Velvet Obsidian: Volcanic, Shimmering Delight

Color: Deep black with a velvety sheen that shimmers with iridescent green, red, blue, violet, and orange hues when light hits the stone at different angles.

Transparency: Opaque, light cannot pass through the stone.

Luster: Vitreous (glassy) with the added dimension of a velvety sheen, creating a unique visual texture.

Hardness: On Mohs scale of mineral hardness, velvet obsidian clocks in at 5-5.5.

Fracture: It fractures conchoidally, meaning it breaks in smooth, curved surfaces resembling the inside of a seashell.

Density: Compared to most common rocks, velvet obsidian is denser, with a density ranging from 2.3 to 2.6 grams per cubic centimeter.

Tenacity: Despite its hardness, velvet obsidian is brittle. Handle with care, as it can chip or break easily.

Optical Properties
Fluorescence: Unlike some minerals that glow under ultraviolet light, velvet obsidian doesn't exhibit fluorescence.

Pleochroism: This property refers to a mineral displaying different colors when viewed from various directions. Velvet obsidian is not pleochroic, meaning it shows a consistent black color regardless of the viewing angle.

Refractive Index: This value indicates how light bends as it passes through a material. For velvet obsidian, the refractive index falls within the range of 1.49 to 1.50.