Buckskin Chert Plates from Texas

[Ron Kelley]

The Buckskin Chert Plates come from the hill country of Texas. The Plates are very thin and flat.

[redrocks]

Man I would pass right by that and never know of the beautiful rock inside . Cool post Ron

[sneakygroundbuzzard]

i love that material,one of my fav texas lithics
my main rock dealer when he gets that stuff he puts it all aside just for me.
the black variety is the best

[tomclark]

That is killer! Great info about material. We have something similar here....we call it "ledge flint" or tabular chert. In this case it's baybottom chert, fossiliferous. Always dark grey, black, brown. These lenses are always thin like yours and the crust is limerocky but never smooth, always rough. Every one of these were checked in ancient days for suitability...and probably found lacking. Need a knapper. Preform is from same site, recent damage is glossier.

[Kentucky point]

Wow! That nice chert, inside that rough rock? That's pretty cool. Does chert always come with a rough "skin"?

[sneakygroundbuzzard]

not all chert has a rough skin(cortex),some is very smooth,some is chalky,some is very thick,some very thin

[MayaEccentric]

Looks like what we used to call Steinite back in the day (named for Paul Stein, one of the godfathers of Texas knapping). Paul had a super-secret source somewhere in the Hill Country. Great material, raw or heated.

[Broken Arrow]

Nice stuff Ron. Makes me want to check some of the slabs in the local formations around here.

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Andrew, The plates are fun to knapp. I can make a good sized knife in a lot less time than starting with a round rock. There is less debatage using the plates as well.

[Broken Arrow]

I bet it is alot easier. To my knowledge, the chert around here in the local formations is mostly modular but I do know where some stuff cleaved in slabs. I'll have to try it. I do know where some agate veins are though but most of it is pretty crumbly

[Kyflintguy]

Cool stuff Ron, that Chert is made ready to Knapp! I envy those Texas folks lol.