AKA: Lower Knox, Maynardville, Morristown Chert
(Ridge and Valley Chert)

Color:  Copper Ridge Chert ranges in color from medium to dark gray or black.

Texture:  Hard fine grained

Luster: Vitreous when freshly fractured to dull to porcellaneous when weathered

Translucency:  Opaque to slightly translucent

Silica Fabrics / Fossils:

Patina:   White to light gray

Heat Treatment:  Heat treatment darkens the color and produces a glossy luster.

Knapping: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution Comments:

Copper Ridge Chert is associated with the Copper Ridge Dolomite Member of the Knox Formation of eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and into Georgia and Alabama.  Copper Ridge Chert is commonly found in thin layers or nodules with primary sources being in Knox, Polk, and Floyd counties, Georgia.  It is also found throughout the Lower Little Tennessee River in Eastern Tennessee, the middle and western portions of the Appalachian Valley of Tennessee and Alabama.  Named for Copper Ridge of Knoxville, Tennessee. Maynardville Limestone Formation underlies the Copper Ridge Member and produced identical chert with outcroppings 5.5 miles southeast of Maynardville, Union County, Tennessee.  Morristown Dolomite Formation overlies the Copper Ridge Member and outcrops northwest of Morristown, Tennessee.