Rainbow Obsidian is a natural variety of Obsidian that appears black in dull light, but when it is hit with bright light then beautiful, bright purples, greens, pinks and even blues appear. The colours within this volcanic glass are caused by reflections off the microscopic bubbles and nanoparticle inclusions of minerals such as Magnetite. The most well known locality for Rainbow Obsidian is Mexico, although locations in the US have produced beautifully coloured specimens.
Alternative Names | Iris Obsidian |
Colour | Black, Rainbow |
Hardness | 5 - 6 |
Crystal system | Amorphous |
Streak | White |
Lustre | Vitreous |
Main Locations | USA, Mexico |
Chakra | Root |
Zodiac | Cancer |
Numerology | 1 |
Planetary | Earth |
Element | Earth |