Color:  Mounds Gravel Chert has broad range of color.  Most commonly light in color ranging from brown to tan, greyish tan, yellowish tan, or cream.  Less commonly white and black, pink and red, or olive gray to greenish gray occur.  Mottling is commonly seen, and rarely banding may be present.  Cortex ranges from a brown, reddish brown, or grayish brown.

Texture:  Medium to fine grain

Luster: Waxy

Silica Fabrics / Fossils:

Patina:

Heat Treatment: 

Knapping: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution Comments:

Mounds Gravel Chert is associated with the Lafayette gravels of the lower Ohio, and Illinois River and throughout the Mississippi Embayment and Ozark Escarpment into Arkansas's Eastern Lowlands.  Mounds Gravel Chert primarily occurs along the lower Ohio River in southern Illinois in Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, and Pope counties, Illinois.  Elco Gravel Chert is primarily occur in Alexander County, Illinois.