Legend of the Apache Tear
This Apache Tear has been tumbled polished and photographed in front
of a light. When you hold the rock in your hand, it appears to be black.
If you hold it up to the light, it appears to be almost clear.
"One day a party of Apache Indians was ambushed by an enemy tribe.
The Apaches fought bravely but were greatly outnumbered and were driven
to the top of a very high mountain. Their arrows were gone, and they could
fight no longer. Refusing to be taken captive, they leaped, as one, from
the cliffs to the rocks below.
"The Apache women, grief-stricken over the death of their brave warriors,
shed torrents of tears. The tears became petrified and turned to stone."1
Apache tears are actually small pieces of obsidian or volcanic glass. When
held in the palm of your hand, the stone appears to be black. When held
to the light, you are able to see through the stone.
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1 Jean Bartenbach, Rockhound Trails, Atheneum, 1977, p. 55.
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