In a departure from our time-honored
tradition of naming software applications after |
antelopes in my temporary absence a project
code-named Chert was started. It was |
named after a fine-grained sedimentary rock
composed of microcrystalline or |
cryptocrystalline silica. Depending on its
origin, chert can contain either microfossils, |
small macrofossils, or both. It varies from
white to black, and most of the colors in |
between. Technically, in geology chert
refers to lower quality specimens, typically |
from limestone formations. Flint is a
chert, but often of a higher quality and typically |
from chalk formations. There are many
minerals thare either are cherts or are closely |
related: jasper, radiolarite, chalcedony,
agate, onyx, opal, mozarkite and so on. |
Because chert and flint have no cleavage
planes, striking them with care results in |
conchoidal fractures. With skill, hominids
were able to produce stone flakes to make |
weapons and tools. An additional
property of interest for cherts is that striking them |
against an iron surface produces
sparks so cherts are used to start fires and enable |
flintlock firearms. |
Our CHERT is used to record where hominid
fossils and implements have been found. |