what is obsidians mineral composition?
2007-10-27 08:52:10 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Obsidian is volcanic glass, so its composition is mostly silica (> 75% SiO2) with some impurities like water and iron oxide.
2007-10-27 11:14:23 · answer #1 · answered by minefinder 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Composition Of Obsidian
2016-12-26 13:58:15 · answer #2 · answered by parke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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What is the mieral composition of obsidian?
what is obsidians mineral composition?
2015-08-24 13:14:03 · answer #3 · answered by Nomi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question!!
The mineral composition is highly variable depending on what is being erupted at the time. What makes obsidian so unique is its crystalline structure...or lack thereof.
Obsidian is formed when magma cools virtually instantly, such as when a flow goes directly into a large body of water. When liquid magma cools so quickly, there is no chance for the material in the flow to arrange itself into well formed crystals like you would find in other igneous rocks. It therefore becomes a sort of homogeneous hodge-podge of whatever minerals are present in the lava flow at the time.
2007-10-27 09:53:00 · answer #4 · answered by the waterbourne AM 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The mineral comp of obsidian is actually Microcrystallne Quartz. It is made practally just like glass...just it forms its dark color from the magma that it once was.
2007-10-28 07:37:33 · answer #5 · answered by Richard F 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe it is ash and sand, but not really sure. Obsidian was used in the Mesopotamia Civilization as currency.
2007-10-27 09:11:15 · answer #6 · answered by DynamiteAnswers 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