Minnesota Catlinite (Pipestone)

[gregszybala]

Soft, fine grained and easily carved, pipestone is a type of argillite (metamorphosed claystone), usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux Quartzite.

This lithic was prized by the ancients because it was easily worked by grinding and drilling. This stone was so prized that it traveled long distances from the source in Minnesota.

Information and Pictures provided by Ron Kelly