WE ARE PRODUCING OUR CLASSIC WHITE TO OFF-WHITE OPAQUE PORCELAIN NOVACULITE. A FEW PIECES HAVE OCCASIONAL BLACK ZONES OR SPOTS ON A PURE WHITE BACKGROUND, BUT THE MAJORITY IS WHITE TO OFF WHITE SOMETIMES WITH SPIDER VEINS OF GRAY OR CLEAR.
THIS IS THE EASIEST TO FLAKE MATERIAL WE KNOW ABOUT THAT IS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, AND WE RECOMMEND IT FOR BEGINNERS OR EXPERTS.
NOTE: You will need a billet of some type to reduce 3-6 inch material into smaller flakes for pressure flaking
NOVACULITE DESCRIPTION BELOW:
Over three thousand years ago, areas of central Arkansas were being extensively mined for the nearly pure silica we call novaculite. Large quantities of stone were quarried for shipment to outlying areas, including many tons that would be floated down the Ouachita River into present-day Louisiana. From there, it was traded raw or finished throughout the Lower Mississippi Valley. The Poverty Point Culture of northeastern Louisiana was involved in this early novaculite trade as part of a vast exchange network in gem minerals and chippable stones. The most common use of novaculite at the time seems to have been to make the simple and efficient Gary style spear or dart point.
Our modern day novaculite mining effort yields a stone that varies from pure white to pure black and includes many shades of tan, brown, pink and purple. After breaking blocks into large quarry spalls just as the ancient miners did, we heat the material to 850 degrees Farenheit, then cool, clean and grade.
This process produces a stone that is very easy to chip but is not so brittle as obsidian or glass. It is an excellent stone for beginners or experts as it is available in large, consistent pieces.
Novaculite is microscopically porous, allowing it to accept many stains and dyes. Metallic nitrates, salts or carbohydrates in solution will penetrate this stone to great depths. Then, careful heating can yield dramatic color changes. Some users report good results with inks, wood stains, oils or waxes.
Cleaned, heated spalls and preforms of novaculite, grade #1 3" to 6" mixed. Suitable for fine, thin arrow and spear points and knife blades, percussion or pressure flaking techniques.
#1 3"-6" mixed colors and sizes............$5.00/lb
IMPORTANT NOVACULITE BUYING NOTES -
This material is sold as a mix of 3-6 inch spalls and preforms that have been heated, cleaned and selected.
If you only order a pound or two you may not get the largest sizes available, unless you email us and make a specific request.
If you request only 6 inch material it is much more expensive to produce and you should email us about your needs. As noted this advertised material is sold as a 3-6 inch mix.
It takes about a 4 or 5 pound order to get all the ranges of sizes and color available at any particular time.
If you can only make bird points out of 3-5 inch material, then our novaculite is NOT your problem. If you are any good at knapping you should expect to make finished items 80% to 90% of the cleaned stone length.
If your need is for smaller or larger pieces please specify your needs in an email. We cannot read your mind. Experience shows that in value per dollar, most people will be happiest with the 3-6 inch mix advertised.
You will need either an aluminum, copper or antler billet to reduce 3-6 inch material to the pressure flaking stage. This material requires percussion techniques.
