Oolitic quartzite, 44SP0001, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Type Quartzite

Collection Location:
These samples were collected from archaeological sites along the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Description
Oolitic quartzite appears to be small spheres cemented with opaline. The color is either a light gray spectacled with bluish-gray or dark gray spheres, or a cream spectacled with light gray or bluish-gray spheres.

Distribution
One major source for this material must be on the eastern side of the Fall Zone near Fredericksburg. Sites along the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania, King George and Carolina counties downstream from Fredericksburg will often show this material. According to collectors another source of oolitic quartzite may be in the same general geological location in North Carolina, just south of the Virginia line. This material has been referred to by collectors as Harpers Ferry quartzite, thus suggesting a source for the material in the Valley of Maryland.

Cultural Implications
Fluted points and other Paleo-Indian artifact, Palmers, Kirks, and triangular points have been seen made from this material.

References

Prepared By Egloff 2008