Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:13 am Posts: 104 Location: vienna, austria
hi all,
i found a 8x6mm piece of so-called emerald obsidianite in the depths of our safes.
the accompanying "certificate" claims that this "gem-like stone" is fused from rock coming from "10-20 miles below the earth´s surface" and gathered after the 1981 eruption of mt. st. helens.
i did some online research and found somebody telling the story that after the eruption some workers with blowpipes found that the volcanic sputum turned green when heated.
another website claims that the stuff also comes in ruby red.
now that sounds like a lot of hogwash and/or boldfaced marketing talk to me.
would anybody know more and is there a price tag attached to it?
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:24 am Posts: 4997 Location: McDonough GA
It's hogwash. Obsidianite or "Helenite" as it's called here in the states is supposedly sand, dust, ash what have you, from the Mt St Helen's eruption that has been fused. The resulting colors are NOT natural but are caused by additives. Someone else will have to speak to what those are.
That said, the pieces I've seen have been very pretty but as with most glass "gems" they are not very durable.
I just returned from the Mt. St. Helens area where I've just learned of this stone. The jewelry being made from this is relatively inexpensive. 3x5 mm emerald cut rings set in sterling silver are retailing for around $70US in a downtown Portland, Oregon jewelry store.
It is lab created from volcanic ash. The chemical composition of the ash contains trace amounts of both copper and chromium which I suspect lends the stone it green color.
It is also known as Helenite with obvious reference to the volcano, no doubt. It is claimed to be 5.5-6 on the Mohls scale, but I have not tested it.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum