Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: half eye on June 26, 2011, 11:55:50 am
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Here is some type of rock which is pretty common here in Northern Michigan. It's damned hard and flakes with real sharp edges but I dont have a clue what it is....or where to start looking to find out. could any of yall help ID it. The brown one in the last 2 pics I pretty sure is petrified tree.....it's harder than all get out too.
thanks for any help
rich
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The one you chipped on looks like a type of quartzite. Its not knappable but it makes one of the best hammerstones.
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Thank you Tower....
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It's metaquartzite, and yes, it's knappable. It doesn't knap the same as good flint, but someone who is used to working it can make really nice stuff out of it-Jack Cresson and James Parker, for example. That's pretty much the same rock that almost all the local points around here are made from. I've found some really well-made points over the years from quartzite. I've even seen a couple really nice fluted Clovis points made from it.
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OK, thanks Hillbilly.....I guess I'll slab some up and let a knapper friend curse me from long distance,eh?
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its knappable you just have to use a baseball bat....
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Would any of you know if it helps to cook it? or just beat it into submission?
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It's what Hilbilly said, it is knappable, and some of it knaps real easy. I've found out that it cuts real good with a diamond saw, and pressure flakes without much pressure if you set up platforms. Oh, and it is sharp.
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thats the nice quartz here in connecticut. i like that stuff.
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Jamie,
If ya want some it's all over the place here, but I think a lot of it is about fist sized up to about grapefruit sized would that be of any use? I'm also trying to find the local source for banded chert....which Michigan lists along with agates, rose quartz, and the like. I think that the banded chert makes good points as well. (have some if pictures would help on the banded chert)
Thanks for the info fellas.
rich
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What you do when picking up some is to knock a flake off right there and check how coarse the grain is, the finer the grain, the better it will knap. You are going to knock a lot of flakes off to find the fine stuff, if I find some, it is usually darker, almost black. Bill