igneous
Apache Tear
Hydrated Obsidian (Volcanic Glass)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs); Color: Smoke-black to dark grey, translucent when held to light; Luster: Vitreous/Glassy; Structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: approx. 2.4
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Color
- Smoke-black to dark grey, translucent when held to light
- Luster
- Vitreous/Glassy
Identified More igneous →
Explore Apache Tear in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (Mohs); Color: Smoke-black to dark grey, translucent when held to light; Luster: Vitreous/Glassy; Structure: Amorphous; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: approx. 2.4
Formation & geological history
Formed through the rapid cooling of high-silica lava (rhyolitic) that cools so quickly crystals cannot grow. These specific nodules are typically found embedded in perlite matrix, formed during the Tertiary period.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in lapidary work for jewelry, pocket stones, and as a popular specimen for rock collectors and metaphysical enthusiasts.
Geological facts
The name comes from a legend of the Apache tribe; it is said that the tears of women mourning warriors who leaped to their deaths from a cliff turned into these stones when they hit the ground.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its rounded, pebble-like shape and unique translucency when backlit. Commonly found in Arizona and Nevada, USA, often within grey, crumbly perlite beds.
