Rainbow Obsidian
“The various colors of obsidian are a result of several factors. Clear varieties of obsidian contain very few opaque impurities or microscopic mineral crystals. Red or brown obsidian generally results from tiny crystals or inclusions of hematite or limonite (iron oxide). Abundant, microscopic crystals of minerals like magnetite, hornblende, pyroxene, plagioclase and biotite, combined with tiny fragments of rock, likely produce the jet-black varieties of obsidian. Microscopic crystals of various types of feldspars may yield the unique blue, green, purple or bronze colors associated with rainbow obsidian. The reflectance of rainbow obsidian is likely attributed to a preferred orientation of microscopic crystals of feldspar or mica oriented along flow layers.
A certain amount of water always is present in obsidian. Very small inclusions of water vapor in the form of bubbles often are trapped in the glass. Tiny gas bubbles that have been stretched nearly flat along the flow layers in obsidian generally cause the reflectance of gold sheen and silver sheen obsidian. Some of these bubbles are visible to the naked eye. The bubbles can be seen readily with a strong magnifying glass or a microscope. Obsidian is relatively unstable from a geologic perspective. It is rare to find obsidian older than about 20 million years, which is very youthful in comparison to most continental rocks that form the Earth's crust. Over a long period of time, obsidian gradually changes from glass to rock in a process known as "devitrification." In this process, the silica molecules within the glass slowly rearrange into organized crystal patterns. The "snowflakes" in snowflake obsidian are quartz crystals that have formed through devitrification of the original obsidian. The crystals that develop through devitrification cause obsidian to lose its conchoidal fracture and glassy texture.”
Obsidian is relatively soft with a typical hardness rating of 5 to 5.5. Obsidian, unlike crystals, has no regular structure and therefore fractures in smooth conchoidal (curved) shapes. Quality Rainbow Obsidian is in high demand for making jewelery and artistic carvings and displays.
Obsidian can be found in locations which have experienced rhyolitic eruptions. It can be found in Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Greece, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Scotland, Turkey and the United States. Obsidian flows which may be hiked on are found within the calderas of Newberry Volcano and Medicine Lake Volcano in the Cascade Range of western North America, and at Inyo Craters east of the Sierra Nevada in California. Yellowstone National Park has a mountainside containing obsidian located between Mammoth Hot Springs and the Norris Geyser Basin, and deposits can be found in many other western U.S. states including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Obsidian can also be found in the eastern U.S. states of Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
information source courtesy of... http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/obsidian
This Rainbow Obsidian listed below was found in the Warner Mountains of northeastern California without the use of any motorized equipment prior to the new restrictions being in effect. As of May 2018 new restrictions were enacted on collecting Warner Mountain Obsidian. This is the current year information;
Modoc National Forest Office Alturus — Obsidian collection will open for the 2019 season on Tuesday, June 11 at Lassen/Rainbow, Middle Fork Davis Creek (where Rainbow Obsidian is found), Needles (where Needle Obsidian is found) and Pink Lady (where Pink Obsidian is found) collection sites in the Warner Mountains, according to a USFS news release.
Obsidian collection on the Modoc National Forest requires either a personal-use permit or a commercial contract.
Only the four previously mentioned sites in the Warner Mountains are open to obsidian collection on the Modoc National Forest; it is prohibited in all other areas to protect traditional cultural resources. Please do not remove obsidian from any other locations, including Glass Mountain near Medicine Lake.
Personal-use collection permits will be available at the following locations: Modoc National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alturas, 225 W. Eighth St., Warner Mountain Ranger District Office in Cedarville, 710 Townsend St., Davis Creek Mercantile, 41942 Highway 395, and the two Fremont-Winema National Forest offices in Lakeview, including the Lakeview District Office at 18049 Highway 395 and Forest Supervisor’s Office at 1301 S. G St. These personal-use permits are for non-commercial collection only, and the obsidian obtained with them may not be sold or traded.
Commercial permits will be available for sale at a meeting to be held on June 11 at 9 a.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alturas. Commercial miners are required to attend this meeting, where they will receive further instructions and be able to purchase permits. On-site inspections at the collection areas will be conducted after the meeting. A total of 50 cubic yards, including overburden, is available from each of the four sites for commercial purposes. These amounts will be divided among commercial miners present at the meeting using a lottery system.
