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
  
Obsidian vs Basanite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Obsidian vs Basanite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Obsidian and Properties of Basanite . Learn more about Obsidian vs Basanite in the next section. The interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Basanite include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Obsidian and Basanite , they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Obsidian in construction industry include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points and that of Basanite include Arrowheads, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, Spear points.
More about Obsidian and Basanite
Here you can know more about Obsidian and Basanite . The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Obsidian and Basanite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Obsidian is not available and mineral content of Basanite includes Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Obsidian vs Basanite , the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. 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. Appearance of Obsidian is Shiny and that of Basanite is Glassy or Pearly. Properties of rock is another aspect for Obsidian vs Basanite . The hardness of Obsidian is 5-5.5 and that of Basanite is 7. The types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian whereas types of Basanite are Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Obsidian and Basanite is white. The specific heat capacity of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Basanite is 0.74 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Basanite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.