sedimentary
Chert (Honey Chert / Flint)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs scale; Color: Honey yellow, tan, or brown; Luster: Waxy to dull; Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline (microscopic quartz); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs scale
- Color
- Honey yellow, tan, or brown
- Luster
- Waxy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs scale; Color: Honey yellow, tan, or brown; Luster: Waxy to dull; Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline (microscopic quartz); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of silica-rich organic remains or chemical precipitation within limestone or chalk beds. Often dated to the Paleozoic or Mesozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Historically used for stone tools and starting fires; currently used as decorative gravel, in road construction, and for jewelry as 'yellow jasper' or 'honey flint'.
Geological facts
This specimen shows clear conchoidal (shell-like) fracturing, which is the same property that made it the primary material for prehistoric arrowheads and knife blades.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its waxy texture, sharp edges when broken, and inability to be scratched by a steel knife. Commonly found in riverbeds or weathered out of limestone outcrops.
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