“Following the conditions in both the commercial and personal-use permits is critical to protecting cultural and natural resources and the future continuation of the obsidian collection program on the Modoc National Forest,” said Forest Geologist Tyanna Blaschak.
Daily excavation and removal quantities must be tallied in a log provided by the Forest Service before the commercial permittee leaves the collection area each day. Commercial collection sites are to be marked with white stakes at corners and may not overlap. Additional conditions and limitations will be provided in the contracts and discussed at the June 11 meeting. These requirements must be met in order to continue permitting of obsidian collection on the Modoc National Forest. Please call 530-233- 5811 for more information.
Learn more about obsidian and other special forest products at: https://go.usa.gov/xQmHU
this information courtesy of: https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/obsidian-collection-season-opens-june/article_3b685174-e6c4-5ffb-9bb3-7ac8228db994.html
Be very Careful handling rough Obsidian. We suggest wearing leather gloves... It is one of the sharpest known glass like substances in the world!
Item # E-OBSR06190970
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
This specimen weighs 13.5 oz or 0.84 pounds (383g) and measures 4.6 x 2.7 x 1.3 inches (11.7 x 6.9 x 3.3cm)
The Color sheen in this Obsidian is only visible from certain angles in a strong enough light. Without the correct lighting the obsidian can appear to be a deep patent leather black. Viewing the obsidian wet will bring out the colors showing what it would look like if it were polished. If you wish to see these colors we suggest you view the obsidian in bright sunlight or under a daylight LED flood lamp. View the obsidian from every angle and side to see the amazing rainbow of colors mother nature has provided us with. The colors under LED may be slightly more intense than in natural sunlight. First Photo is cropped and taken wet under LED Daylight Flood in a Blackout Box, the remainder are un-cropped, taken dry, outdoors in natural sunlight.
Item # F-OBSR06193411
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
This specimen weighs 19.5 oz or 1.22 pounds (554g) and measures 6.1 x 2.9 x 1.9 inches (15.6 x 7.4 x 4.8cm)
The Color sheen in this Obsidian is only visible from certain angles in a strong enough light. Without the correct lighting the obsidian can appear to be a deep patent leather black. Viewing the obsidian wet will bring out the colors showing what it would look like if it were polished. If you wish to see these colors we suggest you view the obsidian in bright sunlight or under a daylight LED flood lamp. View the obsidian from every angle and side to see the amazing rainbow of colors mother nature has provided us with. The colors under LED may be slightly more intense than in natural sunlight. First Photo is cropped and taken wet under LED Daylight Flood in a Blackout Box, the remainder are un-cropped, taken dry, outdoors in natural sunlight.
Item # G-OBSR06191772
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
This specimen weighs 47.3 oz or 2.96 pounds (1.343kg) and measures 5.7 x 5.2 x 2.2 inches (14.6 x 13.2 x 5.7cm)
The Color sheen in this Obsidian is only visible from certain angles in a strong enough light. Without the correct lighting the obsidian can appear to be a deep patent leather black. Viewing the obsidian wet will bring out the colors showing what it would look like if it were polished. If you wish to see these colors we suggest you view the obsidian in bright sunlight or under a daylight LED flood lamp. View the obsidian from every angle and side to see the amazing rainbow of colors mother nature has provided us with. The colors under LED may be slightly more intense than in natural sunlight. First Photo is cropped and taken wet under LED Daylight Flood in a Blackout Box, the remainder are un-cropped, taken dry, outdoors in natural sunlight.
Item # H-OBSR06196921
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
Rainbow Obsidian Rough Specimen from the Warner Mountains
This specimen weighs 22.1 oz or 1.38 pounds (628g) and measures 4.8 x 3.8 x 2.6 inches (12.2 x 9.8 x 6.7cm)
The Color sheen in this Obsidian is only visible from certain angles in a strong enough light. Without the correct lighting the obsidian can appear to be a deep patent leather black. Viewing the obsidian wet will bring out the colors showing what it would look like if it were polished. If you wish to see these colors we suggest you view the obsidian in bright sunlight or under a daylight LED flood lamp. View the obsidian from every angle and side to see the amazing rainbow of colors mother nature has provided us with. The colors under LED may be slightly more intense than in natural sunlight. First Photo is cropped and taken wet under LED Daylight Flood in a Blackout Box, the remainder are un-cropped, taken dry, outdoors in natural sunlight.