igneous

Snowflake Obsidian (Flower Jasper variant)

Vitreous volcanic silicate with cristobalite inclusions

Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale); Color: Black or dark green with white or light green 'patches'; Luster: Vitreous/Glassy; Structure: Amorphous (glassy) with radiating crystal spherulites; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).

Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs scale)
Color: Black or dark green with white or light green 'patches'
Luster: Vitreous/Glassy

Identified April 5, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when lava cools rapidly (extrusive igneous) before crystals can grow. The 'flowering' or 'snowflake' patterns are clusters of cristobalite spherulites formed through devitrification over geological time.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular collector's stone for tumbling and polishing.

Geological facts

While commonly called 'snowflakes', the white patches are actually a form of quartz known as cristobalite. Despite its appearance, obsidian is not technically a mineral because it lacks a crystalline structure; it is considered a 'mineraloid'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its glassy, smooth texture and distinct white/gray patterns against a dark background. Often found in areas with recent volcanic activity such as Iceland, Mexico, and the Western USA (Utah/Oregon).

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Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

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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)

mineral