How to Find Flint

Summary

The video script offers tips on finding flint, a valuable resource for survival skills. Key locations include limestone quarries and near bridges where trucks pass. Flint, often mistaken for chert, can be identified by its ability to scratch glass. The host demonstrates how to extract flint from limestone and test it for spark production, crucial for fire-starting. Additionally, historical research can reveal flint-rich areas, such as former Indian villages or gun maker sites. The video concludes with advice to search near crushed limestone for flint, a common practice in the Allegheny Mountains.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Flint is often found near limestone quarries and around bridges.
• 🌲 The speaker has located Flint in their own woods, which is typically a dark, dirty variety known as chert.
• 👀 Flint can be identified by its ability to scratch glass, indicating its hardness which is greater than steel.
• 🔥 Flint can be used to create sparks, which is demonstrated in the video by striking it against a piece of glass.
• 📚 Researching local history, such as through county and state archives, can reveal locations of former Indian villages where Flint was used and may still be found.
• 🏺 Flint was historically used by indigenous people to make weapons and tools, so areas with historical indigenous settlements might yield Flint.
• 🔩 Flint was also used in the making of firearms, so areas with a history of gunsmithing or blacksmithing could be potential Flint locations.
• 🏞️ In the Allegheny Mountains, crushed limestone used for road beds is a good place to look for Flint.
• 🗺️ Flint can sometimes be found embedded in sandstone, which is another geological formation to consider when searching.
• 🗣️ The video offers practical advice from a self-styled 'survival man' on how to hunt for Flint, suggesting it's a skill that can be learned and applied.

Q & A

What are some locations where Flint can be found according to the video?

Flint can be found around limestone quarries and near bridges where limestone is used.

What is the term for the dark, dirty kind of Flint mentioned in the script?

The dark, dirty kind of Flint is referred to as 'chert'.

How can you test if a rock contains Flint?

You can test if a rock contains Flint by trying to scratch glass with it. If it can scratch the glass, it is likely Flint.

Why is Flint harder than steel according to the video?

Flint is mentioned to be harder than steel, which is a characteristic that makes it useful for making tools and for striking sparks.

What is a Flint striker and how is it used in the video?

A Flint striker is a piece of Flint used to create sparks. In the video, the person uses it to demonstrate striking sparks from a piece of Flint found in the field.

What historical sources can help locate areas where Flint might be found?

Local history books, particularly those detailing the locations of Indian villages or old gun makers, can provide insights into where Flint might be found.

Why would Indian villages be a good place to look for Flint?

Indian villages are good places to look for Flint because the inhabitants used Flint to make weapons and cutlery.

What is the significance of Flint in gun making as mentioned in the video?

Flint was used in gun making, specifically for the Flint that strikes the hammer of a gun, which is why areas with historical gun makers might contain Flint.

What is the role of limestone in the context of finding Flint?

Limestone is significant because it is often found alongside Flint. The video suggests that limestone quarries and crushed limestone used in road beds are good places to search for Flint.

What is the advice given for someone looking to find Flint in their local area?

The advice is to search around roads and bridges where limestone is discarded, as well as to consult local history to find areas rich in Flint.

How does the video suggest one can identify a piece of Flint?

A piece of Flint can be identified if it can scratch glass and if it is found embedded in limestone or sandstone, as mentioned in the video.