Apache tears are a kind of nodular obsidian (volcanic black glass). When polished, it is opaque to nearly translucent. The color ranges from brown to black.
Apache tears are formed from small nuggets of obsidian that have been naturally rounded and smoothed by wind and water.
The name Apache tear stems from a legend regarding the Apache tribe. In retaliation for raiding an Arizona settlement, the U.S. military trailed the offending band of about 75 Apache warriors and launched a surprise attack against them. Nearly 50 died in the first volley of shots, and the rest leapt over a cliff rather than allow themselves to be killed. The Apache tear stones are supposedly the tears that their wives and families shed for them.
