Flint is a sedimentary rock that lends itself to many uses. In the past it was used to make rudimentary tools similar to knives and spear points. Fans of the outdoors and camping use it to create sparks by rubbing it on iron or steel and lighting a fire. It may be useful to know how to recognize a piece of flint when you are in nature. Regardless of whether you are looking for an object or a method to light a bonfire, know that finding flint is not as difficult as you think.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Locate the Flint
Step 1. Choose a nearby area to start your search
At times, this may seem like a difficult task, but usually you just need to know where to look. In some areas it is possible to find this rock simply on the ground. The reason lies in the fact that flint is a hard and durable material, so resistant to bad weather that it remains intact even when the surrounding stones have been eroded and turned into earth.
- You can start along the banks of freshwater bodies and in riverbeds. This rock also resists chemical action very well, so it often remains on the ground, after the carbonate stones have eroded. As the limestone rocks are destroyed by the action of water and the thin soil carried downstream by the current, small flint pebbles accumulate along the banks.
- You can do some research in other places where there are many different types of rocks, such as construction sites or dirt roads. Rocks are often taken from river beds for building construction, so you shouldn't be surprised to find flint pieces in urban centers as well.
Step 2. Study the history of the area you live in
If in the past your region was populated by tribes who used flint tools, chances are you can find some fragments.
This type of rock is perfect for building rudimentary weapons and tools. It is a stone that can be worked and transformed into a blade that is much sharper than steel and with a very thin tip. If near some tribal site you find a stone that is sharp or that looks like an arrowhead, you have found flint
Step 3. Look for flint cores in larger stones
This rock, in fact, tends to form as a "nodule" within blocks of chalk or limestone. So, in addition to looking for this stone itself, also look at the larger boulders that may contain several pieces of flint. Break them apart and see what they contain.
- Look for darker spots in the limestone rocks. Typically, flint cores are slightly darker than the surrounding limestone. You can break these blocks with the help of some tools and take the stone that interests you.
- Grab an iron hammer and hit some small rocks. If you notice sparks forming with each hit, most likely there are flint or quartz nodules.
Method 2 of 2: Recognizing the Characteristics of Flint
Step 1. Observe the color of the stone
Flint is generally black or dark gray. It has no particular characteristic color; however, it often shows a combination of different shades based on the minerals present. In certain types of flint it is not uncommon to find shades of brown, garnet red, yellow, white and occasionally dark blue. Sometimes, the colors form streaks on the surface.
- Other types of quartz that are worth recognizing and that can be used as a substitute for flint are carnelian, agate, heliotrope, jade and chalcedony.
- The surrounding stones can alter the appearance of the flint. When buried in plaster, it becomes covered with a white patina or film.
Step 2. Look at its various forms
It can be found as natural nuclei within other rocks or in fragments that have been modeled.
- The "nodules" can be round in shape with smooth edges, set in plaster or limestone. When you come across these formations within the gypsum, it is not uncommon to find shell fossils on the surface.
- Look for rock fragments that look like pieces of broken glass. Flint breaks down differently than many crystals. The fragments take on the appearance of glass shards with curved and very sharp edges.
- In addition to looking for the natural cores of flint, you must check for stones that have been worked and shaped. Compared to other types of rocks, it is very easy to control the way flint splits; this is another reason why man used it to make weapons and tools. Sometimes, the stones appear to have chipped or pointed edges, which means they have been used as tools.
Step 3. Look at the shiny surface
Flint often has a natural shiny appearance like glass. If it has recently been broken, it may be dull and somewhat waxy to the touch. Generally, it is not difficult to scrub off or sand this coating to bring out a glossy surface.
Step 4. Check the hardness of the stone
If you have a glass bottle with you, try to scratch it with the pointed edge of the flint. If you succeed, it is as hard as flint.
Be careful when you rub the stone on the glass. It is always a good idea to protect your hands with gloves
Step 5. Take a carbon steel flint and rub it on the stone
If you notice sparks after several attempts, you may have found a piece of flint.
- The "sparks" are generated when small fragments of iron detach from the metal surface. Sudden exposure to air forms rapid oxidation and the fragment cannot dissipate heat as quickly as it produces. The spark is nothing more than an incandescent piece of iron just exposed.
- If the rock doesn't have a very sharp edge, you'll need to shape it this way to try and create the sparkles. To do this, use a larger rock as if it were a hammer and peel off some flakes from the thinner portion of flint.
- When you hit flint with metal, make sure it is dry, otherwise no sparks will be generated.
- Other rocks, such as quartz, which reach a hardness grade of seven on the Mohs scale, are capable of creating sparks when rubbed on metal that contains carbon. If you are just looking for a stone that allows you to create sparks and start a fire, try to learn to recognize what other types of rocks can help you with this task.
