What is Obsidian?
A natural stone known to have very interesting and beneficial properties, Obsidian is undoubtedly a stone that will suit many people.
Its multiple benefits make it a popular natural stone in the field of lithotherapy and are therefore highly recommended by lithotherapists for various problems.
The origin and the great history of this natural stone fascinate both professionals in the field and the many users who benefit from its benefits.
An overview of the various information concerning this magnificent natural stone with its many virtues and benefits is essential, just to let you know even more about this wonder of nature.
Can obsidian bask in the sun?
Obsidian can be basked in the sun, but not for too long. If the sun directly basks obsidian, it will affect the quality.
Don’t try the sun degaussing method circulated on the Internet. Not only will it have no effect, but it will also have the opposite effect.
When wearing obsidian, you need to pay attention to avoid prolonged exposure to high temperature or exposure to sunlight, otherwise obsidian will turn white due to high temperature, and in severe cases, it will cause obsidian to dry and crack.
History of Obsidian
is one of the Obsidian natural stone natural stones whose use dates back hundreds of millennia or even much more.
The oldest use of this volcanic rock dates from around 1,500,000 BC. Objects have been found in the Kariandusi site in the rift fault in Kenya, they date from the Stone Age and maybe older.
Its ease of cutting and its excellent cutting edge have thus been used to make many tools and weapons for hunting or war. In ancient Egypt, we find traces of its presence in circumcision rituals where its cutting edge was used.
We find obsidian blades dating from 5 millennia before our era, and many materials have been extracted dating from this time in Turkey.
The Greeks of the island of Milos had already understood the value of this rock and were already using it long before the discovery of iron.
They were also able to prosper in business and become rich through its trade. In Mexico, this volcanic rock is at the center of many studies since it has been used in various fields ranging from commercial exchanges to armed conflicts. It was also used for decoration, the manufacture of jewelry and everyday tools, each rock being from a volcano, this gave rise to a differentiation of the stones as well as their values.
For certain civilizations like the Aztecs, obsidian was sacred, named Itztli or Teotl, it was particularly associated with the “smoking mirror”, the god Tezcatlipoca being linked to divination and witchcraft.
In Europe, it was 8000 BC, thanks to trade, that this natural stone made its appearance on the continent, very quickly colonizing habits. Nowadays, this stone is used in eye and cardiac surgery thanks to its cutting edge which is finer and sharper than a steel scalpel.
Obsidian – properties, virtues and purification
Known as a very beautiful natural stone full of virtues, obsidian is in fact a rock that was formed in a natural way.
It forms when the lava of a volcano solidifies very quickly, indeed, when the cooling of the lava is done so quickly, the minerals do not have time to crystallize and this gives a rock.
This rock will therefore have the particularity of being formed of natural volcanic stone, this is a rock of volcanic origin. It is therefore safe to say that a volcanic eruption may be the cause of the formation of obsidian.
This natural stone of volcanic origin is therefore the result of a geological process during which a rather particular and rare mechanism takes place. Indeed, this volcanic rock is formed by very rapid cooling of the gas-rich magmatic lava.
Only these gases are too viscous to be able to escape, they thus remain trapped in the rock which solidifies quickly.
The term “ Obsidian ” comes from the name “Obsius” which is the Roman who first brought a piece of this natural stone to Rome from Ethiopia.
This is how, over time, this name was finally adopted as that of this volcanic rock.
Being a volcanic or magmatic rock, it is clear that you have to go to volcanic areas to hope to be able to find this natural stone.
Nowadays, they are widely used in the field of jewelry making, but also in works of art. It must be noted that the exploitation of deposits of this natural stone is not easy, especially with regard to exploitation.
There is fairly restrictive legislation with many rules to follow scrupulously to pick it up. are thus found in Obsidian deposits in countries such as Ethiopia, Japan, New Mexico, the United States, Hungary, Iceland and Turkey.
Obsidians can be exposed to the sun, but they should not be exposed to the sun for a long time to avoid damage.
In addition, obsidian also requires attention to maintenance. Take obsidian bracelets as an example.
When placing obsidian bracelets, it is best to place them on a soft cloth, not directly on the table, to prevent scratches on the surface.
If the obsidian bracelet needs to be cleaned, it is best to use purified water. Avoid colliding with hard objects.
Although obsidian has high hardness, it is prone to cracks after impact, which greatly damages its perfection and economic value.
Obsidian is actually formed after volcanic eruption magma encounters a low-temperature environment, the periphery of the magma cools rapidly and condenses, and then undergoes long-term geological processes.
Therefore, obsidian is mainly produced in areas with more active volcanoes, such as Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, and Java Island.
If obsidian appears to fade, it may be because it has been contaminated with chemical ingredients for a long time, such as common shampoos, cosmetics, perfumes, etc., the surface of obsidian will be gradually corroded by chemical ingredients, and obsidian will also fade.
Obsidian is fragile. The hardness of obsidian is 5.2-6.2, but its toughness is relatively small.
When it collides with other hard objects or falls to the ground, it is easy to be damaged and shattered.
In fact, the hardness of obsidian is relatively high, and ordinary metals are not easy to scratch, but the crack resistance of jade is mainly related to toughness.
Obsidian is brittle. Obsidian is one of the common black gemstones in daily life. Its hardness is 5.2-6.2, and its toughness is smaller than most.
If obsidian collides with a hard object or falls directly to the ground, it is likely to be damaged or shattered.
Therefore, you should pay more attention to protection and maintenance when wearing obsidian.
