Obsidian

Diamictite

Obsidian and Diamictite

Obsidian

Diamictite

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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

Diamictite is a sedimentary rock that consists of non-sorted to poorly sorted terrigenous sediment containing particles that range in size from clay to boulders, suspended in a matrix of mudstone or sandstone

History

Origin

Ethiopia

Southern Mongolia

Discoverer

Obsius

Unknown

Etymology

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

From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Glassy

Clastic

Color

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

Brown, Buff

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Shiny

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points

As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Surgery

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime

Types

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

Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite

Features

Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression

Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Present

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.

Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, 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

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-5.52-3

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

White

Light to dark brown

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Vitreous

Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

0.15 N/mm²-

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Toughness

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.74.3-5.0

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³2.2-2.35 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.75 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia

Africa

Kenya

Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Brazil, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand

New South Wales, New Zealand

All about Obsidian and Diamictite Properties

Know all about Obsidian and Diamictite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Obsidian belongs to Igneous Rocks while Diamictite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Obsidian is Glassy whereas that of Diamictite is Clastic. Obsidian appears Shiny and Diamictite appears Banded. The luster of Obsidian is vitreous while that of Diamictite is grainy, pearly and vitreous. Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors. The commercial uses of Obsidian are creating artwork, mirror, used in aquariums and that of Diamictite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork, production of lime.