Materials Identification Guide

Florida Lithic Material

 











Name Natural Non-heat treated points Heat treated points Color details Primary found in: Associated Formation / Member
Andesite
Generic Type
    North America Varies
Argillite
(Generic Type)
  Light to dark green, but may range to various shades of gray. North America Varies
Bay Bottom Chert Peloidal packstone ranging from a white to brown, light gray, or dark gray.  Clear chalcedony can replace fossils or vugs. Western Florida Tampa Limestone Member of the Arcadia Formation, Hawthorne Group
Blushing Star Coral
(Species type)
  Ranges from grayish white to gray with darker "star burst" patters present. Western Florida Tampa Formation
Box Fire Coral
(Species type)
  Encrusted base with thick walled box like structure forming upward. Western Florida Tampa Formation
Brain Coral
(Species type)
  Brain like shape with ridges and deep interconnected double valleys. Western Florida Tampa Formation
Brooksville Chert
Suwannee Chert variation
Ranges from a light gray, pale tan, or pink with abundant fossils Western Florida Suwannee Limestone Formation, Vicksburg Group
Caladesi Chert
Tampa Chert variation
Ranges from a dark gray to black or brown with light gray also occurring with chalcedony filled vugs commonly present. Western Florida Tampa Limestone Member of the Arcadia Formation, Hawthorne Group
Carnelian
(Generic Type)
  Translucent and varies in shades from reddish brown to reddish orange. North America Varies
Cow House Creek Chert
Tampa Chert variation
  Ranges from tans to browns with chalcedony filled vugs commonly occurring. Western Florida Tampa Limestone Member, Arcadia Formation
Crystal Quartz   clear colorless stone similar to clear glass Eastern North America  
Flint River Chert
AKA: Butterscotch Chert
(Coastal Chert)
Ranges from a yellowish brown to a medium brown. Northwestern Florida  Flint River Formation, Vicksburg Group
Fossilized Coral
AKA: Agatized Coral, Silicified Coral, Coral Chalcedony
(Generic Type)
  Ranges from clear to white, grayish blue, brown, tan, or yellow.  Starburst patterns or banding may be present. Western Florida Tampa Formation
Glendon Chert
(Coastal Chert)
Ranges from white to a creamy tan or brown with dark gray, black, and bluish white also occurring.  Clear chalcedony and mottling commonly occurs.  Northwestern Florida Glendon Limestone Formation, Vicksburg Group
Hattiesburg Orthoquartzite   Gray opal cemented quarttztic siltstone or sandstone that may have shades of light brown or tan giving a mottled appearance.  Northwestern Florida Hattiesburg Formation
Hillsborough Chert
Tampa Chert variation
Ranges from tan to brown with medium to dark gray also occurring.  Chalcedony or quartz lined vugs commonly present Western Florida Tampa Limestone Member of the Arcadia Formation, Hawthorne Group
Marianne Chert
AKA: Mint Springs Marl
Ranges from a white to cream color Northwestern Florida Mint Springs Marl Member, Marianna Formation,
Mountainous Star Coral
Orbicella Faveolata
(Species type)
  Solid, very large dome or stumped shaped with small lumps, bulges, or lobes. Western Florida Tampa Formation
Ocala Chert
AKA: Jackson Stage Chert
(Coastal Chert)
Ranges in color from a a white to a cream or tan, yellow, red, and black colors also occur.  Fossil inclusions commonly occur.  Northern Florida Ocala Limestone Formation, Jackson Group.
Orthoquartzite
(Generic Type)
  Ranges from white to tan, red green, brown, or black. North America Varies
Peace River Chert   Opaline chert that ranges from a dark gray to brown Western Florida Peace River Formation, Hawthorne Group
Petrified Wood
AKA: Agatized Wood, Opalized Wood
  Vary in color based on the minerals present during the process North America Varies
Quartz
AKA: Vein Quartz
  Milky white with thin veins
North America Varies
Quartzite
(Generic Type)
  Varies from white to gray, or pink and tan in color North America Varies
Rhyolite
(Generic Type)
  Gray to grayish black, flow banding may be present alternating from light to darker gray North America Varies
Staghorn Coral
(Species type)
  Cylindrical branches Western Florida Tampa Formation
Suwannee Chert
(Coastal Chert)
Ranges from brown to a creamy tan with dark gray, black, and bluish white also occurring, chalcedony, mottling, or banding may occur.  J Northern Florida Suwannee Limestone Formation, Vicksburg Group
Tallahatta Chert
AKA: Tallahatta Chert, Alabama Agate
  Glossy multicolored chert that may vary from red to amber, yellow, and blue. Northwestern Florida Tallahatta Formation, Clairborne Group
Tallahatta Quartz
AKA: Tallahatta Sandstone, Snowflake Quartzite
  Light gray arenite with white specks giving a snowflake appearance. Northern Florida Tallahatta Formation, Clairborne Group
Tampa Chert Ranges from a yellow to a tan or brown with medium to dark gray also occurring.  Chalcedony or quartz filled vugs are commonly present.. Northwestern Florida Tampa Limestone Formation
Tuff
AKA: Solidified Volcanic Ash
  Contains greater than 75 volcanic ash and ranges from white to tan, gray or pink. North America Volcanic activity
Withlacoochee Chert
Suwannee Chert variation
Ranges from a dark gray to a reddish brown in a grainstone fabric. North central Florida Suwannee Limestone Formation, Vicksburg Group