mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Mar 1, 2024 8:16:05 GMT -5
I really enjoyed reading through this thread! Years ago, I started writing the name and provenance of the material with pencil on all slabs and some rough. Every now and then one surprises me and I learn the rock type again ;-) I keep my rough in 5 gallon buckets and label the buckets with flagging tape (color coded and with sharpie).
Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Jan 20, 2024 12:05:10 GMT -5
Hello all,
Many of you have probably worked or at least heard of Mookaite from Australia. Does anyone know when it was first imported into the USA?
All the best, Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Jan 11, 2024 10:44:27 GMT -5
I have a old MT-4 that just quit one day too. It has sat on the shelf for years. I just never got around to troubleshooting it. Some good advice here. I'll have to take it apart and document the whole way and see if it is something as simple as a loose connection.
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Nov 23, 2023 13:06:26 GMT -5
Hello follow Middle Tennessean! You've found a great group here with lots of knowledge. If you are interested, check out the Mid-Tennessee Gem and Mineral Society (http://mtgms.org/).
Welcome! Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Oct 21, 2023 8:21:47 GMT -5
Welcome to the group! In case you're interested the Gemboree is coming up in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. summitlapidaryclub.com/gemboreeIt's a great show! Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 15, 2023 6:49:28 GMT -5
When I cut slabs for knapping, I make triangular shapes and keep the max width around an 1 1/2 inches. I recommend obsidian as it's the least likely material to give you internal challenges (e.g. crystal pockets, fossils, hidden cracks, etc). I always start at the tip on a triangular preform. The first flake will provide a ridge for the next flake and each ridge will get progressively longer allowing the flakes to travel across the middle. I don't worry about cross-section till I get all the saw marks chipped off.
Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 13, 2023 18:10:28 GMT -5
I've been flintknapping for 30 years. Would be glad to give you some tips.
Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Nov 19, 2022 11:16:57 GMT -5
I don't see any artifacts. No signs of use or chipping. They are geofacts, stones that have been weathered / eroded by natural processes.
All the best, Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Oct 9, 2022 5:42:30 GMT -5
I'm a flintknapper and I tumble a good bit of my chert debris; I will shape some pieces to remove thin edges or 90 degree angles. It does speed up the rough grind!
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Jun 27, 2022 18:19:43 GMT -5
His thoughts on publishing science are very well put and sadly hit the mark in many scientific fields. I don't have a solution any more elegant than his, offer real insight and strive to cultivate the growth of young minds.
Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on May 8, 2022 6:51:56 GMT -5
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 23, 2022 10:22:59 GMT -5
Another note, the Spring Flint Ridge Knap-in is on Friday, May 27, 2022 to Sunday, May 29, 2022 and it's a good sized show with lots of rock for sale (from the guys who use a backhoe to dig it). They'll have slabs and rough flint out and lots of replicas of stone tools too. www.facebook.com/FlintRidgeKnappIn/
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 23, 2022 10:19:13 GMT -5
I've dug at Nethers for many years and have some advice. Depending on what your end goal is, there are different approaches to quarrying Flint Ridge Flint. Firstly, if you are planning on simply tumbling then you don't even have to dig in the pits. You will find ample pieces of flint on the surface around the pits from previous diggers. Take a bucket, a stiff brush, and a bucket to wash off the clay so you can see the colors better. Now, if you want blocks of flint for slabbing be prepared to make sparks fly. You will need gloves, long pants and sleeves, safety glasses, a scrap piece of carpet (to kneel on), sledge hammers of various sizes, picks, chisels, rock hammers, pry bars, and a strong back. Most folks who are serious use a backhoe. Another good tip, use a copper hammer to lightly tap the pieces you find on the surface... listen for a high pitched ring = solid or a dull thud = fractured... so you don't take home freeze/thawed flint that won't be good for much except maybe yard rock. Be sure to take food, water, and such too. Not much out there. Hope y'all have a good time! Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 17, 2022 8:39:09 GMT -5
Yup, Shawn at the Rock Shed will treat you right! I have always had great customer service, quick shipping, and candy too ;-)
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 11, 2022 7:15:29 GMT -5
Hi Kelly,
Yes, Port Huron Michigan was has the same glacial till as Ohio. It can vary in color from just a light grey to white and can have spots and banding. You'll see it in pebble form most often.
All the best, Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 5, 2022 18:08:09 GMT -5
Yes, that is chert. Reminds me of some of the glacial deposit chert I found in Ohio.
Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Apr 2, 2022 7:25:47 GMT -5
Thanks for tagging me RickB! Cool find indeed. It is unfinished based on the flaking and size. The technical term would be middle stage bifacial preform and these were made during all periods of prehistory; probably Archaic (8,000 - 1,000 BC) by the looks of the flaking, but can't say for sure. Often preforms were used for cutting or chopping tasks before they were finished tools. The material doesn't look familiar to me. It does have a couple edge dings from being transported by water so it's hard to say how far upstream it washed out. Hope this helps! Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Aug 29, 2021 13:16:26 GMT -5
Hello All,
I'm heading to the UP soon for vacation and am eager to be outside looking for rocks! From Marquette to Au Train to Munising to Grand Marais are there any sites, already booked a Pictured Rocks tour, that I don't want miss? This is my first time there and I won't be able to pack any hounding gear but I plan to ship rocks home :-)
Thanks Y'all! Michael
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Aug 21, 2021 7:31:42 GMT -5
Quartz veins in a granite
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Aug 9, 2021 5:58:27 GMT -5
Minerals of Ohio by Carlson is also a great book.
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