BajaNomad

Obsidian Sources of Northern Baja, a paper by Lee Panich

David K - 9-26-2020 at 08:15 AM

Lacking a "Baja Geology" forum on Nomad, I will post this link here. The paper is in English and Spanish. Lee Panich is an archeologist, best know to us Baja folks for his research at Mission Santa Catalina. I have a photo from him in my book on that mission's chapter.

Obsidian (volcanic or "dragon" glass) was used for arrow and spear points by the Natives. Tracing the source of obsidian points, found all over northern Baja, shows how trade or travel covered large areas.

https://www.academia.edu/3144943/Obsidian_Sources_of_Norther...

shari - 9-26-2020 at 10:38 AM

I have been told that the obsidian source nearest here is the San Ignacio area...prolly that Sta.Clara area meaning that those Nomads got around.

I have found slugs that the hunter carried on them that they chipped out arrowheads.
The point I live on out here in BAhia Asuncion has lots of chips and I have found arrowheads in the driveway! this must have been a popular hunting ground...lots of birds to eat perhaps.

AKgringo - 9-26-2020 at 04:29 PM

My dad was a rock hound, and I have rocks from all over the southwest that he brought back to Grass Valley. I don't know if the obsidian chunks (about fifty pounds each) came from Baja, but he and mom spent a lot of years exploring down there!

BajaMama - 9-27-2020 at 09:03 AM

We used to find "Indian tears" outside the Mojave preserve in So. Nevada. They are little ovals of obsidian created from volcanic eruptions.

David K - 9-27-2020 at 09:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
We used to find "Indian tears" outside the Mojave preserve in So. Nevada. They are little ovals of obsidian created from volcanic eruptions.


We have seen them as well, just south of the sulfur mine on the Azufre Pass/ Cañada Partial road. Nomad 'GeoRock' was talking about them to us on our 2004 Matomi Tour... called them "Apache Tears".

In 1966, while camping at El Requeson, I found a large piece of obsidian on the island. It might have been my first Baja rock collection piece?

John Harper - 9-27-2020 at 01:47 PM

Anything in Baja like the "obsidian domes" just north of Mammoth? I've been intrigued by obsidian since I was a kid exploring old native sites up in Ventura County. Have a few nice examples in my garden. Taken from the Sierra, not native sites.

Obsidian can create an incredibly sharp edge, as little as one atom thick. No steel blade can do that.

John





[Edited on 9-27-2020 by John Harper]

David K - 9-27-2020 at 03:02 PM

The map in the article shows obsidian sources of northern Baja, but I don't know of any obsidian domes... only the onyx dome at El Volcán, come to mind when you say "domes".

Here is Nomad BAJACAT standing on it, in 2011:

Apache Tears

PaulW - 9-27-2020 at 03:38 PM

I wrote this 5 years ago
Apache tears - San Felipe

This location is near the east entrance to arroyo Azufre (Crazyhorse) and is at the north end of the north exit from arroyo Matomi (which is only used for racing). Apache tears are the obsidian pellets that fell from the sky during an ancient volcano eruption. Lots of local trips have been there so now days you have to look hard to find them. Now would be a good time with exposure and no recent trips.
Expect to find ½ to 1” size. Use your GPS and find the place at N30 38.221’, W114 49.653’.
My search in in the Matomi drainage has not provided any obsidian results.

On the pic below OPR = Old Puerticitos Road
Drive the southern track for the most interest drive. I need to do that drive again.

best low cal alcohol

del mar - 9-27-2020 at 03:41 PM

there's underwater obsidian domes off cabo san lucas:light:

John Harper - 9-27-2020 at 04:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by del mar  
there's underwater obsidian domes off cabo san lucas:light:


And native people accessed them? Even before Sea Hunt was popular?

John

David K - 9-27-2020 at 04:47 PM

Apache tears are also laying all over the place 0.7 mi from OPR, where the Azufre Wash (Cañon el Parral) road forks off the Llanos de San Fermín road.



From my Feb 2004 Matomi Reunion Trip page:

Playing Football?

No, but GeoRock and Pat are finding obsidian pebbles, known as 'Apache Tears' laying all over the desert, at our second stop. Photo from Mexray



[Edited on 9-27-2020 by David K]

mtgoat666 - 9-27-2020 at 05:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by shari  
I have been told that the obsidian source nearest here is the San Ignacio area...prolly that Sta.Clara area meaning that those Nomads got around.

