Gem quality obsidian

[manoman]

I posted this a long time ago and thought I would show it off again. I was trading members of Arrowheadology tools and nodules of obsidian that I find at a quarry site for artifacts from other states. A member here sent me this finished beauty that he and a few knapping friends made for me from my local obsidian. I was very much taken aback when I held it....it is extremely sharp, serrated and very thin. I still don't know how they were able to do this but I'm glad they did. I turned around and sent him about 40 pounds more of the obsidian. Sadly, I haven't been able to contact him in awhile and hope he is okay. Turner, drop me a private message if you happen to see this post! I still laugh at the look on the postal clerks face when I handed her two 40 pound plus boxes for Flat Rate Shipping!

[Cannonman17]

That is an amazing job. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on some obsidian, would you consider a trade?

[joyce]

The color and transparency of it is beautiful.!
It looks very delicate!! Joyce

[Flyjunkie]

Yes, i do love "our" Obsidian!!!! Such beautiful Material, such wonderful Points are made from it..

I also am very impressed that Obsidian is Used for delicate Eye surgery to this day.. Humans can simply not make any blade with the extremely fine grain & perfect edges of Obsidian.. period. Pretty cool that one of mankind's oldest materials to make tools from is still very useful...

Yes, in my Humble Opinion, OBSIDIAN is Beautiful, useful & wonderful..

[comanche]

From Texas,,,the Obsidian makes my eyes sparkle like a kids on Christmas morning////c

[highsierra]

THIS is gem quality Obsidian. A personal find from a local site. Although only two color, it has nice transparency and sweet swirls of darker material.

[arrow719]

I've often wondered if it's even possible for obsidian to be gem quality? After all it's just glass. Costume jewelery gems are often made from glass. No doubt obsidian can be very pretty, especially when it's multi-colored but gem quality? Just thinking out loud.

[manoman]

It's just a term I use for extremely clear obsidian that has nice swirling of different qualities. There might actually be a gem quality class for obsidian, but I don't refer to it in that sense. That knapped point that was given to me was made from the same obsidian posted in this thread. When you start knapping it...putting angles on it and exposing new facets, it look like a gem in my hand. I'd make a brouch, necklace or bolo tie with this kind of material. It's just grammer I guess or how one views it.

[arrow719]

Originally Posted by manoman

It's just a term I use for extremely clear obsidian that has nice swirling of different qualities. There might actually be a gem quality class for obsidian, but I don't refer to it in that sense. That knapped point that was given to me was made from the same obsidian posted in this thread. When you start knapping it...putting angles on it and exposing new facets, it look like a gem in my hand. I'd make a brouch, necklace or bolo tie with this kind of material. It's just grammer I guess or how one views it.

No problem......lots of people use the term. I guess what I'm really wondering is exactly what is gem quality? I've never seen it specifically defined before.

[manoman]

Sounds like a good questions for some of our other members who also collection rocks and do lapidary work. I just use it because, well, I don't know. It was just there at my fingertips while at the keyboard. There is diffinately some ugly obsidian though. JMO