Obsidian

Charnockite

Obsidian and Charnockite

Obsidian

Charnockite

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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

Charnockite is a variety of granite containing minerals like orthopyroxene, quartz, and feldspar

History

Origin

Ethiopia

Tamil Nadu, India

Discoverer

Obsius

T. H. Holland

Etymology

From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius

From Job Charnock, an administtrator of East India Company

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Plutonic

Other Categories

Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Glassy

Granular

Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Shiny

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Surgery

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums

Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones

Types

Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian

Enderbite

Features

Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

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.

Charnockite is an intrusive igneous rock which is very hard and is formed due to weathering of existing rocks.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-5.56-7

1 7

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Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Streak

White

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous

Compressive Strength

0.15 N/mm²190.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

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Cleavage

Toughness

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7-9999

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³2.6 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

India

Africa

Kenya

East Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique

Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Albania, Romania, Scotland, United Kingdom

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

USA

South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand

Central Australia, Western Australia

All about Obsidian and Charnockite Properties

Know all about Obsidian and Charnockite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Obsidian and Charnockite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Obsidian is Glassy whereas that of Charnockite is Granular. Obsidian appears Shiny and Charnockite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Obsidian is vitreous while that of Charnockite is . Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Charnockite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Obsidian are creating artwork, mirror, used in aquariums and that of Charnockite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, tombstones.