Flint


Flint is a microcrystalline form of quartz and has a completely different physical appearance. The crystals are so tiny that the mineral appears glassy and has no preferred way of breaking. The fine crystal structure owes to the quick cooling it experienced during formation. Quartz, on the other hand, cooled over long periods and thus formed a much coarser crystal structure. Flint is usually contaminated with a little limestone (thus the calcium content). There can also be trace amounts of iron and magnesium.

Flint was used in the manufacture of pottery.