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Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. Obsidian is commonly found within the margins of rhyolitic lava flows known as obsidian flows, where the chemical composition (high silica content) induces a high viscosity and polymerization degree of the lava. The inhibition of atomic diffusion through this highly viscous and polymerized lava explains the lack of crystal growth. Obsidian is hard and brittle; it therefore fractures with very sharp edges, which were used in the past in cutting and piercing tools, and it has been used experimentally as surgical scalpel blades. ==Origin and properties== The translation into English of ''Natural History'' written by the elder Pliny of Rome shows a few sentences on the subject of a volcanic glass called Obsian, so named from its resemblance to a stone (''obsiānus lapis'') found in Ethiopia by Obsius, a Roman explorer.〔(obsidian ). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford University Press (1996). Retrieved 2011-11-20.〕〔D Harper. (obsidian ). Etymology online. 2012-06-17〕〔M H Manser. (The Facts On File Dictionary of Allusions ). Infobase Publishing, 2008, ISBN 0816071055.〕 Obsidian is the rock formed as a result of quickly cooled lava, which is the parent material.〔M E Malainey. (Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science: Analytical Techniques'' ), Springer, 2010 ISBN 1441957030〕 Tektites were once thought by many to be obsidian produced by lunar volcanic eruptions, though few scientists now adhere to this hypothesis. Obsidian is mineral-like, but not a true mineral because as a glass it is not crystalline; in addition, its composition is too complex to comprise a single mineral. It is sometimes classified as a mineraloid. Though obsidian is usually dark in color similar to mafic rocks such as basalt, obsidian's composition is extremely felsic. Obsidian consists mainly of SiO2 (silicon dioxide), usually 70% or more. Crystalline rocks with obsidian's composition include granite and rhyolite. Because obsidian is metastable at the Earth's surface (over time the glass becomes fine-grained mineral crystals), no obsidian has been found that is older than Cretaceous age. This breakdown of obsidian is accelerated by the presence of water. Having a low water content when newly formed, typically less than 1% water by weight,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Perlite – Mineral Deposit Profiles, B.C. Geological Survey )〕 obsidian becomes progressively hydrated when exposed to groundwater, forming perlite. Pure obsidian is usually dark in appearance, though the color varies depending on the presence of impurities. Iron and magnesium typically give the obsidian a dark brown to black color. Very few samples are nearly colorless. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered crystals of cristobalite in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake pattern (''snowflake obsidian''). Obsidian may contain patterns of gas bubbles remaining from the lava flow, aligned along layers created as the molten rock was flowing before being cooled. These bubbles can produce interesting effects such as a golden sheen (''sheen obsidian''). An iridescent, rainbow-like sheen (''rainbow obsidian'') is caused by inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「obsidian」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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