i believe this is a chert

[Glenn C]

I found this today. I believe I have a chert here. Her is the pictures.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[GatorBoy]

I don't know where you are located but that looks more like volcanic material stuck to a stone. That I'm pretty positive is not a piece of chert.

 

[GatorBoy]

Here is a couple for comparison.



I think If you look up traprock you will see what you have. It was commonly used as bed material for railroad tracks. And as rip rap for erosion control on riverbanks.

 

[rock]

Depending on where you are at I guess. Here Chert will Patina white with age if exposed to sun light. I have found some in the ground just as black as night.

 

[GatorBoy]

There is chert of alot of different colors. It depends on the minerals present when it formed. Some of the best material is black. Not from patina..baybottom chert is glossy black and formed by compressed silicified algae.

 

[NC field hunter]

Looks like mineral composites on an old hammer stone to me. Strange piece! I think it is an artifact that mother nature tried to mend. Just my 2 cents . No refund, sorry!lol.

 

[larson1951]

Looks like mineral composites on an old hammer stone to me. Strange piece! I think it is an artifact that mother nature tried to mend. Just my 2 cents . No refund, sorry!lol.

are you serious?
i'm gonna tell your dad

 

[GatorBoy]

Me too!

 

[Glenn C]

I really don't know. It looks like it has been used. I can take better pictures. It may just be a rock? Lol ... don't tell him please .

 

[Glenn C]

Here are a few more pictures. I found it sticking out of a hill side. The white end was the part exposed to light. Also it seems to have a carved line prior to the hammer head end all around. It fits in my grip perfectly. I am new to this. I did find it with a friend and he said it was chert right away and showed me other chert lying around. I can see the pool of knowledge here so I will bite my tongue as to what I think. Just showing as it has my interest.

 

[GatorBoy]

I won't disagree with anyone any longer because I don't want to be a pooper...but in my opinion its just a rock and its not chert...also chert doesn't really change colors in the sun like rock said..it may get a little pale but will not go from black to white. Good luck finding artifacts in that spot. Happy hunting.

 

[NC field hunter]

are you serious?
i'm gonna tell your dad

I told him. Don't bother!

 

[Glenn C]

I sure I'm wrong and accept your thoughts as I really have no idea. It just looks very weird.

Thanks for the input.
I stick it in a plant .

 

[NC field hunter]

I sure I'm wrong and accept your thoughts as I really have no idea. It just looks very weird.

Thanks for the input.
I stick it in a plant .

Don't count yourself out. No one else has called it!!

 

[GatorBoy]

Probably because they agree.

 

[GatorBoy]

I even happen to have some of that from a railroad track. Also if it has tiny bubbles in it..its definatly this stuff...its usually attached to other stones because it was molten when it got there. Short of giving you guys a link to learn about chert and how its formed and what it looks like which might not be a bad Idea...I will briefly explain..chert is formed in limestone in a process where silica skeletons of dead marine organisms settled on an ancient sea floor creating thick layers. In time the silica replaced the lime stone under pressure. That pressure was created by more limestone layering on top. So...the chert/ "microcrystaline quartzite" is in the interior of the nodules that are formed. Think of it like an orange..the limestone which is chalky white is on the outside like the Peel or "rind" the solidified chert is in the interior like the pulp. That's what chert looks like...not like the rock above.

 

[Glenn C]

Looks about right.

Thanks for your help. This was from a hike and not the same spot I found the other pieces.

Cheers!

 

[GatorBoy]

No prob. I'm kinda just speaking in general right now because alot of people look at this and it may help someone.

 

[NC field hunter]

I even happen to have some of that from a railroad track. Also if it has tiny bubbles in it..its definatly this stuff...its usually attached to other stones because it was molten when it got there. Short of giving you guys a link to learn about chert and how its formed and what it looks like which might not be a bad Idea...I will briefly explain..chert is formed in limestone in a process where silica skeletons of dead marine organisms settled on an ancient sea floor creating thick layers. In time the silica replaced the lime stone under pressure. That pressure was created by more limestone layering on top. So...the chert/ "microcrystaline quartzite" is in the interior of the nodules that are formed. Think of it like an orange..the limestone which is chalky white is on the outside like the Peel or "rind" the solidified chert is in the interior like the pulp. That's what chert looks like...not like the rock above.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=682965"/>

I know that grey air bubbled weak railroad stuff that you are talking about. What is that stuff? Is it even stone? It always breaks nice and rounded. I have tracks behind my business and have always wandered what that is. It does sort of look like chert. Off topic, but railroad tracks are good hunting grounds. I have found lots of nice stuff on the tracks. My uncle found a full grooved axe head on the tracks.

 

[GatorBoy]

Its called trap rock... its related to obsidian. Google it. Wikipedia describes it well.