Apache tears
Rock
Also called Apache tear
About it
Small rounded nodules of obsidian, black in the hand but translucent smoky brown against a light, weathered out of grey perlite. Named for an Apache legend in Arizona, where they are still found near Superior.
- Type
- Rock (igneous)
- Group
- Igneous (volcanic glass)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5–5.5
- Specific gravity
- 2.3–2.6
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Colours
- black, dark brown, smoky grey when held to light
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.