Pitchstone
A species of Igneous Scientific name : Pitchstone RockType : Igneous
Pitchstone, A species of Igneous
Scientific name: Pitchstone
RockType: Igneous
Content
Description General Info
Description
Pitchstone is a glassy volcanic rock, similar to obsidian, but duller and with somewhat waxy luster due to its high water content. The material is found only in Colorado, USA, and on Arran Island, which is off the coast of Scotland. It is believed that this rock was was used on the Aran Island from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, from where it was later transported to other parts of Britain.
Physical Properties
Colors
Black
Chemical Properties
Silica (SiO2) Content
70-75%
General Info
Usage
Pitchstone has a long history of use by humans because it fragments jaggedly in a similar way to flint. The mineral's use on the Scottish island of Arran dates back to the Mesolithic period. It was used to craft a multitude of items. Archaeologists have found over 20,000 worked pitchstone pieces at around 350 sites in northern Britain. Today the usefulness of this glassy mineral has been superseded by technological advances.
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