Fundamental Physical Properties of Translucent Obsidian from the Arteni Deposit (Armenia)

Abstract

Armenia has significant reserves of obsidian, the volcanic glass, produced when the volcanic lava rapidly cools through to the glass transition temperature and does not give enough sufficient time for crystallization. Translucent obsidian samples from the Arteni deposit were investigated. The analysis of obsidian samples were carried out by different methods (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy SEM–EDS, the X-ray diffraction analysis, the absorption, reflection and Raman spectroscopy, as well as differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis) for characterization of translucent obsidian from Arteni.