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Obsidian
Encyclopedia Article
Obsidian, dark, semitranslucent volcanic glass of the same composition as rhyolite, produced when molten igneous rock (magma) pushes its way up to the earth's surface and cools so rapidly that its constituent ions do not have time to crystallize. Obsidian is usually black, but may also be red or brown. Because it is easy to shape by flaking, it was prized by early peoples, who used it to make weapons and tools. See Lava.
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