Overcooked, fire pop damage

antmike915

Silver Member
Apr 20, 2020
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SE Alabama
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
#1 - side blowout
#2 - base blowout

Both found in Florida. I'm posting these for anyone that hasn't seen fire pop damage on artifacts.
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I've got a big broken base with a fire pop. I thought it was a flute when I first found it. You think from forest fires? We have had fires forever here in Florida.
 

Those are called potlids. Most happened when a finished point was buried in the dirt and someone started a campfire on top of it. The moisture in the point turns to steam and blows out a small spall. Gary
 

I've got a big broken base with a fire pop. I thought it was a flute when I first found it. You think from forest fires? We have had fires forever here in Florida.

Both were found in fire pits (not at the same time) about a foot and 1/2 to 2 feet deep.
 

Those are called potlids. Most happened when a finished point was buried in the dirt and someone started a campfire on top of it. The moisture in the point turns to steam and blows out a small spall. Gary

Great info Gary, once I found one with one side completely blown out; the other side was perfect.
 

Great informative post. Thanks Mike, and the rest. I’m always learning stuff from you folks...found a flake earlier. About to head out to one of my secret spots. See if I can have some luck today. Have a great one
 

The usual explanation (FWIW) is that they're the result of rapid, uneven heating. When one area gets too hot while the rest is still warming up, expansion induced detachment happens. Gets too big to occupy the former space it took up.
 

Here is another example. A heat fractured Harahey that I found several years ago. It displays well on one side although not so well on the other. Sometimes you're hot and sometimes you're not! fire popped Harahey.jpgfire popped Harahey.jpg 2.jpg
 

Great informative post. Thanks Mike, and the rest. I’m always learning stuff from you folks...found a flake earlier. About to head out to one of my secret spots. See if I can have some luck today. Have a great one

Good luck quinn, I think you'll find something, couldn't tell you what though :icon_thumleft:
 

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