Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Blacktail on March 16, 2009, 09:19:45 pm
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i was wondering if jasper is a chert...i have seen some points from here in oregon(artifacts from the past)and they are desribed as a chert.but when i look at the photos they look like jasper to me...so,does any one know.thanks john
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I just finished reading a number of sites, and it appears the term "chert" is inclusive (catch-all) of chert, jasper, chalcedony, agate, etc. One of several sites I looked at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chert)
That said, Oregon does have several sources of material that are formally referred to as "chert", even in lithic studies. I found a piece of material in SE Oregon that I took for "chert", in part because of its cortex, so I assumed it was imported by Indians long ago from a far away place. Years later, I found the source area just miles away.
--SiletzSpey
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HEy blacktail,
YEah, jasper is basically another name for chert. Usually jasper is a type of chert that is brown, red, or mustard yellow. I found some mustard yellow jasper east of Redmond. They were small chunks, only ping-pong ball sized, but I was able to crack some flakes off it and heat treat it. The exterior turned a bright red, and the inside is a glossy yellowish red. It's pretty. I made one point out of it so far, a small desert side-notched arrow point. Jaspers heat treat, usually around 450-500 degrees, depending on quality.
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Billy,
Redmond?? State??
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I bet Redmond Oregon, as due east takes you into the prime thunderegg, agate and jasper hotspot for Oregon.
--SiletzSpey
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i have found alot of jasper out side of here in prineville by ochoco resivour.i was just wondering if or why its not called chert rather than jasper.john
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yeah, redmond, Oregon