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finding agatized coral.

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vinemaplebows:

--- Quote from: Tracker0721 on August 19, 2015, 11:46:55 pm ---I know of some(super duper rare for my area) in Wa. Whole mountain top is covered but it's a no collecting private property see and leave spot. I'd like to knap some someday. Any of you beach guys got an answer? I'd make the trip.

--- End quote ---

I would love to know about where this spot is, as I have never heard of coral in Wa. Seems to me if it is there, it should be close by in other places, or washed down creeks rivers?

JoJoDapyro:
There is some in Utah as well. Noting of any real size, but it's here, on public land.

AncientTech:
Hello Beartail,

There is agatized coral about a day's drive from where I live, near Tulum, Mexico.  It is in central Belize.

Here is a photo of a point made by Marty Rueter, from material that I sent back in 2012:

 







Here are a few pieces in my hand, under the sunlight:









Here is a large heavy spall after removal:











Here is a large heavy nodule that happens to be hollow inside:



I still have three large nodules of this stuff.  The nodules are roughly watermelon size.  And, since I do not usually heat treat stone, I have only spalled some of it.  The stone would need to be heat treated, in order to be worked, effectively.  Otherwise, the grain is on the blocky side.   

Anyway, I could put some spalls, chunks, and flakes of this stuff, in the sale section, for a donation, plus shipping.  Right now, I am working with the director of the local Dos Ojos museum.  They are in the process of doing recovery work, of materials that were trapped in underwater river systems, at the end of the Ice Age.  This includes the recovery of very early human skeletons.  We need to take cave divers to unexplored dive sites, and have them lay exploratory lines, while keeping an eye out for Ice Age campfires that are now submerged, etc.  If a fire hearth with charcoal is found in an underwater cave site, the charcoal can be carbon dated, to test its antiquity.  So, if people wanted to make a donation, I could send the agatized coral, so long as shipping is covered.  If you think you might be interested, I can put it in the sale section. 

Here is my friend, Geronimo Aviles, who is the co-director of the local Dos Ojos Museum:



Here is inside and outside the museum:






























News Articles featuring the museum:










     

turbo:
Wow Ben, that Marty is something. Did he heat treat the rock you sent to make that awesome Clovis? I would like some if you end up putting it up. Keep us updated on the underwater site. Very cool.

AncientTech:
Hello Turbo,

Yes, Marty heat treated it.  He also recommended that I heat treat it.  But, I am trying to tackle raw cherts.  So, I don't bother heat treating any rock, since I am working with really high power operations.

However, agatized coral needs thermal alteration, in my opinion.  Also, chalcedonies, jaspers, and agates, should be heat treated as well, if they are not susceptible to normal flaking methods that produce conchoidal fractures.  So, this stuff needs to "melted" a bit with heat.

Anyway, Turbo, since you are the first to ask, I will let you have "pick of the litter".  I will post three or four batches in the "sale" area, for you.  After you decide what you want, I can check on the shipping.  And, then I will be able to send it off.

By the way, I live about a mile from where the Hombre del Templo remains were found.  The river systems used to be dry caves, during the Ice Age.  And, in some cases, people fell down into the chasms, that can be found in the ground of the Yucatan.  After the Ice Age ended, the sea level rose, and flooded all of the caves with water.  Today, there are thousands of miles of caves here, that used to be open air, but now are filled with water.  And, whenever signs of human habitation are found, it means, that the people were there, during the Ice Age.   

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