Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Geoheritage (2021) 13:92 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00610-7 REVIEW ARTICLE Green and Golden Obsidian of “Cerro de Las Navajas”, Hidalgo (Mexico): Geoarchaeological Heritage That Deserves International Recognition Miguel A. Cruz‑Pérez 1,2  · Carles Canet 2,3  · Alejandro Pastrana 4  · Silvia Domínguez‑Peláez 4  · Lucero Morelos‑Rodríguez 5  · Luis Carcavilla 6  · Erika Salgado‑Martínez 2  · Peter Krieger 7  · Eduardo J. García‑Alonso 8  · Raymundo G. Martínez‑Serrano 3  · Sara I. Franco 3  · Telma G. Castro‑Romero 2  · Míriam V. Núñez‑Velázquez 1  · Maite Garcia‑Vallès 9  · Juan Carlos Mora‑Chaparro 3 Received: 15 February 2021 / Accepted: 7 September 2021 © The European Association for Conservation of the Geological Heritage 2021 Abstract The Cerro de Las Navajas Obsidian is a volcanic rock within the Comarca Minera UNESCO Global Geopark (Hidalgo, Mexico) that possesses outstanding archaeological, cultural and geological value. It exhibits a unique green-golden macro- scopic hue and was exploited and traded since ca. 250 BC, by successive Mesoamerican cultures, and until early Colonial times—ultimately recording the transition to a steel-based society. The obsidian deposit is the largest of its kind (buried) and has the longest continuous history of mining in the continent. Other green obsidians have been studied in Patagonia (Seno Otway, Chile), source for hunter-gatherers, and in Anatolia (Bingöl, Turkey), source for the Neolithic Near East. We argue here the potential of the Cerro de Las Navajas Obsidian for a heritage designation to highlight its global signifcance; synergies derived from an international recognition may give the opportunity to (a) put in value the multi-dimensional geo- heritage of this obsidian; (b) strengthen the sense of belonging among local community; (c) require authorities to regulate obsidian mining and commercialisation, under fair trade terms, and compatible with conservation, research and responsible tourism; (d) support further research on archaeology and cultural heritage, linking geosciences with other disciplines; and (e) contribute to UNESCO Global Geoparks programme, seeking local development and sustainability. These expected achievements would be relevant given the lack of legal advisory role of geoparks in geoheritage management in Mexico. Keywords Comarca Minera UGG · UNESCO Global Geoparks · Geosite · Geoethics · Mesoamerica * Miguel A. Cruz‑Pérez miguelcruzzp@gmail.com 1 Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico 2 Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico 3 Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico 4 Dirección de Estudios Arqueológicos, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Lic. Verdad No. 3, Colonia Centro, 06060 Mexico City, Mexico 5 Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico 6 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, C/Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain 7 Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico 8 Universidad La Salle Pachuca, Belisario Domínguez 202, Centro, 42000 Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico 9 Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain