Definition
Origin
Discoverer
Etymology
Class
Sub-Class
Group
Other Categories
Texture
Color
Maintenance
Durability
Water Resistant
Scratch Resistant
Stain Resistant
Wind Resistant
Acid Resistant
Appearance
Interior Uses
Exterior Uses
Other Architectural Uses
Construction Industry
Medical Industry
Antiquity Uses
Commercial Uses
Types
Features
Monuments
Famous Monuments
Sculpture
Famous Sculptures
Pictographs
Petroglyphs
Figurines
Fossils
Formation
Mineral Content
Compound Content
Metamorphism
Types of Metamorphism
Weathering
Types of Weathering
Erosion
Types of Erosion
Hardness
Grain Size
Fracture
Streak
Porosity
Luster
Compressive Strength
Cleavage
Toughness
Specific Gravity
Transparency
Density
Specific Heat Capacity
Resistance
Asia
Africa
Europe
Others
North America
South America
Australia
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
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
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.
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
Kimberlite is a rare, blue-tinged, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock, which sometimes contains diamonds and is mostly found in South Africa and Siberia.
From Kimberley + -ite, from the name of the South African town of Kimberley where the rock was first found.
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Basaltic Kimberlites and Micaceous Kimberlites
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
Kimberlite is an igneous rock and is the main source of diamonds. Its formation takes place deep beneath the Earth’s surface between 150 to 450 kilometres, and are erupted rapidly and violently.
Garnet, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador
New South Wales, New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia