Sparkling ax. What kind of stone?

[White Heart]

I found this ax head 45 years ago, on the surface, in New Mexico, near the abandon San Marcos Pueblo.
It was on gray, rocky soil. No other nearby stones had any "sparkel" to them.
I always assumed that it was a mica-type stone and thus not very strong, maybe a ceremonial ax head. Then, after hafting it to show my son how it was done, he wacked a stone with it and chipped off a piece. It revealed itself to be rather hard and dark inside, without sparkel. With red inclusions.
So, I am curious what kind of stone it is made from and how long it would have taken for it to weather into it's present appearance laying on the surface.
I think it is VERY old, but am not a geologist.
Thanks for looking.

 

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[Indiana_acklac]

I think everyone is going to say it's natural, and just a rock....

 

[joshuaream]

It looks like a really weathered granite, which very well could have some flecks of mica in the mix that provide the sparkles that caught your eye.

It doesn't look finished to me, roughed out but not polished. The original maker might have noticed something they didn't like in the stone and decided to not spend any more time on it.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Joshuaream seems to have nailed it. Even though rough still a nice find. Is it granite?

I think everyone is going to say it's natural, and just a rock....

Instead of being obstinate you could listen and learn.

 

[MAMucker]

I like that find. No doubt about those large notches -clearly showing some very intentional workmanship. Due the the softer material, I wonder if it was a well-used gardening tool (I.e.: Hoe?)
I could be wrong, but the material seems to be loaded with Mica schists or inclusions. It reminds me of some of the rocks I see along the Kangamangus highway up in NH.

 

[Tdog]

I wonder if it was a well-used gardening tool (I.e.: Hoe?)

You read my mind. A hoe is what it looks like to me too.

 

[Gaspipe]

Natural

 

[Charl]

I like that find. No doubt about those large notches -clearly showing some very intentional workmanship. Due the the softer material, I wonder if it was a well-used gardening tool (I.e.: Hoe?)
I could be wrong, but the material seems to be loaded with Mica schists or inclusions. It reminds me of some of the rocks I see along the Kangamangus highway up in NH.

It reminded me of mica schist as well, but also sandstone. Then I found this description in the Wikipedia entry for schist:


"A quartz-porphyry, for example, and a fine grained feldspathic sandstone, may both be converted into a grey or pink mica-schist. Usually, however, it is possible to distinguish between sedimentary and igneous schists and gneisses."


So it might be a sedimentary mica schist, like a sandstone that was metamorphosed through heat and pressure into a mica schist. Just a guess, based on that sandstone-like look.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schist

I agree with you and Tdog(and I don't know why this is coming out in bold type, lol), as to possible hoe. Most of the agricultural tools I have found, all same field, were softer rock, sandstone mostly, and one crudely notched hoe of a somewhat metamorphosed sandstone, or sedimentary schist. It's clearly artifactual, the notches are intentional, not natural.

 

[unclemac]

looks like schist to me too, pretty sure it has been pecked also.

 

[White Heart]

Thanks everyone.
I did not photo the notches well since I had no doubt it was man modified, so I understand the "natural" thoughts.
I have found 4 or 5 old stone ax heads in newM and oldM, but this one is unique.
Shist it must be. One can see the original stone in the dark chipped spot. It is interesting that about 1/8 inch of the exterior has weathered/ changed to course and micacious looking. The notch work is weathered to a light color but is much smoother than the rest of it.
It being a hoe or garden tool makes sense to me.
The spot I found it is just a mile from the ancient turqouise mine, Chalchihuital. And 4 miles in the other direction a friend found a 6ft mastadon tusk, just 18 inches deep in soft dirt. It was chaulky but intact.
The area has the feel of being undisturbed for eons.

 

[choo]

Yeah that’s a stone tool for sure! I say just a rough ax or hoe! I have found some real putters before! Not every stone tool you find is going to be flashy! It’s a nice find I like it!