Clear Obsidian
Volcanic glass (silica-rich, ~70-75% SiO2, amorphous)
An unusually pure, transparent-to-translucent obsidian with few inclusions; truly water-clear specimens are rare in nature.
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Color
- Colorless to pale smoky, transparent to translucent
- Type
- igneous
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Overview
Clear Obsidian is a trade name for obsidian that is unusually transparent or translucent, ranging from near-colorless to pale smoky gray. It forms when the volcanic glass contains very few of the inclusions and microbubbles that make typical obsidian dark.
Genuinely water-clear natural obsidian is uncommon; most 'clear obsidian' is faintly smoky. Because of this rarity, some material sold as clear obsidian is actually manufactured glass, so authentication matters.
It is valued ornamentally and by collectors for its glassy transparency and is sometimes faceted as a curiosity.
Formation & geology
Clear Obsidian forms by the same rapid quenching of silica-rich lava that produces all obsidian, but in zones where the melt was especially homogeneous and low in iron, inclusions, and gas bubbles. With few light-scattering features, the resulting glass is transparent or only lightly smoky.
Such clean glass typically occurs in small patches or thin sections rather than large masses, because most lava traps enough impurities and bubbles to darken the glass. This scarcity is why large, truly clear obsidian specimens are rare.
How to identify it
Confirm obsidian: conchoidal fracture, vitreous luster, hardness ~5-5.5, white streak. Clear Obsidian is transparent to translucent and colorless-to-smoky, with a glassy surface and no crystalline form.
Distinguishing from manufactured glass: natural obsidian rarely has perfectly round air bubbles; man-made glass often does and may show slag swirls. Faint smokiness and natural flow features favor genuine obsidian.
Look-alikes: clear quartz/rock crystal (crystalline, hardness 7, well-formed crystal faces) and ordinary window or bottle glass. Hardness and the lack of crystal faces help separate it from quartz.
Uses & significance
Clear Obsidian is used for tumbled stones, cabochons, faceted curiosities, and collector specimens prized for transparency. Truly clear natural pieces are scarce and therefore more sought after than ordinary obsidian.
Like other obsidian it produces extremely sharp fracture edges.
Metaphysically it is associated with clarity, truth, and insight, claims that are spiritual rather than scientific. Authenticity strongly affects collector value.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clear Obsidian real?
Yes, transparent-to-translucent obsidian exists where the glass is very pure, but truly water-clear specimens are rare, and some 'clear obsidian' is manufactured glass.
How do I tell Clear Obsidian from glass?
Natural obsidian rarely shows perfectly round bubbles and often has faint smokiness and flow features, while man-made glass commonly has round bubbles and slag swirls.
Is Clear Obsidian the same as clear quartz?
No. Clear quartz is crystalline (hardness 7) with crystal faces, while clear obsidian is amorphous glass (hardness ~5-5.5) with conchoidal fracture.
Why is clear obsidian rare?
Most lava traps iron, inclusions, and gas bubbles that darken the glass, so large, genuinely transparent obsidian is uncommon.
Clear Obsidian identified by the community
Real specimens identified with Rock Identifier.
