The shapes of snowflakes are influenced by the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere. Snowflakes form in the atmosphere when cold water droplets freeze onto dust particles. These shapes include the stellar crystals that many people are familiar with, as well as lesser-known snowflake forms such as capped columns.

“There are many different types of crystal patterns and these star-shaped snowflakes are just one example. The dendrite, a star-shape with varying patterns, is the most common shape of a snowflake.”

All snowflakes contain six sides or points owing to the way in which they form. The molecules in ice crystals join to one another in a hexagonal structure, an arrangement which allows water molecules – each with one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms – to form together in the most efficient way.

A: A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. Ultimately, it is the temperature at which a crystal forms — and to a lesser extent the humidity of the air — that determines the basic shape of the ice crystal.

Although snowflake obsidian is an affordable gemstone, it’s sometimes paired with expensive materials such as diamonds and gold. This adds to the value of the overall piece and highlights the gemstone in a unique way.

While mainly black in color, Obsidian comes in diverse types that each have their own unique characteristics. Apache Tear Obsidian is made from the cores of decomposed Obsidian, resulting in a translucent black or deep brown. Snowflake obsidian contains Cristobalite, which creates its namesake pattern.

Snowflake Obsidian History Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed in swiftly cooling lava that has a high silica content. It is not considered a true mineral, as it does not have an entirely consistent chemical content and it does not form crystals.

Obsidian. This can be a particularly insipid fake; true Obsidian is volcanic glass, which is obviously quite similar to man-made glass, both in appearance and composition. Some pieces are easy to identify as fakes – primarily due to their clarity. Fake Black Obsidian is very hard to identify, unfortunately.

Put one anywhere near the front door of your house – many people’ll pop one in a pot plant, or above the door frame. Obsidian and hematite are also used in this way, as they’re also known for their protective qualities.