Obsidian is volcanic glass that forms when lava meets water and cools rapidly. It has a great level of resistance and is very strong. It is hard but also brittle so it fractures easily and creates sharp edges. It cuts easily and has many uses because of this. My classmate Jiapsi who was in charge of the whole rock project process, cut a slab of obsidian in half for me, then I proceeded to lightly shape it into a 3D triangle on a diamond mesh wheel spinning on the lapidary machine with running water. A lapidary machine shapes and polishes rocks. Once the rock was the exact shape I wanted, I held it on the next wheel which would refine the shape by smoothing out any scratches or irregularities. Once it was soft and smooth, I had to hold it against two more wheels that would polish, finish, and shine the rock. Finally it was done and I glued a bail on the back with super glue. The bail allowed me to attach a chain to the rock and make it into wearable jewelry.
I liked the whole process of this project because it was really nice to find something I was really interested in. I really wanted my rock to turn out, and it motivated me to go through all the necessary steps involved. I also liked how Jiapsi took a lead on this project and shared this experience with his classmates, its cool to be a part of a project led completely by students and their particular interests. I had a lot of fun and learned so much!
I liked the whole process of this project because it was really nice to find something I was really interested in. I really wanted my rock to turn out, and it motivated me to go through all the necessary steps involved. I also liked how Jiapsi took a lead on this project and shared this experience with his classmates, its cool to be a part of a project led completely by students and their particular interests. I had a lot of fun and learned so much!