Obsidian vs Glass

Is it obsidian or is it glass?

If you intend to buy a mirror and prefer it to be made of black obsidian instead of glass, there are some helpful things to watch out for.

Glass sold as black obsidian.

Did you know that black obsidian is a type of glass? The only difference is that it's formed from quickly cooled magma during volcanic activity instead of being man-made. It can be challenging to distinguish obsidian from black glass visually.

So how can I tell?

Some guidelines should help you distinguish the two. The first is price, if you are getting a mirror at a very low price be cautious, it does not mean it isn’t obsidian, but might not be.
Our black obsidian mirrors from Mexico are individually hand-finished, resulting in slight variations in shape, thickness, and weight. While there may be some surface irregularities, we guarantee that one side will be free from blemishes. Be cautious when purchasing mirrors online that appear to be too regular in size and thickness, as they may not be made of genuine obsidian. It's always best to investigate further before making a purchase.
To determine if your mirror is made of obsidian, place a powerful torch underneath it. If it is obsidian, you should be able to see the light shining through with a coloured tinge depending on its mineral composition. A glass mirror, on the other hand, will be opaque and the torch's light will not be visible through it.
Another way to determine if a mirror is made of obsidian or glass is to scratch it in a spot that is not easily visible using a sharp object like a knife or nail. If the surface leaves a scratch, it is likely obsidian. If no mark is left, it is more likely to be glass.
It's important to keep in mind that using a mirror for scrying doesn't necessarily require it to be made of obsidian. Even if a mirror is labelled as obsidian but is made of glass, it can still serve the same purpose. Pagan Art produces excellent scrying mirrors made of glass, but we're transparent about their materials and market them as "glass scrying mirrors" instead of falsely labelling them as obsidian.

HERNE of Pagan Art