Electric Blue Obsidian
Volcanic glass (silica-rich, ~70-75% SiO2, amorphous)
Obsidian with a vivid blue sheen or hue; natural blue obsidian is rare, and intensely uniform blue material is usually manufactured glass.
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Color
- Vivid blue, or black with electric-blue sheen
- Type
- igneous
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Overview
Electric Blue Obsidian is a trade name for obsidian showing bright blue coloration or a blue iridescent sheen. Natural blue obsidian does occur but is genuinely rare; intensely and uniformly colored 'electric blue obsidian' is most often manufactured glass.
Natural blue-sheen obsidian gets its color from light interference off aligned nanoscale inclusions over a dark base, similar to rainbow and sheen obsidians. Truly body-colored blue volcanic glass can result from trace elements, but such material is scarce.
The name is popular in jewelry and crystal markets, so distinguishing genuine volcanic glass from factory glass is important to buyers.
Formation & geology
Natural obsidian forms by the rapid quenching of silica-rich lava into an amorphous glass. A blue sheen arises when thin, aligned inclusion layers cause thin-film interference, reflecting blue light at specific angles.
Body-color blue in natural glass would require particular trace-element chemistry and is uncommon. Because vivid, even blue is easy to achieve industrially by adding cobalt or other colorants to molten glass, much of the bright 'electric blue obsidian' sold today is manufactured rather than volcanic in origin.
How to identify it
Confirm glass first: conchoidal fracture, vitreous luster, hardness ~5-5.5, white streak. For natural blue-sheen obsidian, the blue should be a directional iridescence over a dark body, shifting as you tilt it.
Manufactured-glass red flags: uniform saturated blue, transparency like bottle glass, round trapped bubbles, and slag-like swirling. Natural obsidian rarely shows perfectly round bubbles.
Look-alikes: blue chalcedony and apatite (crystalline, different hardness), plus dyed or coated glass. The presence of even, intense color usually points to man-made material rather than natural obsidian.
Uses & significance
Electric Blue Obsidian, natural or manufactured, is used for beads, pendants, tumbled stones, and decorative items where its vivid color is the selling point.
Genuine natural blue-sheen obsidian is collectible; man-made versions are purely ornamental.
Metaphysically it is marketed for communication, intuition, and the throat chakra, claims that are spiritual rather than scientific. As with other brightly colored obsidians, value hinges on whether the piece is authentic volcanic glass.
Frequently asked questions
Is Electric Blue Obsidian real?
Natural blue obsidian exists but is rare. Much vividly colored 'electric blue obsidian' is manufactured glass, so verify whether a piece is genuine volcanic glass.
How do I spot fake blue obsidian?
Manufactured glass tends to be uniformly and intensely colored, often translucent like bottle glass, with round air bubbles and slag swirls that natural obsidian lacks.
What gives natural blue obsidian its color?
Usually a blue iridescent sheen from light interference off aligned nanoscale inclusions over a dark base, rather than a true blue pigment.
How hard is Electric Blue Obsidian?
If it is true obsidian or glass, about 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale, with sharp conchoidal fracture.
Electric Blue Obsidian guides
In-depth guides for identifying, valuing, and understanding Electric Blue Obsidian.
