WholesaleObsidian

Natural volcanic glass. Black, rainbow and snowflake obsidian, polished or left rough.

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Obsidian Black Boulder Cut-Base U#84 - 23"

Stone notes

Obsidian: glass from a volcano

Lava that cooled too quickly to form crystals, and one of the first stones people shaped into tools.

Obsidian forms when lava rich in silica cools so fast that its atoms have no time to arrange themselves into crystals. The result is natural glass. Because it has no crystal structure, mineralogists call it a mineraloid rather than a mineral.

Like all glass, it breaks with smooth, curved, shell-shaped surfaces, and the fresh edges can be sharper than a steel blade. People noticed early. Obsidian blades, arrowheads and polished mirrors turn up at archaeological sites around the world, and the stone was traded over great distances.

Its colours come from what is trapped inside. Tiny mineral crystals make it black. White spots of cristobalite make snowflake obsidian. Iron-rich streaks give mahogany obsidian its red-brown, and layers of microscopic inclusions make gold sheen, silver sheen and rainbow obsidian flash in the light.

Natural glass slowly changes over very long periods, so obsidian is young as rocks go. Most comes from areas with recent volcanic activity, such as Mexico, the western United States, Armenia, Turkey and Iceland.

Edges sharper than steel, made by a volcano.

About the stone

What is obsidian?

Obsidian is natural volcanic glass. It forms when silica-rich lava cools so quickly that no crystals can grow, leaving a smooth, glassy stone that breaks with curved, razor-sharp edges. People have shaped it into blades, mirrors and ornaments for thousands of years.

Reading our titles

"Cut-Base" means the piece has a flat polished base so it stands. "Unique #" or "U#" marks a one-of-a-kind piece with its own photos and size.

What it is: Volcanic glass - lava that cooled too fast to grow crystals. A mineraloid, not a mineral
Hardness: 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale
Breaks with: Curved, shell-like (conchoidal) fractures and very sharp edges
Varieties: Black; snowflake (white cristobalite spots); rainbow and gold or silver sheen (tiny inclusions that reflect light); mahogany (red-brown)
Main sources: Mexico, the western United States, Armenia, Turkey, Iceland

Varieties

Kinds of obsidian we stock

Photos are real pieces from our stock. Tap a variety to see what is in stock now.

In crystal traditions

What obsidian is traditionally used for

Crystal traditions treat black obsidian as a protective, grounding stone, and polished obsidian has been used as a mirror for thousands of years.

ProtectionGroundingClarityTruthChakra: RootZodiac: Scorpio, Sagittarius

Traditional associations, shared as folklore. They are not health or medical claims.

Black stones

Obsidian, onyx, tourmaline or hematite?

Black stones are easy to mix up in a bowl. This is how to tell the common ones apart.

	What it is	Hardness	How to tell
Obsidian	Volcanic glass	5 to 5.5	Glassy shine, curved breaks, very sharp edges
Black onyx	Chalcedony, usually dyed black	6.5 to 7	Even, waxy black; no flow lines
Black tourmaline	Crystal (schorl)	7 to 7.5	Grooved sticks, splintery breaks
Hematite	Iron oxide	5.5 to 6.5	Metallic grey, very heavy, leaves a red-brown streak
Magnetic hematite	Man-made	Varies	Strongly magnetic; natural hematite barely is

Real, treated or fake?

Natural obsidian shows flow lines, sheen or small inclusions when you turn it under a light. Completely uniform, see-through coloured "obsidian" is usually bottle glass.
Bright blue, green or red "obsidian" sold as a natural stone is almost always man-made glass. Natural green obsidian exists but is rare.
Rainbow obsidian shows its colour bands only at certain angles under a strong light. That play of colour is a good sign it is natural.

Care and cleaning

Obsidian chips easily and broken edges are sharp. Wrap pieces separately and handle rough pieces with care.
Wipe with a damp cloth; avoid knocking towers together.
Large boulders are heavy and may have a cut base; set them on a stable, level surface.

How shops sell obsidian

Towers and cut-base boulders are striking display pieces; put them on white or light shelves where the black shine stands out.
Rainbow and sheen obsidian sells better when customers can turn it under a light. Keep a small torch at the display.
Obsidian bracelets and small pieces are popular protection gifts. Pair them with black tourmaline and smoky quartz.
Halloween and the autumn season are strong months for black stones.

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On the shelf

How to display obsidian

Black stones need contrast and a point of light.

Light shelvesWhite, pale wood or linen under obsidian makes the black shine. On dark shelves it disappears.
A torch for the sheenRainbow and sheen obsidian only show their colour under a point of light. Keep a small torch at the display.
Boulders on a plinthA cut-base boulder on a low plinth near the door is a strong first impression.
Rough pieces out of reachRaw obsidian has sharp edges. Keep chunks on a higher shelf or behind the counter where small children cannot grab them.

Questions

Obsidian FAQ

Is obsidian a crystal?

Obsidian is natural volcanic glass, so it has no crystal structure. It is sold alongside crystals and is one of the oldest stones people have worked.

Is your obsidian natural?

Our obsidian listings are natural volcanic glass. If a stone in our shop is enhanced or man-made, its title and description say so.

Why do some obsidian pieces have a flat bottom?

Boulders marked "cut-base" have a flat, polished base cut so they stand upright on a shelf.

Do you sell obsidian without a minimum order?

Yes. There is no minimum order. Approved wholesale customers see their wholesale price on every product once signed in.

Is obsidian sharp?

Broken obsidian edges are extremely sharp. Polished pieces are safe to handle, but take care with rough chunks and keep them away from small children.

What is snowflake obsidian?

Black obsidian with white spots of cristobalite, a form of silica that crystallised inside the glass.

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