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Good grief they gave you some very fine examples.What area did they come from?
The pink point in the center of the right pic is a Dalton. It is pink because it is heated Burlington flint. Since Dalton people didn't heat their points, I'd would guess that point is modern made. Gary
I’ve seen wildfires hot enough to melt bullets and coins
Gary, I see there are other reasons for concern that people are seeing.
Is it possible that a point could have turned pink because of being heated by a wildfire?
I’ve seen wildfires hot enough to melt bullets and coins. Seems like a pretty high likelihood a dropped point could be burned over before it gets buried in the dirt or migrates downward. Around here (where there is shallow bedrock), a point could lay on the surface for hundreds of years if not much longer.
Is that a possibility, or is it a special process that can’t be replicated simple by heating?
uniface is correct. Here's the difference. When you heat Burlington it will usually change color if heated hot enough. When it comes out of the fire and cools, it is not glossy. It doesn't show gloss until the first flake is removed. Since the Dalton is glossy, there is no way it was heated accidently. Gary
Lead bullets, for sure. Coins (copper/silver/gold) ? Seems pretty unlikely, given the temperatures & durations required.
copper = 1984 degrees fahrenheit
silver = 1762 " "
gold = 1615 " "
(All +/- depending on alloy)
Chert toasted in/by a fire often does change color. But even though the inside can be glassier, the exposed surface will be dull. FWIW
edit to add #s
uniface is correct. Here's the difference. When you heat Burlington it will usually change color if heated hot enough. When it comes out of the fire and cools, it is not glossy. It doesn't show gloss until the first flake is removed. Since the Dalton is glossy, there is no way it was heated accidently. Gary
In blacksmith class, we would put a piece of iron in a pile of wood charcoal and heat the iron hot enough to forge weld it simply blowing on the coals with a fan for 10 minutes. That's 1700 to 2500 deg. F
Take an old growth log with heavy timber litter laying around it..say 4.5 foot in diameter and let the wind blow on it for for a half day till all that is left scorched earth. It will likely get plenty hot, especially if it's laying on rocks.
Hard to imagine, but it's not out of the question at all. All comes down to the chances a there is something to be melted laying under heavy woody debris...AND there is some fresh oxygen blowing steady on it.