FactSheet – Obsidian
Pronounced: 'ob-sid-e-un'

Origin
Natural glass formed from rapidly cooling lava from a volcano. The speed of cooling was so fast that crystals did not have time to form. Obsidian can be fractured to produce sharp edges and has been used since pre-historic times for cutting tools, arrowheads, ornaments and jewellery. It was even polished to make a primitive mirror! The quote ‘Through a glass darkly’ (Shakespeare) refers to obsidian.

Composition: Mainly silicon dioxide: SiO2
Structure: Amorphous (no distinct crystal structure). A rough surface in natural state with distinctive jagged, scarred texture.
Inclusions: These can produce a metallic sheen (e.g. rainbow obsidian or goldsheen/silversheen obsidian). It can include internal gas bubbles or crystals to produce a snowflake effect (snowflake obsidian).

Sources
Crystals (UK) obsidian is from Mexico.

Our view...
Much of our carved obsidian is crafted by a single family who we meet once a year. The father’s hands are well scarred from this very sharp material. Their challenge is to artistically highlight the sheens and patterns in individual pieces.

Highly skilled Chinese carvers produce our top end pieces, such as the largest AA Grade hearts. For the last two years we have selected rough obsidian and arranged shipment to our Chinese carvers from whence it returns via Hong Kong! This can take up to a year but we believe the obsidian we sell is amongst the finest, if not THE finest, in Europe.

Our commitment to obsidian is an example of our developing and encouraging appreciation of a ludicrously neglected stone. How often we heard ignorant people suggesting it was not worthy of gold settings or use in large bangles! How sadly misguided!

Ros Mason – March 2006
© Crystals (UK) Ltd. T/A Crystals Reg. No. 5056864.

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Birthstones
& Zodiac stones
Our choices of stones are an amalgamation of modern and traditional systems, as well as those originating from Roman, Hebrew and Ayurvedic sources. We hope you find them useful.


Birthstones

January – Garnet
(also Rose Quartz)

February – Amethyst
(also Onyx)

March – Aquamarine
(also Bloodstone, Red Jasper)

April – Diamond
(also Rock Crystal/Quartz)

May – Emerald
(also Agate, Chrysoprase)

June – Moonstone
(also Pearl, Alexandrite)

July – Ruby
(also Jade, Carnelian)

August – Peridot
(also Carnelian, Sardonyx)

September – Sapphire
(also Chrysolite, Lapis Lazuli)

October – Opal
(also Beryl, Pink Tourmaline)

November – Yellow Topaz
(also Citrine)

December – Turquoise
(also Blue Topaz)


Zodiac Stones

Aquarius – Garnet

Pisces – Amethyst

Aries – Bloodstone

Taurus – Sapphire

Gemini – Agate

Cancer – Emerald

Leo – Onyx

Virgo – Carnelian

Libra – Chrysolite

Scorpio – Beryl

Sagittarius – Topaz

Capricorn – Ruby

Crystals (UK) Ltd.
Head Office: 13 Norman Court, Budlake Rd, Marsh Barton
Exeter EX2 8PY, UK
www.crystalshop.co.uk