Description
Small Obsidian specimen for the classroom from the Tarawera volcanic eruption of 1886 in the Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand.
Formed during the eruption of Mt Tarawera near Rotorua in June 1886 at the margins of rhyolitic flows. Contains pumice and perlite inclusions formed by contact with groundwater.
In the classroom explore differences in structure compared to other rocks from felsic lava such as pumice and rhyolite.
Colour: black to black/green
Fracture: conchoidal
Mohs hardness :5-6
Specific gravity: ~2.4
Specimens are usually no smaller than 40mm in one dimension.
