No. Obsidian is brittle.
One type of obsidian is snowflake obsidian, which is black with white mineral inclusions that resemble snowflakes.
Interesting question. After the explosive eruption, the gas content of the rhyolitic magma should have decreased enough to allow obsidian to form. It is the right kind of lava. However, most of the lava dome in the Mount St. Helens caldera is dacite, which is "grainier" than obsidian, indicating that it cooled too slowly to have a "glassy" appearance. Obsidian flows must cool quickly to prevent crystal formation. It is possible that some obsidian was formed, but subsequently covered by dacite. I have not been able to find any reports that mention obsidian recovered from the Mount St Helens lava dome.So the answer is a qualified no, we don't have any evidence of obsidian flows from Mount St Helens.Incidentally, there are individuals and companies selling products they call "helenite" or "St Helens Obsidian", which is a synthetic material created by fusing volcanic ash (which may or may not have come from Mount St Helens).
Obsidian is a felsic glass. At depth, it will crystallize to form granite. On the other hand it turns into perlite on reacting with water. At high grade it recrystallizes to form felsic glass.
how is obsidian dependent on minerals
Obsidian can be found on almost every continent, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is typically formed near volcanoes where lava cools quickly, creating the glass-like rock.
Obsidian can be found in countries such as Mexico, the United States, Japan, Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Italy, Scotland, and Ethiopia. It is also present in various regions of continents like North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.
Leslie B. Davis has written: 'The Obsidian Cliff Plateau, prehistoric lithic source, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming' -- subject(s): Petrology in archaeology, Indians of North America, Obsidian, Antiquities, Implements, Obsidian implements
Yes it is. The Native Americans would walk great distances to collect it.
No. Obsidian is brittle.
One type of obsidian is snowflake obsidian, which is black with white mineral inclusions that resemble snowflakes.
Obsidian is, itself, a mineral.
yes obsidian is a crystal.
Obsidian is a natural glass.
Obsidian is a felsic glass. At depth, it will crystallize to form granite. On the other hand it turns into perlite on reacting with water. At high grade it recrystallizes to form felsic glass.
Interesting question. After the explosive eruption, the gas content of the rhyolitic magma should have decreased enough to allow obsidian to form. It is the right kind of lava. However, most of the lava dome in the Mount St. Helens caldera is dacite, which is "grainier" than obsidian, indicating that it cooled too slowly to have a "glassy" appearance. Obsidian flows must cool quickly to prevent crystal formation. It is possible that some obsidian was formed, but subsequently covered by dacite. I have not been able to find any reports that mention obsidian recovered from the Mount St Helens lava dome.So the answer is a qualified no, we don't have any evidence of obsidian flows from Mount St Helens.Incidentally, there are individuals and companies selling products they call "helenite" or "St Helens Obsidian", which is a synthetic material created by fusing volcanic ash (which may or may not have come from Mount St Helens).
Obsidian is an igneous rock.