having looked at internet offerings in the way of obsidian jewellery - must admit I would have gone with Cathy B and jinxi - re the suggestion of obsidian. There are necklaces of faceted obsidian on the webb - the fractures shown in Anik's breakage look consistent with the hand forged arrow heads made from obsidian (also available on the internet), and as a natural glass it does come in a variety of shades......black....mahogany obsidian......snowflake obsidian.
As Ivo has pointed out, Obsidian is mineral-like, but not a true mineral because as a glass it is not crystalline, and its fracture is indeed 'conchoidal'. However, if Anik's fracture is conchoidal also, then this indicates it may well be obsidian, and not a man made glass. Do we dare ask ourselves if....
'a self-proclaimed princess' ... using pliers would have the strength to crush a piece of man made glass
Peasants in their millions throughout the Third World spend their entire days making artifacts from natural materials to sell to the West, and the simple act of faceting some not too hard material is well within their reach, using treadle lathes etc. Think of some of the jade carvings from the far east.
There now, I've bored the pants of everyone - but at least I have a boot sale to go to in the morning.
P.S. I assume the reasoning behind drilling half way from each side jinxi, is to avoid break out.?
Topic: Glass bead necklace -- date? origin? (Jablonex?) (Read 2216 times)
