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Flint and chert are both in a group of silica containing rock formations that are often bedded within layers of sedimentary rock. Scientists theorize that many of our good knapping cherts and flints are the results of ancient marine life and/or coral features that used to live in long extinct oceans which covered much of what is now dry land. While searching for artifacts one day, I came accross a drumlin land feature near Rochester, New York, that was covered in Onondaga Chert. None of it was of knapping quality, but I did find several pieces that were in the shape of coral. The outside cortex was a brown sandstone type of material, while the center core was solid chert. The higher the silica composition, the nicer a flint or chert is to knap. Flints are generally near pure silica in content while cherts are more impure and can be of a slightly lower silica content. The closest to pure flint that can be found in the United States would be Texas Georgetown flint. It's white chalky cortex and flint color are very similiar to some of the fine European flints. |
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