Black Obsidian, with its deep, mirror-like mystery, is a powerful stone for protection and grounding. Its popularity has made it a staple for collectors and spiritual seekers alike. However, this demand has also led to a flood of imitations, with common glass being passed off as genuine volcanic stone.
So, how can you be sure the piece you’re holding is the real deal? While purchasing from a trusted source like Buddha Bodhis is the surest way to guarantee authenticity, knowing how to identify genuine Black Obsidian yourself is a valuable skill. This guide provides four simple yet effective tests to distinguish real from fake.
Table of Contents
✨ Test 1: The Rainbow Eye Sheen
This is one of the most reliable indicators of genuine Black Obsidian. While the stone appears jet-black in normal light, many authentic pieces will reveal a hidden colorful sheen when exposed to a strong, direct light source like a flashlight or sunlight.
- 🌈 What to Look For: Shine a bright light on the stone’s surface and rotate it slowly. A genuine piece, especially a variety like Rainbow Obsidian, will flash subtle, concentric “eyes” or bands of green, purple, or yellow. This phenomenon is caused by the light refracting off microscopic mineral inclusions that were trapped during the lava’s rapid cooling.
- ❌ The Fake: Common black glass will not have this effect. Under strong light, it will remain a solid black or may show a simple white glare, but it will lack the deep, colorful sheen of an authentic stone. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) notes that this play-of-color is a key characteristic of certain obsidian varieties.
✨ Test 2: The Surface Luster and Imperfections
Nature is rarely perfect, and this holds true for Black Obsidian. While it is a natural glass, its finish and luster have distinct characteristics compared to manufactured glass.
- 💎 What to Look For: Genuine Black Obsidian has a beautiful, vitreous (glassy) luster, but it’s rarely a flawless, perfect mirror. Even when highly polished, you may find very subtle surface imperfections or a slightly softer sheen than that of pristine, manufactured glass.
- ❌ The Fake: Fakes are often made to look too perfect to attract buyers. They may have an unnaturally smooth, ultra-glossy, mirror-like surface that looks and feels like a simple piece of black glass tableware.
✨ Test 3: The Internal Texture and Fracture
As a volcanic glass, Black Obsidian was formed from rapidly cooled lava. This unique formation process leaves tell-tale signs within the stone.
- 🔬 What to Look For: Examine the stone closely, if possible. Authentic obsidian may have very subtle, wavy lines or layers from the flowing lava, known as flow banding. If the stone is chipped or broken, it will exhibit a conchoidal fracture—a distinctive smooth, curved, shell-like break pattern, a hallmark of natural glass as described by scientific sources like National Geographic.
- ❌ The Fake: Molded glass fakes will have a perfectly uniform internal structure. They may also contain tiny, perfectly round air bubbles, which can be a sign of the manufacturing process. While obsidian can occasionally have gas bubbles (called vesicles), they are often stretched or irregular in shape.
✨ Test 4: The Craftsmanship of Carvings
For carved pieces like pendants or statues, the manufacturing method provides crucial clues.
- 🎨 What to Look For: A genuine Black Obsidian carving is made by cutting, grinding, and polishing a solid piece of stone. This process, especially on intricate details, will often result in slightly softened edges and minor, non-uniform tool marks that are only visible under close inspection.
- ❌ The Fake: A fake is typically made by pouring molten glass into a mold. This results in perfectly sharp, uniform, and often repeating details. The lines will be too clean and precise, lacking the subtle character of a handcrafted piece. At Buddha Bodhis, we ensure all our carved pieces are genuinely handcrafted to preserve the stone’s natural energy.
Conclusion
Distinguishing real Black Obsidian from a convincing fake is essential for anyone who values the stone’s natural energy and beauty. By performing these four simple tests—checking for the rainbow eye, examining the luster, looking for natural textures, and inspecting the craftsmanship—you can make a more informed purchase.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure you are buying an authentic piece is to source it from a reputable seller who values transparency and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is Black Obsidian expensive?
No, Black Obsidian is generally a very affordable gemstone because it is relatively abundant. However, rare varieties like Rainbow or Silver Sheen Obsidian can be more valuable.
2. Does real obsidian have bubbles?
It can, but it’s not common. When bubbles (vesicles) are present in real obsidian, they are often stretched or elongated due to the flowing lava. Perfectly round bubbles are more often a sign of manufactured glass.
3. What is a conchoidal fracture?
It’s a type of break that produces a smooth, curved surface, similar to the inside of a seashell. This is a characteristic feature of amorphous materials like obsidian and flint.
4. Is Black Obsidian cold to the touch?
Yes, like most genuine crystals and stones, Black Obsidian is a poor heat conductor and should feel cool to the touch. Glass may feel slightly less cool, and plastic will feel warm or room temperature.
5. Can Black Obsidian scratch glass?
Yes. Black Obsidian has a Mohs hardness of about 5 to 5.5, which is slightly harder than most common glass (around 5). Therefore, a genuine piece should be able to put a faint scratch on a piece of glass.
6. Is Rainbow Obsidian a different stone?
No, Rainbow Obsidian is a variety of Black Obsidian that contains microscopic inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles which create the colorful sheen.
7. Why is it important to buy real Black Obsidian?
Spiritually, it is believed that only genuine, natural Black Obsidian carries the grounding and protective energies from the earth. Fakes made of glass do not possess these metaphysical properties.
8. Is Black Obsidian heavy?
It has a density similar to glass. It should feel substantial and have a decent weight for its size, unlike plastic imitations which would be very lightweight.
9. What is an “Apache Tear”?
Apache Tears are small, rounded nodules of Black Obsidian. They are a specific form of the stone and are considered genuine.
10. What is the easiest test I can do in a shop?
The light test is the easiest and most effective. Use your phone’s flashlight and shine it on the surface. Look for the colorful sheen of a rainbow eye or the subtle flow bands inside. This is often enough to distinguish it from plain black glass.
