Could this really be a rock?!?!

[Kjane79]

This "rock" belonged to my grandparents until I inherited it. My Grands were total rockhounds and collected specimens everywhere they went. And my Gramps had a story for every one. I vaguely remember learning about this one. It must have been at the same time he was telling me about obsidian and how it's made. For some reason I assumed this rock had to be simulated obsidian. I have no idea why I'd think that, since he never said anything of the sort, but I do remember being shown an "end of day" multicolored hunk of acrylic from when he'd worked at some plastics company. (This looks nothing like that except for the vibrant colors layered together.) Anyway, I was looking at it the other day and decided to get my loop and take a peek since I'm 100% sure it's not plastic, acrylic, lucite, or resin and Gramps never worked in a glass factory. He always said they'd found it and it was kept with some of their other obsidian. I'm a little shocked because I think I see plant matter and insect inclusions in it. Is it really a real rock?! Obsidian? Or what else could it be? Please help me before I'm covered completely in bruises from kicking myself for not paying better attention.

 

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[blauer]

If it's plastic, resin, etc... it will smell when burned. Try a soldering iron and see what happens. Then do a scratch test: fingernail yes/no, nail yes/no, piece of quartz yes/no .... you get the idea.

 

[smokeythecat]

Blauer has some good points. With those colors it looks like fancy slag from someone make art glass.

 

[Kjane79]

I had thought glass too. It's not resin, acrylic, lucite, plastic, etc. Would factory slag glass have plant and animal matter inclusions? I'm familiar with "end of day" glass objects/slag glass from extensively researching antique marbles. That's what initially reminded me that I had this piece that I was wanting to figure out. So I got my loupe out and started noticing inclusions which threw me for a loupe. So I thought someone here could perhaps explain what I'm looking at to me. I added a couple more close up photos, if that helps. Thanks,

 

[blauer]

Thanks, I'm not just a pretty face.

 

[blauer]

I had thought glass too. It's not resin, acrylic, lucite, plastic, etc. Would factory slag glass have plant and animal matter inclusions? I'm familiar with "end of day" glass objects/slag glass from extensively researching antique marbles. That's what initially reminded me that I had this piece that I was wanting to figure out. So I got my loupe out and started noticing inclusions which threw me for a loupe. So I thought someone here could perhaps explain what I'm looking at to me. I added a couple more close up photos, if that helps. Thanks, View attachment 1936660 View attachment 1936661 View attachment 1936662

What about the scratch test? Frankly, it look like glass which is why this test is important.

 

[Kjane79]

Scratch test results so far:
Fingernail- no
Nail- no
Screwdriver- no
Quartz- barely (what looked like a big scratch was mostly residue from the other stone, bit a little scratch was still visible after wiping off

Does this help at all?

 

[blauer]

Glass.