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
Jaspillite is an iron rich chemically formed rock which is common in banded iron formation rocks
Origin
Ethiopia
Western Australia, Minnesota
Discoverer
Obsius
Unknown
Etymology
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
From Jaspilite (Mineral), a compact siliceous rock which resembles jasper
Class
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Glassy
Banded, Trellis
Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
Red, Reddish Brown
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Shiny
Banded and Glassy
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
Curbing
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
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
Medical Industry
Surgery
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
Creating Artwork, Jewelry
Types
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type and Superior-type
Features
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
Is one of the oldest rock
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
Figurines
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
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.
Jaspillite is a type of sedimentary rock which is formed by the compaction and sedimentation of pieces of broken or weathered rocks and minerals.
Mineral Content
Not Available
Coesite, Quartz, Sand
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
Grain Size
Not Applicable
Large and Coarse Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Conchoidal
Porosity
Very Less Porous
Very Less Porous
Cleavage
Non-Existent
Imperfect
Toughness
Not Available
Not Available
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
5.0-5.3
Transparency
Translucent
Translucent to Opaque
Density
2.6 g/cm3
0-5.7 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
Russia
Africa
Kenya
Not Yet Found
Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
Ukraine
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
Brazil
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand
Western Australia
Obsidian vs Jaspillite 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 Jaspillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Obsidian and Properties of Jaspillite. Learn more about Obsidian vs Jaspillite in the next section. The interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Jaspillite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Obsidian and Jaspillite, 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 Jaspillite include 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.
More about Obsidian and Jaspillite
Here you can know more about Obsidian and Jaspillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Obsidian and Jaspillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Obsidian is not available and mineral content of Jaspillite includes Coesite, Quartz, Sand. You can also check out the list of all . When we have to compare Obsidian vs Jaspillite, 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, Jaspillite is available in red, reddish brown colors. Appearance of Obsidian is Shiny and that of Jaspillite is Banded and Glassy. Properties of rock is another aspect for Obsidian vs Jaspillite. The hardness of Obsidian is 5-5.5 and that of Jaspillite is 3. The types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian whereas types of Jaspillite are Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type and Superior-type. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Obsidian and Jaspillite is white. The specific heat capacity of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Jaspillite is 3.20 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 Jaspillite is heat resistant, impact resistant, wear resistant.
