igneous

Snowflake Obsidian

Spherulitic Obsidian (primarily SiO2 with Cristobalite inclusions)

Hardness: 5-5.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Black with white or gray 'snowflake' patches; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Amorphous (glass) with crystalline inclusions; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.35–2.60.

Hardness: 5-5
Color: Black with white or gray 'snowflake' patches
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 20, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the rapid cooling of felsic lava. The 'snowflakes' are spherulites of white cristobalite (a type of quartz) that form as the glass begins to devitrify over time.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular palm stone for mineral collectors and metaphysical practitioners.

Geological facts

Unlike minerals, obsidian is a volcanic glass and technically a 'mineraloid' because it lacks a crystalline structure. The white patches represent the process of the glass returning to a more stable crystalline state.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy black base and distinct radiating white clusters. Commonly found in volcanic regions like Utah (USA), Mexico, and Iceland. In the field, look for smooth, sharp edges where it has chipped.

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Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous

Magnetite

Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4)

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Blue Apatite

Apatite (Group), Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)

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Sodalite

Sodalite - Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

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Magnetite

Magnetite (Fe3O4)

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