Colored 'Obsidian' (Glass)
Colored 'Obsidian' (Glass) is glass, (colored glass). In the hand, it rates 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, and it runs bright aqua and electric blue. Crystal-clear vividly colored 'obsidian' in blue, green, or red, real obsidian is never transparent candy color. Factory-made, mostly in China; sometimes recycled or slag glass.
The geology.
Colored 'Obsidian' (Glass) carries the formula (colored glass). It belongs to the amorphous (none) system. Its listing category is glass.
It sits at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous. Light behaviour is transparent. Specific gravity runs 2.4 to 2.6. The streak is white. It breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Crystal-clear vividly colored 'obsidian' in blue, green, or red, real obsidian is never transparent candy color.
It turns up mostly as spheres, points, tumbled, pyramids or skulls.
The origins.
Factory-made, mostly in China; sometimes recycled or slag glass.
On value, the database notes: very affordable; pay glass prices.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, marketed for communication themes, it is decorative glass, honestly pretty and nothing more.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Crystal-clear vividly colored 'obsidian' in blue, green, or red, real obsidian is never transparent candy color.
This IS the fake: sold as rare 'blue obsidian from volcanic lakes' and similar stories.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Natural obsidian | Genuine obsidian is black, brown, mahogany, or sheen-banded, at most translucent smoky gray, never clear aqua |
| Fluorite | Fluorite shows cleavage planes and is heavier |
| Topaz/aquamarine | Real gems are crystals with hardness 8; this glass is 5.5 with bubbles |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about colored 'obsidian' (glass). No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Under a loupe | Round gas bubbles under a loupe |
| By eye | Perfectly uniform color throughout |
| Scratch check | Bottle-glass hardness (~5.5) |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is (colored glass). Crystal system: Amorphous (none). Specific gravity: 2.4 to 2.6. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: Conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
Factory-made, mostly in China; sometimes recycled or slag glass.
What it gets confused with
Natural obsidian: Genuine obsidian is black, brown, mahogany, or sheen-banded, at most translucent smoky gray, never clear aqua. Fluorite: Fluorite shows cleavage planes and is heavier. Topaz/aquamarine: Real gems are crystals with hardness 8; this glass is 5.5 with bubbles.
What it is worth
Very affordable; pay glass prices.
Where buyers get caught
This IS the fake: sold as rare 'blue obsidian from volcanic lakes' and similar stories.
One more thing
Real transparent blue-green natural glass does exist, it's called moldavite's cousin class, tektite, and it's never this color; the aqua stuff is always man-made.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell colored 'obsidian' (glass), and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
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