Triple Flow (TriFlow) Obsidian
Triple Flow Obsidian is volcanic glass. 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.
When two different colors such as black and red or brown flow together the result is referred to as double flow odsidian. One of the most sought after multiple color obsidians is called TriFlow or Triple Flow Obsidian. Triple flow normally includes clear, black and brown/red obsidian mixed.These mixes of colors may be parallel flows, or random mixes looking like stirred mixture or it may be splotchy. Irregardless, the TriFlow Obsidian is one of the most sought after types of Obsidian.
What does Tri-Flow Obsidian look like and how do you tell if it is Tri-Flow?
This is a photo I took of a thin sliver of Tri-Flow Obsidian. The Black, Mahogany and Clear layers are very easy to see in almost any type of light. These photos were taken outdoors in natural sunlight. The thin clear layers show the green grass color.
The best way to determine if it is a Tri-Flow is to chip off a small piece and hold it up to the light to look for the clear layers. After being around obsidian for a while you will be able to just look at the natural specimen and see the "extra depth" of color created by the additional clear obsidian, much like a layer of clear coat paint on a car.
Be very Careful handling Obsidian. It is one of the sharpest known glass like substances in the world!
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 Triple Flow Obsidian is in high demand for knapping knife blades, arrowheads and reproduction points.
There are a myriad of colors, patterns and mixes of Obsidians, making them a very desirable collector item. Below are some pieces from our inventory and trips to Utah. (Photos of rough shown wet)
Nice TriFlow Obsidian is getting hard to find..... It is from the Glass Butte area in the Oregon Mountains where it was geologically deposited approximately 2.5 million years ago (the late Tertiary Period), during volcanic eruptions.
Item # C-TFO04196082
Triple Flow Obsidian Rough
Triple Flow Obsidian Rough from Oregon (photographed wet)
This specimen weighs 130.5 oz or 8.16 pounds (3.7kg ) and measures 7.4 x 5.8 x 5.1 inches (18.8 x 14.7 x 12.9 cm)
This piece has a mix of Black, Mahogany and Clear flows. Cutting angles determine patterns
Item # D-TFO04199053
Triple Flow Obsidian Rough
Triple Flow Obsidian Rough from Oregon (photographed wet, last 2 are dry)
This specimen weighs 146 oz or 9.12 pounds (4.13kg ) and measures 12 x 4.9 x 3.4 inches (30.5 x 12.6 x 8.7 cm)
This piece has a mix of Black, Mahogany and Clear flows. Cutting angles determine patterns
Item # F-TFO04197032
Triple Flow Obsidian Rough
This is a VERY SPECIAL Triple Flow Obsidian Rough from Oregon (photographed wet, top R is dry)
This specimen weighs 53.5 oz or 3.37 pounds (1.52kg ) and measures 5.2 x 4 x 3.6 inches (13.3 x 10.1 x 9.1 cm)
This piece has a mix of slight Black, mostly Mahogany and slight Clear flows. Specimens from this find have also had a light gold sheen effect as well. Truely a beautiful specimen! Cutting angles determine patterns
Item # OBGS01132550
Tri-Flow with Gold Sheen Mix Obsidian Rough
Tri-Flow with Gold Sheen Mix Obsidian Rough (photographed dry in its natural state)
This specimen weighs 29.4oz or 1.84 pounds (836g ) and measures 4.4 x 3.7 x 2.8 inches (11.1 x 9.5 x 7.2cm)
This amazing piece of Obsidian from Glass Butte in the high desert area of Central Oregon has a basic Tri-Flow configuration with Black, Mahogany and Clear obsidian coloration but adds an extra kick with Paintbrush Stroke looking Gold Sheen in the mix! This one should be Very Interesting to cut or work. Lots of material for various work cutting or cabbing or knapping or...just keep it as a natural specimen.