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It is a usually black or banded, hard volcanic glass that displays shiny, curved surfaces when fractured and is formed by very rapid cooling of lava.

The curved fracture surfaces are more correctly termed conchoidal fractures and the "glass" is said to have a "vitreous" texture as the material cools so rapidly that crystals do not have time to form.

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What does obsidian mean in rocks and minerals?

Obsidian is black glass formed by volcanoes.


What type of rocks are pumice obsidian and granite?

Igneous rocks


How is obsidian and coal rock alike?

Obsidian and coal are both types of rocks formed through natural processes. However, obsidian is an igneous rock formed from volcanic activity, while coal is a sedimentary rock formed from the compression of plant material over millions of years. Both rocks have been valuable resources to human civilizations throughout history.


What type of rock froms when lava cools very quickly?

Volcanic rocks like obsidian is formed when lava undergoes very rapid cooling.


Which two igneous rocks are formed by fast cooled lava?

Obsidian and Pāhoehoe lava


What type of rock is formed by cool lava or magma?

An igneous rock is formed when magma cools and hardens. Some examples of igneous rocks are pumice and obsidian.


Smooth glassy rock that is formed when lava cools?

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How are granite and obsidian are different?

Granite is a rock, whereas obsidian is a type of glass formed by cooling lava.


Does obsidian have layers of banding?

Obsidian is a type of volcanic glass formed from quickly cooled lava, so it does not have layers of banding like sedimentary rocks. Instead, obsidian typically has a smooth, uniform texture with occasional swirls or flow lines caused by the rapid cooling process.


Do obsidian rocks cool fast?

Obsidian is formed from very rapidly cooling lava.


What family is obsidian in?

Obsidian is part of the Granite family of igneous rocks.


Pumice obsidian and scoria are kinds of?

volcanic rocks formed from different processes. Pumice is a light and porous rock formed from foamy lava, obsidian is a dark volcanic glass formed from quickly cooled lava, and scoria is a dark, vesicular rock formed from gas-rich lava.