Back to: Flint Types
(Photo LK)
Here's some raw Kaolin. It's found in many colors and the cortex varies ,widely. It appears in various forms with many of the nodules having an "elephant skin" appearance. The cortex colors vary widely from black, to white, to gray, to brown, with many shades, in between.
Kaolin is an extremely tough stone making it suitable for agricultural implements, wood-working tools, and knives. It was used for many Mississippian tools, when durability and strength, were needed. Dr. Pauketat, from the University of Illinois, suggests it's presence in "higher status" Mississippian contexts, is notable.
"Known only from residual deposits, Kaolin chert is believed to have been eroded from Paleozoic limestone, probably Mississippian (Billings 1984: Koldehoff 1985; May 1984; Spielbauer 1976)". Taken from: "The Archaeology and History of Horseshoe Lake, Alexander County, Illinois" by Koldehoff and Wagner.
(Photo LK)
More raw Kaolin.
For more information, check out the Parkland College CHERT TYPES pages.
