Green Obsidian
Volcanic glass (SiO2-rich); natural or manufactured
Green-tinted volcanic glass; some is naturally colored by trace iron, but vivid emerald-green pieces are usually manufactured glass.
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Color
- Translucent green, olive to emerald
- Type
- crystal
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Overview
Green obsidian is obsidian (volcanic glass) with a green coloration, from subtle olive to bright emerald. As with blue obsidian, natural green obsidian does exist but is uncommon, and much of the vividly green material in the trade is manufactured or treated glass.
Genuine natural green obsidian gets its color from trace iron and fine inclusions, and is usually a soft, somewhat smoky olive or bottle-green rather than a brilliant transparent emerald. Strong, perfectly even green typically signals a man-made product.
It is sold widely for jewelry and decorative use, so awareness of natural versus synthetic material is important for buyers.
Formation & geology
Natural green obsidian forms like all obsidian, by the rapid cooling of silica-rich lava into glass. A greenish tint can develop where trace amounts of iron (in ferrous form) color the glass, sometimes combined with light scattering from tiny inclusions.
Subtly green natural obsidian is reported from a handful of volcanic regions, but it is far less common than black, brown, or mahogany obsidian.
Much brightly colored green "obsidian" is in fact slag glass or factory glass tinted with iron or chromium compounds. These are products of industrial processes rather than natural volcanism, despite often being labeled as obsidian.
How to identify it
Treat a vivid, transparent, evenly colored emerald green with caution — natural obsidian is usually darker and only gently tinted. Authentic obsidian shows conchoidal fracture, vitreous luster, hardness 5-5.5, and often contains natural flow lines, bubbles, or crystallites.
Man-made green glass tends to be very clear and uniform, may show molding swirls or perfectly spherical bubbles, and lacks natural inclusions.
Look-alikes and imitations: green bottle/slag glass, dyed stones, and even green chalcedony or moldavite can be confused with it. Moldavite, a natural tektite glass, is genuinely green but has a distinctive etched, wrinkled texture. Testing or trusted provenance is the surest check.
Uses & significance
Green obsidian, whether natural or manufactured, is fashioned into beads, pendants, spheres, tumbled stones, and ornamental carvings, prized for its translucent green glow and easy polish.
Factory-made green glass is cheap and plentiful in the craft and crystal trade, while genuine natural green obsidian is comparatively scarce and collected as a curiosity.
Metaphysically, green obsidian is associated with the heart, growth, and abundance, though such claims are spiritual rather than scientific. As with blue obsidian, buyers wanting natural material should confirm whether a piece is natural volcanic glass or man-made before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Is green obsidian natural or man-made?
Both exist; subtle olive-green natural obsidian occurs, but most bright emerald-green obsidian on the market is manufactured glass.
What gives natural green obsidian its color?
Trace iron and fine inclusions in the glass produce a soft, often smoky green tint.
How can I tell green obsidian from moldavite?
Moldavite is a natural green tektite with a distinctive etched, wrinkled surface, while obsidian is smoother with conchoidal fracture.
How hard is green obsidian?
It has a hardness of about 5 to 5.5, like other obsidian and glass, and breaks with sharp conchoidal fracture.
Green Obsidian guides
In-depth guides for identifying, valuing, and understanding Green Obsidian.
