Enamel Rocks Resulting from Culturally Heating of Quartzite

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Quartzite is a commonly identified material used in the past as heating stones. The quartz minerals in quartzite stones are stable to around 500 degrees Celsius, at which point the quartz mineral experiences a chemical transition or inversion. A second inversion occurs at around 1500 degrees Celsius, causing the morphology to appear similar to tooth enamel. This allows for identification of heated quartzite stones post-use. Results of experimental heating of quartzite in an outdoor fire and a controlled furnace are presented here in an effort to increase field identification and interpretation of culturally heated rock.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32195