Here’s a piece I found yesterday on a dirt road

[MAMucker]

(Piece) Dang spell check!

I wasn’t sure if it was anything when I picked up. Just seemed to be sliver, like so many shards of roofing slate. It was caked with dirt and I threw it in my pocket to check out later.

Turned out to be a big wide thin broke blade.

I put a layer of oil on it to brighten up the rich lithic colors.

 

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[joshuaream]

That is a very cool piece. Really great knapping to get that width to thickness ratio on what looks like a great, but not forgiving material.

 

[sandchip]

Josh said it all. Amazing knapping on what would've been a great blade/point. That oil sure made a difference!

 

[GaRebel1861]

Great workmanship! Someone knew what they were doing while making it.

 

[Georgivs]

Wow! that cleaned up real nice.

 

[old digger]

Very Nice Save! What a heartbreaker!

 

[OntarioArch]

Mineral oil?

 

[MAMucker]

Ha ha! Coconut oil.

 

[OntarioArch]

Ha ha! Coconut oil.

Actually, no pun intended!! I think I've read that mineral oil can be used to enhance chert's appearance.....my Levanna in another thread you have posted to was rubbed with just a touch of mineral oil. Hope it's ok to do....

 

[Tdog]

What kind of material is that? Onondaga?

 

[MAMucker]

What kind of material is that? Onondaga?

That’s a great question. It is deceptive. With the oil coating it has the look similar to high a quality darker rhyolite and the flaking really pops. That may give it a chert look.

Without the oil it appears as a very dull filmy dark brown and has a chalky look to it. I lean toward it being an exotic rhyolite.

I’d like to hear Charlie’s insight on this.

The coconut oil coating has already begun to breakdown and the piece is returning to its natural finish.

On a side note: This is cautionary information when tempted to make an online purchase based only on a photograph.

 

[Charl]

That’s a great question. It is deceptive. With the oil coating it has the look similar to high a quality darker rhyolite and the flaking really pops. That may give it a chert look.

Without the oil it appears as a very dull grey and has a chalky look to it. I lean toward it being an exotic rhyolite.

I’d like to hear Charlie’s insight on this.

The coconut oil coating has already begun to breakdown and the piece is returning to its natural finish.

On a side note: This is cautionary information when tempted to make an online purchase based only on a photograph.

Yeah, very nice find, and I have been wondering about the material. Have you checked it against Boudreau's examples of Marblehead Rhyolite? That's where I was leaning. It does range from grey to black. I'm used to Marblehead having more phenocrysts(sp?) over the amount of surface area seen, but it must vary. Not used to veins, either, but Marblehead seemed the best match of the regional rhyolites typically used.

 

[MAMucker]

Actually, no pun intended!! I think I've read that mineral oil can be used to enhance chert's appearance.....my Levanna in another thread you have posted to was rubbed with just a touch of mineral oil. Hope it's ok to do....

It’s not a lasting or permanent treatment and this is the first time I’ve tried it in an attempt to capture the flaking details. It tried wetting the point, but that just wasn’t effective on the material.

The photos just didn’t capture the fine workmanship without the oil.

So I think it’s ok

 

[MAMucker]

Yeah, very nice find, and I have been wondering about the material. Have you checked it against Boudreau's examples of Marblehead Rhyolite? That's where I was leaning. It does range from grey to black. I'm used to Marblehead having more phenocrysts(sp?) over the amount of surface area seen, but it must vary. Not used to veins, either, but Marblehead seemed the best match of the regional rhyolites typically used.

Thanks Charlie,
I did spent some time before posting, reviewing without finding a match not only Boudreau’s examples, but also the many pages of the artifacts pictured in his book.

Now, I do have in my collection many cores and chunks and broken tools in various colors and examples of Marblehead Rhyolite, from dark red to brown to black to blueish and grey. But, there is something about the material in this artifact that gives me a gut check.

Still, it could be an odd Chunk of ugly looking, yet good quality Marblehead Rhyolite. I can say, with all that it’s gone though, that old blade has held a remarkably sharp edge.

Ive posted a picture below showing the oil treatment removed (soap and water). You can see it’s a dull dark and rusty colored Rhyolite. While the phenocrysts are tiny, and seem to contain some iron content.

Weird right?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Mamucker, I corrected the title for you.