Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.
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| Obsidian |
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| Obsidian talus, Obsidian Dome, California |
The Obsidian Dome is in the Inyo-Mono Craters chain. It is comprised of flow-banded obsidian and porphyritic rhyolite extruded as extremely viscous lavas creating domes that exceed 300 feet in height.
This site has resinous to dull obsidian, as opposed to the high-quality glassy texture we are used to identifying in pictures.
The age of the dome is said to be uncertain, but the best guess suggests the dome may be as little as 500 years old.
