Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: DustinDees on March 23, 2009, 04:09:08 pm

Title: basalt
Post by: DustinDees on March 23, 2009, 04:09:08 pm
bassalt can be a knappable stone. i was wondering if the extremely hard, heavy, and porus stuff we have around here is knappable? is there any way to treat this stuff or any special way to break it if its really tough? when the stuff fractures it is very sharp. if there is a way to make an actual point from this with the holes in it i think it would make a pretty cool looking point.

here is a pic

(http://i352.photobucket.com/albums/r327/myownslave/basalt.jpg)
Title: Re: basalt
Post by: Hillbilly on March 23, 2009, 04:49:58 pm
I wouldn't have much hope for that, too grainy and full of holes. Some of the better grades of basalt are good rock, I've worked some from Arizona and Mexico that was excellent.
Title: Re: basalt
Post by: Blacktail on March 23, 2009, 05:36:56 pm
i agree with hillbilly.that stuff looks like lava rock...you want to find basalt that is fine grained the finer the better.if you can find some with out holes you might have a shot at it..john
Title: Re: basalt
Post by: DustinDees on March 23, 2009, 09:18:14 pm
cool ty, yah i had loose hope. the hills around my moms house are full of this stuff, feels like iron, some doesnt have any holes but we have elensburg blues and agate all over in the hills, hope to find some bigger than a golfball but not likely. :D

thank you

Dustin D
Title: Re: basalt
Post by: billy on March 23, 2009, 10:51:10 pm

I found some small pebbles of very fine-grained basalt when I lived in oregon...it knapped really well and was almost like slightly tougher Dacite.  It worked great.  If you can find some of that, it would work.  But then again, if you want to try to make a point out of that stuff, be my guest.  I'll bet it would sound like a pipe organ if you actually made a point out of it, tied it to an arrow and then shot it....
Title: Re: basalt
Post by: DustinDees on March 23, 2009, 11:25:46 pm
LOL might sound like one of those nerf whistling footballs..... now im going to have to try it

Dustin D