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Author Topic: Snowflake obsidian?  (Read 5722 times)

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Offline DuBois

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Snowflake obsidian?
« on: January 16, 2014, 12:44:20 am »
Local antique store has a fist sized chunk of obsidian and another same size snowflake obsidian for 20$ each.  I don't know much. Is it worth that?
Thanks, Marco.
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Offline 1442

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2014, 02:30:00 am »
NO! 20 bucks for both would be high
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Offline caveman2533

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2014, 08:28:54 am »
snow flaked obsidian can be trouble to knap also, because of the ash that makes the flakes. Especially if it is heavy snow flaking.
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Offline DuBois

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2014, 10:36:45 am »
OK, thanks folks. I am just now getting started into some supplies to hopefully make some points and thought I may have scored. Oh well.
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Offline Barefoot_Jake

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2014, 12:30:38 pm »
Quote from: DuBois on January 16, 2014, 10:36:45 am
OK, thanks folks. I am just now getting started into some supplies to hopefully make some points and thought I may have scored. Oh well.

Billy Berger's website sells flint flakes for 3 bucks a pound its pretty cheap for some quality material IMO
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Stringman

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2014, 01:25:32 pm »
Definitely "NO" on the $40 worth of obsidian! Nothing wrong with obsidian to learn on (I would avoid snowflake) but for $40 you should be getting 3-4 football sized chunks. Save your money.
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Offline YosemiteBen

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2014, 03:02:10 pm »
he!! DuBois - I would be willing to trade you some obsidian - you can get more in a flat rate box and it is less expensive than the $40 price tag in an Anti Q Shop.
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Offline Zuma

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2014, 10:45:26 pm »
I agree to much $.
Although I really like some snowflake I have knapped.
 The blacks are black and the white can be cloud like.
Look on the web or give me a PM
Zuma
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Offline Josh B

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2014, 10:34:42 am »
Hey doobie!  Take a weekend and head over to pipestone.  They have flint and obsidian at the trading post.  They are only open from May to Oct or Nov.  But they'll have some good material for you.  They also sell catlinite and soapstone if your interested in making pipes.  Josh
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Offline DuBois

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2014, 03:23:26 pm »
Thanks again everybody,

Hey Ben, what are you lookin for these days?

Zuma I will keep ya in mind once I get a little closer to having the basic tools and such.

Thanks Josh, I will definitely head over there in the spring. Make a day trip with the family out of it  ;)
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Offline bubby

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2014, 12:26:52 am »
yep way to much, I can buy all I want for $1 per pound
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Offline Bryce

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2014, 03:08:07 am »
ive knapped a little bit with snow flake. and its a little tricky. like to step bc of the ash pockets :/
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Offline AncientArcher76

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2014, 03:14:31 am »
To me its not worth it even if it were free.  It is unique and can make a nice point but it isn't the easiest to knapp. 

AA
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Offline YosemiteBen

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Re: Snowflake obsidian?
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2014, 07:42:58 pm »
There is a very nice article on obsidian put out at Oregon State by Jim Miller.  If you google obsidian you should be able to find it. "volcano/oregonstate" or something like that is in the web address.

The "snow flakes" in obsidian are not ash but are a crystal known as cristobalite. If you are getting "ash" pockets then they are probably pumice chunks and may indeed be ash pockets but they are not true snowflake obsidian.  I have a point made from a slab  of snowflake. the crystal are definitely a challenge to deal with, but not impossible. I will see if I can find it and post a picture. Most snowflake is used for jewelry and sculpture. There are lots of pics online.
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