Shear Zone Chalcedony
(Mylonite)
Description of Physical Characteristics:
Color: Shear
Zone Chalcedony ranges from a translucent white to yellow, pink, or
orange and commonly has inclusions or patches of green or gray.
Streaks or bands may be present
Texture: Medium to fine grain
Luster: Vitreous
Translucency:
Semi translucent
Silica Fabrics / Fossils:
Patina:
Heat Treatment:
Knapping:
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
Shear Zone Chalcedony is associated with the grinding and pulverizing of
gneissic and granitoid formation of the Shear Zone. Primarily
occurs as thin layers in Greene, Madison, and Rockbridge counties,
Virginia and occurs as nodules in rivers to Roanoke County, Virginia.
Projectile point made from this material:
Pictures Provided By:
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
Similar Material:
Commonly made projectile point from this material:
Archaeological Context:
Outcroppings are quite small, but evidence of prehistoric quarrying are
commonly present. Most artifacts of this material commonly have hinge
fractures.
