Found this rock that looks like a gem

[MackDigger]

Could this be anything?

 

[DDancer]

Looks like you found a bit of obsidian.

 

[d2]

I would guess obsidian too...d2

 

[MackDigger]

I live in PA with no volcanos around though.

 

[muledeericeberg]

Could be caused by nuclear or thermite reaction.
I've seen green and yellow glass pulled from quarries associated with copper.

 

[taz42o]

Probably slag glass.

Obsidian in Pennsylvania - EPOD - a service of USRA

 

[muledeericeberg]

If it contains many bubbles it's probably an associated slag. There is a natural glass like obsidian but contains more sulfur and metal impurities giving it off colors green yellow rarely red and blue

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

It could be either slag glass or obsidian, an explanation of how it could be obsidian where none should be is a person lost it.Different materials have been found thousands of miles from the source with native American tribes through trade with other tribes, this could be a case of that.

 

[SkaBa]

Are you sure it's not rock hard tar? Put a flame to it to see if it melts or catches fire.

 

[oldsilver]

now that's cool.

 

[oldsilver]

Looks like you found a bit of obsidian.

you are right . unless coal?

 

[DeepseekerADS]

you are right . unless coal?

You might have something there. Remember Centralia, PA - that coal mine underground is still burning after 40 years. I've seen coal in the wild, and I've seen some which were very pretty.

If you've never heard of that here's a short video.



Coal is plentiful in PA.

 

[MackDigger]

Thanks for all the great responses everyone. It doesn't burn or melt and it has a very distinctive green color to the glass looking part. Like a hunter/olive mix. It's hard to get it to show up in pictures as well as in real life. Also I live about 10 minutes from centralia! Used to be a HUGE coal mining area so if that could have something to do with it it probably does although I have seen a lot of coal and this doesn't look anything like it to me.

 

[DDancer]

Combine silicates with high heat and you get... well glass Interesting bit with an interesting problem.

 

[tamrock]

Glassy pieces of slag has been spread all over the country as railroad ballast. It was widely used during the times when the big steel refineries and other smelter operations where in operation.

 

[smokeythecat]

Probably glass slag, there is a lot around. Was used as road fill from old iron mines. Eastern obsidian is not unheard of, but it is quite rare.

 

[muledeericeberg]

I agree with slag glass. Obsidian is rather transparent and typically has a jagged edge.
Slag glass always leaves a rounder more concoidal fracture and is more opaque.

 

[cheese]

Slag glass. I found quite a bit of it in PA in the 1980s.

 

[Lgc42090]

I find it all the time in the Lehigh Valley, Pa.. I have a few pieces the exact same greenish color. Always wondered what it was.