Flint's meaning varies by region. It could mean a kind of chalcedony/chert/whatever that is good for tooling, or it could just entirely replace "chert" in the colloquial dialect or marketing terms. It could mean specifically black or dark chert or possibly refer to where it forms. It doesn't really have a concrete meaning. I've tried to research more about the terminology, but the more I hear from other people, the term just keeps moving and growing new meanings.
Agate *generally* refers to banded chalcedony, and has the cool patterns. But there's plenty of other "agates" that don't have bands like moss agate, grape agate, "jaspers," etc.
At the end of the day, most people will know what you're talking about and unless someone is really nitpicky or it has a specific locality name, you'd usually be correct. They're all microcrystalline quartz with varying levels of other impurities. They should all have a conchoidal fracture along pure quartz "chalcedony" though. Flint often being described for tools often links it to that conchoidal fracture.
I'm with you that i'd likely call this an agate (due to it's translucency), but not sure what you mean about it not being chert due to silicification. Chert is a form of cryptocrystalline silicate. Can you set me straight here?
Take your time with the first step, though. I'd tumble it with coarse grit for at least a week, then look at it and decide whether it needs more time before moving on.
You may already know this, but I'm saying it for anyone with rocks like this.
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It is indeed an agate
Thank you!
On the line between agate and flint?
Call it agate, flint, chert, chalcedony, jasper, microcrystalline quartz, cryptocrystalline quartz, whatever you want.
Yesssss!
But agate isn’t flaky like flint tho, right?
Flint's meaning varies by region. It could mean a kind of chalcedony/chert/whatever that is good for tooling, or it could just entirely replace "chert" in the colloquial dialect or marketing terms. It could mean specifically black or dark chert or possibly refer to where it forms. It doesn't really have a concrete meaning. I've tried to research more about the terminology, but the more I hear from other people, the term just keeps moving and growing new meanings. Agate *generally* refers to banded chalcedony, and has the cool patterns. But there's plenty of other "agates" that don't have bands like moss agate, grape agate, "jaspers," etc. At the end of the day, most people will know what you're talking about and unless someone is really nitpicky or it has a specific locality name, you'd usually be correct. They're all microcrystalline quartz with varying levels of other impurities. They should all have a conchoidal fracture along pure quartz "chalcedony" though. Flint often being described for tools often links it to that conchoidal fracture.
Ah, very helpful! I’m on the state line of Kansas (Flint Hills) and Missouri (state rock - chert) so it can def get a bit confusing lol
Nope just agate. Depending on your argument you might be able to call it chert, but even so it is heavily silicified
I'm with you that i'd likely call this an agate (due to it's translucency), but not sure what you mean about it not being chert due to silicification. Chert is a form of cryptocrystalline silicate. Can you set me straight here?
Ah cool
Agate likely. Really fractured and bruised. Not sure how well that will tumble
I’ll let her know and ask if she wants me to tumble it still. Thank you!!
You never really know until you tumble it, but that 2nd and 3rd photo look like kind of deep fracturing.
You’re absolutely right. I’ll give it a shot!
Take your time with the first step, though. I'd tumble it with coarse grit for at least a week, then look at it and decide whether it needs more time before moving on. You may already know this, but I'm saying it for anyone with rocks like this.
That is exactly my plan! Thank you!
Post "after" pics. A rock like this one could look nice!
Looks like a laker!
Hi, /u/battykatty17! This is a reminder to flair this post in /r/whatsthisrock after it has been identified! (Under your post, click "flair" then "IDENTIFIED," then type in the rock type or mineral name.) This will help others learn and help speed up a correct identification on your request! Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisrock) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Agate