Gemdle

Flint

grayblackbrown

Flint, a gray/black/brown mineral
Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0
ColourGray, Black, Brown

What is Flint?

Flint, occasionally flintstone (SiO2 ), is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Historically, flint was widely used to make stone tools and start fires.

How to identify Flint

Can you spot Flint?

Test yourself on photos of Flint and lookalikes:

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Flint?
Flint's hardness varies; see the property table above.
What colour is Flint?
Flint is typically gray, black, brown.