Natural Snowflake Obsidian Gemstone Chips Beads Strand for Jewelry Making and Healing Manufacturer supplier Exporter Wholesaler from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Snowflake Obsidian History Obsidian is a high silica content volcanic glass that forms spontaneously in rapidly cooling lava. Due to its inconsistent chemical composition and lack of crystal formation, it is not regarded as a real mineral. Pliny the Elder, who perished at Pompeii, translated Natural History incorrectly, giving it the English term "obsidian": "Among the various kinds of glass, we may also reckon Obsian glass, a substance very similar to the stone which Obsius [mistranslated as Obsidius] discovered in Æthiopia. This stone is of a very dark color, and sometimes transparent ... Many persons use it for jewelry, and I myself have seen solid statues in this material of the late Emperor Augustus .... Xenocrates says that Obsian stone is found in India also, and in Samnium in Italy; and that it is a natural product of Spain, upon the coasts which border on the Ocean." Depending on the impurities in the parent lava formation, obsidian's color changes. Snowflake obsidian, also known as "flowering obsidian, " gets its name and patterns from inclusions of the quartz-like mineral cristobalite that develop as the obsidian devitrifies. The chemical make-up of obsidian also varies among volcanic sources--sometimes even different eruptions of the same volcano have different chemical types. This makes historical obsidian jewelry, tools or weapons a valuable resource to archaeologists for tracking trade routes or dating graves and settlements, as their source volcano and eruption can often be determined through analysis. Snowflake Obsidian Metaphysical Properties According to users, snowflake obsidian restores their wholeness by allowing them to view the unpleasant and dark elements of their own natures. It is believed that its patterning would help wearers recognize patterns in their own thoughts and actions. This substance is said to dissolve traumas, shocks, and anxieties as well as physical and mental discomfort. Snowflake obsidian restores something, a profound, lasting sense of awe and protection, like a sky full of lovely snowflakes. Obsidian in the shape of snowflakes is connected to the base and crown chakras. It is believed to expel demons and to represent the yin and yang concepts. Although it is not a birthstone, it is related to the Capricorn zodiac sign.