Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: gstoneberg on March 15, 2012, 01:12:21 am
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I finally received my box of alibates flint. This stuff is really pretty.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6837467858_6a20992439_z.jpg)
I hope I can get some of that blue in a point. Does this need to be heat treated?
George
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Way pretty. Hows it flake ? ' Frank
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Yes Sir George!
That is Pretty.
-gus
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Way pretty. Hows it flake ? ' Frank
I don't know yet Frank. I just opened the box and won't get a whack at it until tomorrow. I'll let you know. If it flakes well I'm gonna be making a long drive to west Texas to get some more at some point.
George
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Is that the stuff that was quarried up north of Amarillo? I can't remember where the quarry was exactly, but somewhere around there. Josh
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It came from near Amarillo, but exactly where I don't know. I hope to get over there in person and get some as soon as I can swing it.
George
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Hey George: El D mailed me a box awhile back and for the most part a little heat really helps a lot. i did however stumble across one chunk in there that was all nice and slick raw if in fact it was raw, hmm ::). Anyway always cool looking rock. It cooks the same as most tx - 400 to 500 aught to do it..
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OK thanks Paul. Wonder if heat will change the colors at all? Speaking of El D, has anybody heard from him lately?
George
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Wow George. Can't wait to see points from that rock!
Cipriano
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It came from near Amarillo, but exactly where I don't know. I hope to get over there in person and get some as soon as I can swing it.
George
I looked at my panhandle map after I posted that. The place I was thinking of is the Alibates flint quarry national monument. Its along the Canadian ,West of Fritch . I've seen the signs to it many times, but I was always in the semi and couldn't stop. Thanks for posting this . I've often wondered what that material looked like. Josh
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I went to Alibates a year ago. You have to schedule a time to see it. Its a sight to see. Bi faces, hammer stones, some of the most colorful flint I've ever seen. Those park rangers watch you like a hawk . Its an amazing walk through hell. Look & touch but you can't take any. There are other small deposits on priviet land. It sure is some purddy rock. Can't wait to see what ya make w/it.
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I had some alabates a while back. Purdy stuff but mean >:D I gave a piece to Shannon and he bled like a stuck pig :) cant wait to see what you make of it :)
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Wow, this stuff is hard! I had to use a ball peen hammer to get a couple spalls. It needs heat bad. One of the rocks is red, a little darker than a brick with white strips through it. I could not get flakes to run far enough to thin it so I stopped before I ruined it. I'll heat it and try some more. One of the largest chunks has strong layering and lots of fissures. It spalled right along a layer. It was like knapping a slab. It would have made a nice big point if it wouldn't have fractured so many times. I ended up with a small point. When I went to side notch it the first side went fine. The second side crumbled when I hit it with the notcher. I had to enlarge the notch a lot to clean it up and then worked to get the other one close to it. I won't do any more raw rock, but at least you can see a little of the color in this particular nodule.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6840136878_e78f745bac_z.jpg)
George
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Yes Sir George!
I like the looks of it.
Be interested to see how it behaves after you heat treat it.
-gus
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Nice point there. Love that color.
Cipriano
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Yes Sir George!
I like the looks of it.
Be interested to see how it behaves after you heat treat it.
-gus
and if there's any color change, nice point from a tough rock George, Bub
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El Destructo brought some to TN couple years ago and I worked a piece that was tough but would flake with enough umph! Neat rock. Nice point G
Tracy
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Where did you purchase your's from George?
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Nice little point there George! I may have some of that alibates laying around here. Come on over and we'll make some flakes..
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I'll get some better before and after pictures when I cook it. I was hitting that little point as hard as I could for sure. Some of the rock is almost translucent, which is what I used for the point. The red rock is grainier, hoping heat really helps it. I didn't buy the rock. the guy who sent it saw my points on another forum or on facebook and emailed to ask if I wanted some and then shipped it to me. Stuff like that doesn't normally happen to me. He's for sure going to get some points back. Paul, Sunday afternoon should work great. I'll head over after we eat lunch.
George
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That's some really pretty rock!