I have found slugs that the hunter carried on them that they chipped out arrowheads.
The point I live on out here in BAhia Asuncion has lots of chips and I have found arrowheads in the driveway! this must have been a popular hunting ground...lots of birds to eat perhaps.


There is obsidian near the the coast northeast of tres virgenes.
There are multiple obsidian locations at north end of sea of Cortez (a number of locations north and south of San Felipe)
Also near niland in imperial county (it is a park called “obsidian butte”)

Apache Tears Area

PaulW - 9-28-2020 at 08:10 AM

Showing the relationship of various track near Apache Tears
Not real close to the Azufre/Parral track
More coordinates at OPR waypoints
30 42.785, -114 46.724
30 41.557, -114 46.468
30 39.636 -114 45.129
And another nearby Tears location 30 38.354, -114 49.835

I will drive al those tracks when g=we get back to Baja. Can hardly wait.
I should mention there is new fencing north of Matomi on the west side which means a new track will be developed to pass thru the fence gate.

wilderone - 9-28-2020 at 05:28 PM

Now this is an obsidian dome:

[url=https://postimages.org/][/url

(Near June Lake)

BajaMama - 9-29-2020 at 10:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  
We used to find "Indian tears" outside the Mojave preserve in So. Nevada. They are little ovals of obsidian created from volcanic eruptions.


We have seen them as well, just south of the sulfur mine on the Azufre Pass/ Cañada Partial road. Nomad 'GeoRock' was talking about them to us on our 2004 Matomi Tour... called them "Apache Tears".

In 1966, while camping at El Requeson, I found a large piece of obsidian on the island. It might have been my first Baja rock collection piece?

You are correct - Apache Tears. Senior moment!

David K - 9-29-2020 at 12:07 PM

Not a problem! :light::biggrin:

Maderita - 9-29-2020 at 01:18 PM

wilderone,
Thanks for posting that photo. I had never seen conchoidal fracturing on such a large scale.

caj13 - 10-4-2020 at 06:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by shari  
I have been told that the obsidian source nearest here is the San Ignacio area...prolly that Sta.Clara area meaning that those Nomads got around.

I have found slugs that the hunter carried on them that they chipped out arrowheads.
The point I live on out here in BAhia Asuncion has lots of chips and I have found arrowheads in the driveway! this must have been a popular hunting ground...lots of birds to eat perhaps.


Shari, what size were the points? "bird points" for birds and small game were not much bigger than a thumbnail (at least the most recent ones, they got smaller as the eons rolled forward) many groups use heavy blunt tipped arrows for birds, going for the shock, which killed and crippled much quicker, a point in a bird could lead to dinner flying off with your valuable arrow imbedded in them.
I'm wondering if they were after sea lions, or fishing in tide pools with their bows?

[Edited on 10-4-2020 by caj13]

John Harper - 10-4-2020 at 07:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
wilderone,
Thanks for posting that photo. I had never seen conchoidal fracturing on such a large scale.


Just north of Mammoth there are some huge domes of obsidian. If you stop by in the morning, the sunshine makes the entire dome sparkle. Well worth the short drive off 395.

John

surfhat - 10-4-2020 at 09:17 AM

Any photos off these 'Tears", Baja or Indian Tears?

Another of those interesting fake news free advantages of coming here every day.

Blanca, you are always such a shining example of paying it forward. Blessings to you and Les' and your mom.

We could all use as much of that here as we can get.

bajaric - 10-4-2020 at 11:03 AM

Speaking of obsidian, Panich did show Isla San Luis on his map, but made no mention of it in terms of Indian trade routes. This would make sense because according to Minch the obsidian on San Luis was dated to within the last hundred years. By then, the indigenous in the area were all gone.

Isla San Luis is a volcanic island in the sea of Ulloa with a blast crater and obsidian, like a mini Mt. St. Helens, and if Minch is correct is the most recent volcanic activity in Baja --
Wilderone I though your pic was from San Luis but then again how much obsidian can you get in a kayak -- :lol:



[Edited on 10-4-2020 by bajaric]

wilderone - 10-4-2020 at 07:44 PM

That pic is taken at the end of the road to Obsidian Dome (So. of June Lake) Ha! This is as much from San Luis that I had in my kayak!