The facts
What golden Sheen Obsidian actually is
The species behind golden Sheen Obsidian is obsidian with a single golden sheen produced by aligned gas bubbles or nanoscale inclusions in the flow banding, Rhyolitic glass with oriented submicroscopic bubbles and magnetite; it forms in the amorphous system.
Reflection and interference from aligned flattened gas bubbles along the flow plane is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.48-1.51 and a specific gravity of about 2.30-2.50, with none cleavage.
Where golden Sheen Obsidian comes from
Commercial material comes from Jalisco, Mexico - overwhelmingly the commercial source, Hidalgo, Mexico and Armenia (minor).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How golden Sheen Obsidian is treated
Untreated; again wholly orientation-dependent. Silver sheen obsidian is the same phenomenon with a colourless sheen. Bronze-coated glass is the usual imitation in cheap goods. Not CITES.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What golden Sheen Obsidian is confused with
Watch for Silver sheen obsidian, Bronze-coated glass and Sunstone (genuinely crystalline, with copper platelets) — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.48-1.51 and specific gravity 2.30-2.50 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What golden Sheen Obsidian is used for
The trades that buy golden Sheen Obsidian are jewellery, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 5-5.5; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What golden Sheen Obsidian costs
Expect roughly $3-12 per kilogram rough; cabochons and spheres $10-150, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is golden Sheen Obsidian treated, and how?
Untreated; again wholly orientation-dependent. Silver sheen obsidian is the same phenomenon with a colourless sheen. Bronze-coated glass is the usual imitation in cheap goods. Not CITES.
Where does golden Sheen Obsidian come from?
Jalisco, Mexico - overwhelmingly the commercial source, Hidalgo, Mexico and Armenia (minor). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is golden Sheen Obsidian hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5-5.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does golden Sheen Obsidian cost?
Indicatively $3-12 per kilogram rough; cabochons and spheres $10-150. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is golden Sheen Obsidian confused with?
Most often Silver sheen obsidian, Bronze-coated glass and Sunstone (genuinely crystalline, with copper platelets). A refractive index of 1.48-1.51 and a specific gravity near 2.30-2.50 separate it quickly.
What is golden Sheen Obsidian used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for golden sheen obsidian?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about golden sheen obsidian