Green Sheen Obsidian

Item Description

Obsidian is essentially volcanic glass that cools so quickly it does not have time to crystallize, so it is found in amorphous masses, but they are often gem quality. Years ago in Mexico a different type of Obsidian was found, named Green Sheen Obsidian. This material shows a unique, emerald colored iridescence on the surface, not unlike what you might see in iridescent Feldspar like Labradorite. After doing some research, I found out that analysis revealed the iridescence in this Obsidian is actually caused by fact that the surface of the stones have a thin film of nano-metricised crystals of Magnetite. The crystals cause an optical interference, in the return of light, and give us the unique reflective color on the surface. This phenomenon is incredibly difficult to capture in photos, but we've done our best. It really is one of those gems you have to see in person to fully appreciate its beauty. With that said, it's a larger than average example of this unique material, and would make a nice addition to any gem collection.