Snow Obsidian - Natural minerals and crystals

Snow Obsidian is a variety of Obsidian, a glassy volcanic rock formed by the rapid cooling of silica-rich lava. Its black color is punctuated with white or gray spots, which gave it its name. These spots are actually inclusions of feldspar or cristobalite crystals, a polymorph of quartz. The presence of these inclusions gives snow obsidian a unique texture and an appearance reminiscent of snowflakes, hence its name. Its chemical composition is primarily based on silicon oxide, with traces of other elements such as aluminum, potassium and iron. Due to its glassy nature, snow obsidian can be sharp and has been used in the past for making edged tools and weapons by ancient civilizations.