Rob Young shows us an obsidian knife.

This young geologist chooses to be an artifact salesman and climbing instructor in the tourist season so that he can persue his loved activity, mountain climbing between times. His knowledge and appreciation of gemstones makes a visit to Sundance Indian Arts a pleasure.

I wonder how many college-educated young people work at jobs requiring less than their training in order to climb mountains. These young to middle-aged people often work as tourist guide-naturalists in the summer, too.

Obsidian is a naturally-occuring volcanic glass. The mineral was chipped and shaped into a knife in much the same way as the ancients formed their tools.