OUMNH Number: | 670 |
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Name and quarry location: | Obsidian, locality unknown |
Geological description: | Obsidian. Black glassy rock speckled with round white amygdales or spherulites. |
Comments: | Obsidian is a natural glass formed by very rapid cooling of volcanic lava. Clusters of feldspar crystals can form if the glass starts to devitrify, as seen in snowflake obsidian. The principal sources of obsidian in Europe during Corsi's time were the Italian volcanic islands of Lipari and Vulcano, and the lava flows of Iceland. It also comes from many other places around the world. |
References: | Bauer (1904) 446-448; Corsi (1845) 261-262; Dietrich (2009); Price (2007) 213; Zeitner (1996) 194-195 |
Further information: |
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Corsi's classification: | Class 8. Volcanic stones; iii. Stones from extinct volcanoes |
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Corsi's text: | 158.5 Vetro vulcanico. Obsidianum. Obsidiano, Obsidio... Trovasi nell'Etiopia, ed in abbondanza presso Lipari: Ora si è scoperto anche in altri luogi |