Mahogany obsidian pebble Mexico A

Obsidian is a silica-rich volcanic rock. Different types of obsidian exist, varying due to the rock's chemical composition. Obsidian is actually a natural glass. It forms during an eruption of silica-rich lava with less than 3% water. As it exits the volcano, it cools very rapidly, freezing the crystallization process.

This can be likened to a piece of lava suddenly frozen as it emerges from the volcano. The direct consequence of this phenomenon is the rock's inability to crystallize. The result is the creation of a volcanic glass with a uniform texture, qualified as an amorphous mineral. Furthermore, obsidian has sharp edges and very fine blades. It is a natural mineral with a complex composition.

Thus, obsidian is essentially composed of silicon dioxide, about 70% or more. Its fracture is conchoidal (i.e., grooved with curved and concentric striations) and its hardness is 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It has different colors and reflections due to the volcano where it was discovered and its various inclusions. It should be noted that each deposit, linked to a volcano, provides a different obsidian.

Green, brown, gray, or black, it can sometimes have golden, silvery, or even all colors of the rainbow reflections (an effect produced by the presence of hematite or magnesite). It also happens that two colors of obsidian mix.

Traces of obsidian are found in certain sharp objects dating back approximately 2 to 4 million years, particularly in Kenya. During archaeological excavations, knives, arrows, and spears have been discovered. Sometimes, depending on its composition, obsidian can be polished to make rustic mirrors.

As early as 7,000 BCE, obsidian was widely used in surgery due to its cutting properties. Evidence of trepanation, the removal of a part of the skull bone either to clean a wound or to allow spirits to enter, has been found.

In Mesopotamia, traces of obsidian blades have been identified as early as 5,000 BCE.

In Egypt, obsidian was brought from the Red Sea, Greece, or Italy. Egyptians used it for its beauty, mystery, and value. They made the eyes of their statues, notably those in Tutankhamun's mask (1323 BCE). Obsius, returning from Ethiopia, brought back obsidians and decided to name them "obsidianus" in Latin. Obsidian was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects, jewelry, or tools.

However, in Mexico, there is another legend. In times when indigenous people lacked food, men would go hunting where they had to face wild beasts, even mammoths. They left women and children under the protection of the elders. Then, one day, the tribe was attacked by wild and ferocious hyenas. But the elders no longer had weapons when young Obsid, son of the bravest warrior, saw a shiny black stone on the ground. He firmly attached it to a piece of wood. He threw this makeshift weapon at one of the hyenas, which howled in pain, scaring away all the others. The whole tribe honored young Obsid and granted him warrior status, and the stone was thus named after him.

In the Navajo tribe, obsidian was one of the 4 sacred stones. The obsidian mountain corresponds to Mount Hesperus. In some of their creation stories, the human heart is said to have been created by the gods with obsidian.

For generations, mages, sorcerers, or prophets have used polished obsidian as a mirror. They claimed to be able to read the future in it. But it was Dr. John Dee (1527 - 1608) who used it again to spread his prophecies. He became very famous, and history tells that he helped thwart certain plots against the English crown.

The main obsidian deposits are in Mexico (Mahogany obsidian), Madagascar, the United States, etc.

Sometimes, two obsidians mix and become a single specimen. The most famous combination of shades is that of mahogany obsidian. It has two colors: mahogany and black. Mahogany obsidian is actually a natural glass.

In fact, this stone is a rather brown to red variety with brown or black spots. These colors are due to metallic traces.

Mahogany obsidian comes from Mexico. This wonderful reddish-brown volcanic stone is also called mahagonite obsidian or mahogany. The term "mahogany" is mainly used in the United States, as it is the literal English translation of the color mahogany.

This stone is very affordable. One can obtain a stone, or even a piece of jewelry, for about ten euros. Rough stones are even cheaper. There are obsidian layers that can be up to 40m thick. This stone has a very sharp conchoidal fracture.