The main difference between black obsidian and black tourmaline is that black obsidian has a smooth and uniform texture, while black tourmaline has a rough and lumpy texture.
Black obsidian and black tourmaline are both black and shiny gemstones. A lot of people tend to confuse the two due to their appearance. But these are two vastly different gemstones. Black obsidian is a deep black naturally forming volcanic glass with a shiny surface, whereas black tourmaline is a black silicate mineral.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Black Obsidian
– Definition, Features, and Uses
2. What is Black Tourmaline
– Definition, Features, and Uses
3. Difference Between Black Obsidian and Black Tourmaline
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Black Obsidian, Black Tourmaline, Gemstone
What Black Obsidian
Black obsidian is a deep black stone with a shiny surface. It’s a volcanic glass that naturally forms when lava extruded from a volcano cools swiftly with minimal crystal growth. Obsidian is an igneous rock. It is made from felsic lava and has lighter elements like silicon, aluminium, sodium, oxygen, and potassium. In fact, black obsidian is one of the most popular forms of obsidian. Some other names for it are xaga, volcanic glass, and royal agate. In spiritual healing, black obsidian is known to have healing properties as it’s able to cleanse negative auras. People also associate it with a strong sense of mystery.
As a semiprecious gemstone, black obsidian is mostly used in jewelry and artistic crafts. It’s a beautiful and unique gemstone, especially when it’s cut properly. It is hard, brittle, and amorphous and fractures with sharp edges. Moreover, it was also used in the past to make cutting tools and piercing tools due to its sharpness. Black obsidian is vitreous and translucent with a smooth, glassy texture. In addition, it takes a scale of 5–6 on the Mohs scale hardness.
What is Black Tourmaline
Black tourmaline is a black silicate mineral that occurs as prismatic crystals in granitic and other rocks. Tourmaline contains a boron aluminosilicate and possesses pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. It also consists of elements like iron, magnesium, aluminium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. Another name for black tourmaline is schorl. It’s the most common tourmaline and accounts for 95% or more of all tourmalines found in nature. Black tourmaline is also used in ritual healing. It’s used for protection and absorbing negative energies.
Tourmaline has a hardness of 7.0–7.5 on the Mohs scale. It’s vitreous, sometimes resinous, and has a white streak. Its fracture is uneven and brittle. Moreover, tourmaline has a trigonal crystal system and a parallel and elongated crystal habit.
Difference Between Black Obsidian and Black Tourmaline
Definition
Black obsidian is a deep black naturally forming volcanic glass with a shiny surface, whereas black tourmaline is a black silicate mineral.
Nature
While black obsidian is a non-crystalline material, black tourmaline is a crystalline material.
Texture
Obsidian has a smooth and uniform texture, while black tourmaline has a rough and lumpy texture.
Fracture
Black obsidian breaks with “conchoidal fractures” or semi-circular patterns, while black tourmaline tends to have uneven and sharp fractures.
Hardness
Obsidian has a hardness of 5–6 on the Mohs scale, whereas tourmaline has a hardness of 7.0–7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Conclusion
Black obsidian is a deep black naturally forming volcanic glass with a shiny surface, whereas black tourmaline is a black silicate mineral. The main difference between black obsidian and black tourmaline is that black obsidian has a smooth and uniform texture, while black tourmaline has a rough and lumpy texture.
Reference:
1. “Everything You Need to Know About Black Obsidian.” Jewelry Shopping Guide.
2. “Black Tourmaline: Meaning, Healing Properties & Uses.” Truly Experiences.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Obsidian 30” By James St. John – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Schorl-118149” By Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – (CC-BY-SA-3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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