obsidian
Black volcanic glass
Obsidian is a dark volcanic glass formed when lava cools rapidly.
It has a smooth, glossy surface and breaks into sharp edges, making it useful for ancient tools and weapons.
The color is typically jet black but can include bands of gray or brown.
An obsidian blade, obsidian arrowheads.
The word often evokes sleekness or darkness: obsidian eyes, an obsidian sky.
Erupted liquid stone
- magmaMolten rock underground
- volcanic glassAmorphous ignite rock
- igneousFormed from cooled magma
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
basalt · pumice · geology · extrusive · pyroclastic · tephra · scoria · rhyolite
Darkest possible hue
- glassySmooth and shiny
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- reflectiveCasting back light
- opaqueImpassable to light
shiny · sleek · dark · smooth · mirror-like · translucent · jet · vitreous
Striking stone to shape tools
- arrowheadsSharpened projectile tips
- bladesSharp flat cutting parts
- scrapersTools for stripping surfaces
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
lithic · Paleolithic · Neolithic · spearhead · core · handaxe · Mesoamerican · Aztec
lava
Erupted liquid stone
- magmaMolten rock underground
- volcanic glassAmorphous ignite rock
- igneousFormed from cooled magma
silica · basalt · pumice · geology · extrusive · pyroclastic · tephra · scoria · rhyolite · andesite
black
Darkest possible hue
- glassySmooth and shiny
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- reflectiveCasting back light
opaque · shiny · sleek · dark · smooth · mirror-like · translucent · jet · vitreous · glossy
flintknapping
Striking stone to shape tools
- arrowheadsSharpened projectile tips
- bladesSharp flat cutting parts
- scrapersTools for stripping surfaces
prehistoric · lithic · Paleolithic · Neolithic · spearhead · core · handaxe · Mesoamerican · Aztec · macuahuitl
razor-sharp
Extremely fine-edged
edge · surgical · incision · fracture · flake · splinter · shard · precision · keenness · honed
jewelry
Ornamental personal accessories
- cabochonDomed, unfaceted gemstone
- pendantSuspended jewelry ornament
- beadsSmall pierced ornaments for stringing
necklace · bracelet · earrings · polished · lapidary · carving · figurine · sculpture · inlay · amulet
- black mineralsgraphite, onyx, jet, galena, biotite
- dark rocksbasalt, coal, slate, anthracite, onyx
- Mineraloidsopal, tektite, moldavite, fulgurite, volcanic glass
- volcanic glasspumice, pitchstone, perlite
- earth science stuffrocks, minerals, fossils, soil, sand
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- obsidian bladeTool of volcanic glass
- obsidian knifeBlade of volcanic glass