🪨 Obsidian
Natural volcanic glass formed from rapidly cooled lava. New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Utah produce black, rainbow, mahogany, and snowflake obsidian prized by collectors and knappers.
Best Places to Find Obsidian
Topaz Mountain
Juab County, Utah · BLM Land
BLM land producing gem-quality topaz crystals, red beryl, garnet, and obsidian. Surface collecting permitted for personal use. Desert terrain requires...
Glass Buttes
Burns, Oregon · BLM Land
BLM area famous for mahogany, rainbow, and black obsidian. One of the best places in the US to collect obsidian. Bring collecting buckets.
New Mexico Obsidian Beds
Grants, New Mexico · BLM Land
BLM areas near Grants for black, mahogany, and rainbow obsidian. Volcanic deposits from the Mount Taylor region.
Utah Obsidian Beds
Fillmore, Utah · BLM Land
BLM areas for black and mahogany obsidian in west-central Utah. Volcanic deposits from the Black Rock Desert region.
Coso Range Volcanic Specimens
Ridgecrest, California · BLM Land
Coso Volcanic Range for obsidian and volcanic specimens. The Coso area was a major source of obsidian for Native American toolmaking.