Sec. IV, Ch. 25: Semi-Precious Stones, Obsidian

Sec. IV, Ch. 24:  Semi-Precious Stones, Moroxite Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 26: Semi-Precious Stones, Oriental Onyx Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CHAPTER XXV.
OBSIDIAN.
EOLOGISTS apply this name to a volcanic glass or fused lava, and at first sight it may seem strange that such a substance should find a description in a work on Precious Stones. Obsidian was, however, used by the Ancients as an ornamental stone, and it is still occasionally cut and polished. It is generally of bottle-green colour, and when cut looks somewhat like a Peridot or a green Tourmaline. The great objection to the stone is its softness, which is rather less than that of Felspar. A brown streaked American variety is cut and polished under the name of Mahogany Obsidian. A Siberian variety, with a pleasing silvery sheen, is occasionally used in the manufacture of snuff-boxes and other ornamental articles. Curious globular masses of Obsidian, known from a Siberian locality as Marekanite, sometimes explode, when struck, like Ruperts'drops. "Obsidian bombs" are occasionally found in Western Australia, and elsewhere.
OBSIDIAN.
Sec. IV, Ch. 24:  Semi-Precious Stones, Moroxite Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 26: Semi-Precious Stones, Oriental Onyx
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