Obsidian and Cataclasite Definition

Definition of Obsidian and Cataclasite

The general Obsidian and Cataclasite definition can be stated as: 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. On the other hand, Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix. Along with definition of Obsidian and Cataclasite, get to know about Properties of Obsidian and Cataclasite. Get to know more information about Obsidian and Cataclasite origin and discoverer, etymology and class.

History of Obsidian and Cataclasite

The history of Obsidian and Cataclasite gives information about where the rock was found and who was its discoverer. Almost each and every aspect of Earth's history is recorded in rocks be it the volcanoes which were erupted or the plants, animals and organisms which are now extinct, as rocks are present from millions of years.

Obsidian and Cataclasite Origin and Discoverer

Obsidian and Cataclasite definition gives us a brief idea about the two rocks. In some cases, the definition also gives summary about the Formation of Obsidian and Cataclasite. In this section, you will know about Obsidian and Cataclasite Origin and Discoverer. Origin of Obsidian is Ethiopia whereas Origin of Cataclasite is Swiss Alps, Europe. It is interesting to know the name of Obsidian and Cataclasite discoverer. The Discoverer of Obsidian is Obsius and the discoverer of Cataclasite is Michael Tellinger.

Etymology of Obsidian and Cataclasite

Along with Obsidian and Cataclasite definition, know more about the etymology of Obsidian and Cataclasite. Etymology of Obsidian and Cataclasite gives information about origin and formation of a particular rock. Know more about Formation of Obsidian and Formation of Cataclasite. The etymology of Obsidian is From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius while that of Cataclasite is From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius. The process of formation of rocks defines the class of rock. All the rocks in a class are formed by similar processes. Obsidian belongs to Igneous Rocks while Cataclasite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks. The sub-class, group and other categories of Obsidian and Cataclasite are listed below.

For Obsidian,

• Sub-class: Durable Rock and Medium Hardness Rock
• Group: Volcanic
• Other Categories: Opaque rock

For Cataclasite,

• Sub-class: Durable Rock and Medium Hardness Rock
• Group: Not applicable
• Other Categories: Fine grained rock and Opaque rock