh.. I see a slight crack in an egg. Here's hoping you have a dragon hatchling later today!
These are really beautiful gem stones ....
You have so many neat things! Can I PLEEEEASE come rummage through your closets?!?!?!
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