The Mayans and Aztecs particularly loved this gemstone and used it in mosaics and for ritualistic purposes. It was believed that a gem that bubbled over with vivacity to such an extent as the fire opal could have been created only in the waters of paradise (International Coloured Gemstone Association, 2015). Read more: How to asses the value of an opal Fire opal was admired as a symbol of fervent love in ancient times among the peoples of India, Persia, Central America and North America. In ancient times precious opal was considered a stone of great benefit to the eyes and was worn to cure ocular ailments, as well as to render the carrier of the stone invisible to the eyes of others (Braid, 2015). Read more: What are the different types of opal? Many early attempts were made to describe both the cause of the iridescence and the metaphysical properties believed to be associated with them. Iridescent gems and minerals have held a special fascination for man throughout history. To date this location is the only occurrence of fire obsidian known. When carefully worked by the lapidary, exquisite gems can be produced that in the author’s opinion, are equal to the finest examples of other iridescent gems in ‘play of colour’, brilliance, uniqueness and intrinsic beauty. Fire Obsidianįire obsidian, a particular variety of iridescent obsidian found in the northwest USA, displays various brilliant colours and patterns. Here, he takes a look at fire obsidian, an enchanting and little-known material. Collecting and working fire obsidian has truly become his passion and he blames (and sincerely thanks) Emory Coons, the master of this spectacular material for being a generous tutor. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.Tom Dodge, a retired geologist living in Arizona, USA has been an avid rock collector for 57 years, a registered professional consulting exploration geologist for 35 years, a skilled flint knapper for 16 years and a budding lapidary for two years. It was listed on the National Register in 1982. The kiosk at Obsidian Cliff, constructed in 1931, was the first wayside exhibit in a US national park. Staff are now researching the intensity of use of this obsidian, both within the park and across North America. Those surveys added substantially to knowledge about how obsidian was mined from the bedrock and collected as cobbles from the overlying glacial till. The fire did not damage the cliff face, but it cleared the surface, creating optimal conditions for archeological surveys.
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