Stone Archive

Silver Obsidian

Provenance

Brazil

Concept

Metallic Slag

TRACE & NARRATIVE

Within the obsidian, fine layers of cristobalite—a high-temperature silica—or gas bubbles reflect light, producing a silver sheen. As with golden obsidian, the internal structure determines how the stone meets light.

Formed only when lava cools within a specific range. Too fast or too slow, and the lustre does not appear.

Found in volcanic regions of Mexico and Brazil. The conditions for silver to emerge from black amorphous glass are extremely narrow. A stone carrying the colour of moonlight—though the light source is inside.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

MOHS SCALE

MOHS 5.5 ｜ GLASSY STRUCTURE

LATTICE STRUCTURE

AMORPHOUS STATE | FLUID SOLID

VISUAL METRICS

Black with silver light bleeding across the surface in broad planes. It keeps monochrome from going flat.

MAINTENANCE

Volcanic glass — chips and fractures on impact.
Avoid drops onto hard surfaces.

SYMBOLIC INDEX

ORIENTAL PHASE

WATER PHASE, METAL PHASE

CLASSICAL ELEMENT

TERRA (Earth), IGNIS (Fire)

PHYSIOLOGICAL FOCUS

Root | Muladhara, Sacral | Svadhisthana

ASTROLOGICAL PERIOD

Sagittarius

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROJECTION

Reflection — Interiority — Candour

Black obsidian surfaced with silver sheen. Where standard obsidian severs the external, this one turns the lens inward. Reserved for those with the tolerance to look at themselves at close range.

SELECTOR'S NOTE

Looking at yourself honestly is physical work. It costs energy. Glancing at the surface and assuming you understand is one thing; going all the way down is another task entirely. This stone is selected for the person who can sustain that descent. For someone with an established habit of self-examination, it's an instrument. For someone without, it may simply feel heavy.