what exactly is the rock flint?

Answer 1

geologists recognise two types of "flint" or chert. Biochemical chert is composed of the shells of planktonic radiolaria and diatoms that over millions of years accumulated on the sea bed as an ooze. After burial, the shells dissolve forming a silica rich solution that chert then precipitates from.
Replacement chert is different from deep sea chert. As explained in the answer above, cryptocrystalline quartz gradually replaces calcite crystals (from organic life) within a limestone deposit - hence replacement chert. Flint is black chert, the colour is due to impurities such as volcanic ash in the sedimentary layers that combine as the chert is formed.

Answer 2

Flint is cryptocrystalline quartz. 'Crypto' means hidden; crystalline refers to the crystals. Instead of having one big crystal like you find in some new age shops, flint is composed of many tiny crystals, too small to see. This gives it a structure known as 'amorphous' which means that it does not break in any preferred direction. When it fractures, it has a 'conchoidal' shape, which means it fractures in a curving, tapering manner, like glass does, down to a sharp edge. These properties allowed primitive people to chip sharp knives and spear points from flint. flint is often associated with chalk, found as nodules in chalk. The chemical formula of flint is silicon dioxide; SiO2. Flint is usually dark grey to black in color. Flint is common in Europe and most parts of the US, but not New England.

Answer 3

Flint is silicate rock. I know it's a sedimentary rock and that it's generally a gray or blackish color. It's often found on beaches (I believe) as parts of other, larger sedimentary formations.

Silica is SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide) and it's pretty common. Things like sand are also heavily silica-based. Since silica-based minerals/rocks are very hard, people made arrowheads out of flint. Cool, huh?

I hope this helps!

Answer 4

Flint as is an cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz (SiO2). It is an aggregation of small crystals that are too small to be visible to our naked eye.
In olden days, Flint, because of the property of deep conchoidal fracture used as sharp weapons by our ancesstors. Flint is dark to grey in color. It is found associated with Chalk.

Answer 5

Flint is a type of rock that when struck by another hard object will produce sparks.

Answer 6

It is a very hard but smooth/fine textured stone .

When struck with an iron / metal tool, it gives out small but instantaneous sparks/ flames.

In olden days , before the invention of match sticks, it was used to start fires.

Answer 7

A very hard, nondirectional silicate. It has no 'grain' structure, which made it ideal for forming stone tools. And as a silicate, its structure allows for the piezoelectric effect. it is usually dark gray, and can be found in and around chalk deposits.

Answer 8

Flint is the commonest silicate.

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0015243.html

Answer 9

Exactly? Ah.