Flint, chert, agate, etc.

[Deadeye]

While in the Mts. last week I picked up this flint, chert, agate, jasper, whatever, it throws great sparks. The smaller flatter pieces only have to have a flat edge knapped on them to work. Some of the black stuff looks almost like the black english flints. The red stuff I can find down here in the valley but the white and black is up about 10,000 feet.

 

[chipper]

Here's what those stones look like when you beat on them with a rock.

 

[Goldhunter]

Did you get these up in the Book Cliffs? I've seen alot of this in the south part of the state. All of the black I've found down there is obsidian. I haven't found any black chert. I have a pink and white piece that I use in my flint/steel kit. Sparks real nice.

 

The black ones in Deadeyes post look like good flint (chert), the one in Loyds looks like obsidian (volcanic glass). Obsidian is softer than chert/flint and fractures easier.

 

[Deadeye]

Loyd, that's obsidian, not at all like this rock.
Goldhunter, no this came from Monroe mt. down by Richfield but I've seen in in many other places.
Mike, it's all hard enough to make good sparks. I've never found the black stuff in slivers or small pieces that I could knap into the size for the flinter ,just big chunks. Some of the light colored stuff you can put right from the ground into the jaws on your flinter and your good to go.

 

[Goldhunter]

I've found alot there and the lower parts of Cove, below Hunters Flat. Also on the other side of the valley. The Pavant is loaded with it.

The biggest chunk of obsidian I ever found was above Glenwood, up dry canyon. It measured 9 x 5 and was about 4 inches thick. It was soo cool to find that big of a chunk, I haven't touched it, still in large form.

 

[Deadeye]

Where I picked this up was only a few miles from Hunter's flat (as the crow flies). It's everywhere on these mts. I haven't seen any obsidian on Cove or Monroe, a lot of it on the West desert though. I think the community of Black Rock is named for it.