How do I identify Pitchstone?

Pitchstone can be identified by its Black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Pitchstone?

Pitchstone typically appears in Black. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

Pitchstone

A variety of Igneous

What is Pitchstone?

Pitchstone is a glassy volcanic rock, similar to obsidian, but duller and with somewhat waxy luster due to its high water content. The material is found only in Colorado, USA, and on Arran Island, which is off the coast of Scotland. It is believed that this rock was was used on the Aran Island from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, from where it was later transported to other parts of Britain.

Uses & Applications

Pitchstone has a long history of use by humans because it fragments jaggedly in a similar way to flint. The mineral's use on the Scottish island of Arran dates back to the Mesolithic period. It was used to craft a multitude of items. Archaeologists have found over 20,000 worked pitchstone pieces at around 350 sites in northern Britain. Today the usefulness of this glassy mineral has been superseded by technological advances.