sedimentary
Chert Arrowhead (Jasper)
Chert (Cryptocrystalline Quartz, SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Yellowish-brown, ochre, rusty; Luster: Dull to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline; Conchoidal fracture patterns.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Yellowish-brown, ochre, rusty
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: Yellowish-brown, ochre, rusty; Luster: Dull to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline; Conchoidal fracture patterns.
Formation & geological history
Formed via the accumulation of silica-rich organic debris or chemical precipitation in sedimentary basins, later knapped by humans during the Archaic or Woodland periods.
Uses & applications
Archaeological artifact; historically used for hunting and tools; currently used as a collector piece or educational specimen.
Geological facts
Arrowheads made from jasper or chert are highly durable due to their microcrystalline structure, which allows them to be flaked to a razor-sharp edge.
Field identification & locations
Identified by the distinct 'flake' scars from the knapping process and side-notched base; commonly found in riverbeds or tilled fields in North America.
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