![]() ![]() But perhaps readers can weigh in and add to this. “Everyone I’ve shown it to has had positive reactions to it. I was needed for another purpose and now that it is complete, I’m moving on to my next one.’ “‘Hey, look at the beauty and usefulness I have! Quit taking rocks from the earth to crush for railroad ballast when you already have me. You and I have a strong interest in preservation, recycling, taking care of the earth. Like obsidian, it was formed from heat/molten rock (tension) and it’s present state is cool/solid rock (calm). The coolness and the weight of the stone is comfortable. ![]() “Might glass slag have properties similar to obsidian since the two are so similar? When I hold the rock, I feel calm. Now we’ve come full circle and have found uses for it again. Somehow we lost sight of that when technology gave us easier ways to make glass and pottery. At least three thousand years! Wow! Ancient man found other uses for the leftover glass slag. ![]() Humans have been creating it since the late bronze age (1500 – 1000 BCE). It’s a human-made rock, but it’s not a new technique. It’s formed by heating ores (rock) to high temperatures. “ Glass slag is similar to obsidian it, too, consists mainly of silica dioxide. Tension moving toward calm? (Great analogy, I thought!) It flows from a volcano, then cools and solidifies. I can’t remember what you said the spiritual properties of obsidian are but I wonder if they mirror the history of the stone? A huge amount of geothermal energy is needed to create obsidian. “When you think about it, it does look a lot like obsidian, which is volcanic glass. From the moment I saw it, I was fascinated by it. Say, that might be a good blog! Help me write it?” My thought: “Maybe good energy can come from slag. It’s cool to the touch and smooth among the rough (parts).” Still the stone is calming in a odd sort of way. Linda added, “I was hoping for something interesting like turquoise. I replied, “Thanks for checking this out!” It’s beautiful and it will remain on my desk as a paperweight. “Anyhow, whatever it is, I’m still fascinated by it. Unscrupulous ebay sellers have taken advantage of this and have sold the artificial form as the real thing. Obsidian and glass slag are so similar that it’s often difficult the tell the difference. Certain areas in Colorado use it as railroad ballast. The consensus seems to be that the colors indicate that it’s slag glass and not obsidian. “I’ve been asking around about the rock you gave me. One scientist friend, Linda Mueller, appreciated the rock and investigated further. But, they didn’t have the slightly translucent look of obsidian. One of my geologists colleagues confirmed my observation on the fracturing and glassy feel of the rocks. But blue and pretty! So, we put a bunch in the car. They fractured like obsidian and had the feel of obsidian. ![]() On our recent Antiquities Tour, Rich and I came across interesting rocks on an abandoned railroad bed in Eastern Colorado. Obsidian has one characteristic that slag generally lacks – a hint of translucence. ![]()
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