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texas flint

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Chippintuff:
I live where that is the primary knappable rock. I chip a lot of that Texas River Gravel. Some if it is premium, but what is available around here is tough as nails. I have to slice it and then cook it before it is reasonably chippable, then a lot of it is very good, and the colors are super. Of course that involves using a rock saw. Most people are not equipped for that.

If you cook those rocks whole, there will probably not be a one that survives. They fracture to little pieces if they have much thickness when heat is applied.

If you want to heat them, there are several ways to do it, but the easiest is using a $25 turkey roaster. If you are interested, I can tell you how to do it, but remember that they need to be thinned by spalling or sawing before heat is applied, else you wind up with lots of little fragile pieces of sharp rock that is worthless.

WA

Tower:
If you have a roaster start at 200* for 24 hrs.  Then increase it 50* every 5 hours until you get to  about 375-400* hold it for about 8-12 hours then unplug it.  Let it cool a day. Any large cobble should slick right up & turn to candy. Large cobbles will treat.  You just have to take it slowly.  I will add if you have any rootbeer don't take it past 350*. It will craze.
Just my opinion.
Tower

Zuma:
A pic of the rocks and chips you have can only help in identification.
Many can tell what you have just by the cortex (rind)
BJ I am sure tower answered your question. But if they are chert
they will spall or at least split with the correct persuasion.
Zuma

bjrogg:
Thanks everyone I'm pretty sure that's what S.C. Hunter was looking for to.
Bjrogg

S.C. hunter:
Thanks everyone,
  I guess I need to find a rock saw. Otherwise I guess I just bought a box of useless rocks, LOL >:(

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