Found in San Rafeal swell area of Utah.

[xtldggr]

Greetings,

I found this on Justensen's Flat on a hike to Devil's Canyon and the Copper Globe Mine, both located within the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. It appears to be man made but I am not entirely sure, any insight would be greatly appreciated. The specimens is nearly 1.75" at its longest point.


-xtldggr-

[arappaho]

Well, xtldggr, you really get around. Ohio, Utah...Good for you! ;D
I would say it is definately man-made. I don't see any working
edge finished on it, so it probably was never used, but it's hard
to say from pictures.
What's the material? It looks like an obsidian with some little air
bubbles in it? Joe

[xtldggr]

Hi Joe,

Over the years I have concentrated on various parts of the country to collect. From around 1994 to around 2000 I collected in the west, with Arizona and Utah being the states where I most often collected. I fell in love with upstate New York in 2000 and have collected there extensively (especially St Lawrence and Fulton counties) for the past eight years. Through the internet I have become familiar with the Magma Group and have accompanied them on digs to Marion, Ky and Antreville, South Carolina. I most also admit to an addiction to Graves Mountain, been there three time in the last year and a half. JXR is AWESOME cant wait to go back in October, during the Graves Mountain open house.

The material appears to be chert or flint, it is possible that it is devitrified obsidian. I believe the buff colored material is a coating of caliche.

-xtldggr-

[arappaho]

Man! You really do get around!
I would like to get back to Graves and JXR sometime this year too.
Sorry I can't tell you anymore about your artfact, but a chert or flint looks right.
I'm just wondering if it's ancient or recently made. It looks like something I'd make.

Happy Hunting, Joe

[xtldggr]

Joe,

If your are at all interested I have an included a link www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/more/san_rafael_swell.html to the bureau of land management's assesment of the San Rafael swell and its description of the Copper Globe Mine. Although it is difficult to discern whether or not the artifact is contemporary or not, I'd like to think it is; considering that this is one of the most remote areas of the lower forty eight states and is visited infrequently.

Have a good one!!


John -xtldggr- Makohon

[stoneviews]

Hello, Not really sure, look a bit like a core, it surely looks worked. Nice find.

[arappaho]

John, Thanks for the link. The San Rafael Swell sounds like a pretty tough neighborhood.
Maybe it should be called Heartbreak Ridge.
Stoneviews, a core rock is a piece of rock that large flakes for making points have been
knocked off of. Usually very blocky in appearence. I think this is a piece that was just never
finished so there is still cortex on the rock.

[kurts]

It sure appears there are a number of consistent and regular blows to this stone which seems beyond the order of random wear or breakage. The shape is also very indicative of a tool to my eyes. Not that I'm any kind of expert, but that's how I try to sort my finds. Nice find!