Thames Adventurer Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 (edited) Hi! I found this very large and irregularly shaped flint nodule on the Thames foreshore, London. To me, it kind of looks like the branching arms of a sea sponge, but I have heard that flint nodules also sometimes filled the shape of animal burrows and other things. It has a number of holes/handles in it. What do you think it is? Edited June 16, 2022 by Thames Adventurer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertramp Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 silicified Lithothamnion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 It's not a sponge, could be related to a burrow system though I don't think anyone's sure to what extent flint nodules actually follow burrows. 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thames Adventurer Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 11 minutes ago, TqB said: It's not a sponge, could be related to a burrow system though I don't think anyone's sure to what extent flint nodules actually follow burrows. If it is an animal burrow system, what kind of animal/s could have made it? It's quite a large nodule, being about 15 inches long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thames Adventurer Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 I have another question too: If I wanted to remove the outer white cortex of the flint to reveal the dark flint below, what would be the best tool for this? I can see some banded flint peaking out from under the cortex, so I think this piece could potentially look quite cool under its natural packaging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, Thames Adventurer said: I have another question too: If I wanted to remove the outer white cortex of the flint to reveal the dark flint below, what would be the best tool for this? I can see some banded flint peaking out from under the cortex, so I think this piece could potentially look quite cool under its natural packaging. That's difficult and not something I've seen tried - it's dehydrated amorphous silica and very hard. You could theoretically do it with grinders and carbide burrs, something like a Dremel should work. But really good breathing and eye protection would be vital as silica dust is very nasty. Edited June 16, 2022 by TqB 1 1 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 31 minutes ago, TqB said: That's difficult and not something I've seen tried - it's dehydrated amorphous silica and very hard. You could theoretically do it with grinders and carbide burrs, something like a Dremel should work. But really good breathing and eye protection would be vital as silica dust is very nasty. Agreed. Almost any attempt to remove the 'cortex' or 'skin' will be a destructive process. It's possible that sand blasting at lower pressures could work. 1 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thames Adventurer Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 3 hours ago, TqB said: That's difficult and not something I've seen tried - it's dehydrated amorphous silica and very hard. You could theoretically do it with grinders and carbide burrs, something like a Dremel should work. But really good breathing and eye protection would be vital as silica dust is very nasty. What happens if you breath in silica dust? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted June 16, 2022 Share Posted June 16, 2022 2 minutes ago, Thames Adventurer said: What happens if you breath in silica dust? Silicosis 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thames Adventurer Posted June 16, 2022 Author Share Posted June 16, 2022 12 minutes ago, JohnJ said: Silicosis Oh, I had no idea! I'll be very careful if I attempt this then. Thanks for letting me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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