Definition
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth
  
Basanite is a black basaltic rock which mainly contains plagioclase, augite, olivine and nepheline and is formerly used as a touchstone
  
History
  
  
Origin
Ethiopia
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Obsius
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
  
From Latin basanites + -ite
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Glassy
  
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
  
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Shiny
  
Glassy or Pearly
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
  
Whetstones
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
  
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
  
Medical Industry
Surgery
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery
  
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
  
As a touchstone, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
  
Types
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
  
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite
  
Features
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Used as a touchstone
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.
  
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Not Available
  
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-5.5
  
7
  
Grain Size
Not Applicable
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Waxy and Dull
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
  
2.5-2.8
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.6 g/cm3
  
2.7 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Africa
Kenya
  
Uganda
  
Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
  
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
USA
  
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
All about Obsidian and Basanite Properties
Know all about Obsidian and Basanite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Obsidian and Basanite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Obsidian is Glassy whereas that of Basanite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Obsidian appears Shiny and Basanite appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Obsidian is vitreous while that of Basanite is waxy and dull. Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Basanite is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Obsidian are creating artwork, mirror, used in aquariums and that of Basanite are as a touchstone, creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, manufacture of tools, metallurgical flux, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms.