Materials Identification Guide

Utah Lithic Material

 











Name Natural Non-heat treated points Heat treated points Color details                    Primary found in: Associated             Formation / Member
Agate Jasper
(Generic Type)
  Ranges from yellow to brown or green.  Part if the material will be banded and be translucent while the remaining material will be mottled and opaque. Western North America  
Ajax Chert
AKA: Emerald Chert
Ranges from a light gray to a creamy white color Central Utah Emerald Dolomite Member of the Ajax Limestone Formation
Andesite
(Generic Type)
    North America Varies
Argillite
(Generic type)
  Light to dark green, but may range to various shades of gray North America  
Basalt
(Generic Type)
  Ranges from black to gray Western North America  
Beaver Dam Agate / Petrified Wood   Primarily white with shades of orange, pink, and red. Southwestern Utah  
Beaver Dam Jasper   Shades of red Southwestern Utah  
Beaver Dam Wonderstone / Banded Rhyolite   Banded with colors of cream, brown, red, and yellow Southwestern Utah  
Bingham Quartzite   Most commonly white and banding may be present North central Utah Bingham Quartzite Formation
Black Mountain Obsidian   Black Southwestern Utah  
Black Rock Obsidian   Ranges from a dark gray to black with phenocyst (snowflake) and reddish brown streaking (mohagany) commonly present. Central Utah  
Blue Valley Agate   Black with blue bands Central Utah  
Bluebell Chert   More banded than mottled and ranges from a buff to a dusty bluish gray North central Utah Bluebell Limestone Formation
Boulder Jasper   Mottled with colors ranging from a yellowish brown to red.  Intricate patterned swirls and speckles of translucent silica are present. South central Utah  
Brianhead Chert   Primarily white and gray and may have areas of red and yellow. Southwestern Utah Brianhead Formation
Browns Bench Obsidian
AKA: Goose Creek, Hudson Ridge, Jackpot Obsidian
  Black Northwestern Utah Bruneau / Jarbidge Volcanic Field
Browns Park Chert   Similar to chalcedony with a opaque base of white and translucent hues ranging from light yellow, light to dark gray or light brown.   Northeastern Utah Browns Park Formation
Brushy Basin Chert   Banded, white in color with pastel shades of tan, pink, green, and orange with banded or swirls of darker shades of brown, reddish brown, or gray. Eastern Utah Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation
Brushy Basin Quartzite     Eastern Utah Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation
Bryce Canyon Petrified Wood   Colors of red, brown, yellow, and white.  Wood grain and rings are commonly present. Southwestern Utah  
Burro Canyon Chert Variegated ranging from white to yellow, tan to medium brown, light to medium gray, light to medium green or shades of red East central Utah Upper Burro Canyon Formation
Burro Canyon Quartzite   Ranges from off white to tan light gray or light green.  May have mottling of darker gray. East central Utah Upper Burro Canyon Formation
Butterfield Chert Black with concentric bands of dark gray. North central Utah Butterfield Limestone Member of the Bingham Quartzite
Caineville Agate / Jasper / Petrified Wood   Colors of white, gray, green, purple, orange, and red.  The jasper is red and the petrified wood is shades of brown and tan with wood grain / rings Southeastern Utah  
Carnelian
(Generic Type)
  Translucent and varies in shades from reddish brown to reddish orange. North America Varies
Castro Canyon Agate   Red agate Southwestern Utah  
Cedar Breaks Moss Agate   Ranges from red to yellow with black dendritic inclusions. Southwestern Utah  
Cedar Canyon Agate   Colors of red, brown, black, and white. Southwestern Utah  
Cedar Mesa Chert   Red and white. Southeastern Utah Cedar Mesa Sandstone Member of the Cutler Formation
Central Chalcedony   Gray color Southwestern Utah  
Chokecherry Chert Primarily dark gray to black and mottling may be present. Northwestern Utah Chokecherry Dolomite Formation 
Circle Cliffs Petrified Wood   Colors of browns, grays and black with veins and patches of white.  Wood grain and rings are present. South central Utah  
Cisco Agate
AKA: Blood Spot Agate, Pigeons Blood Agate
  Ranges from bright red to pink, pinkish tan, and salmon color. East central Utah  
Cisco Jasper / Petrified Wood   Petrified Wood has colors of yellow, pink, red and bluish gray chalcedony. East central Utah  
Cisco Pink Chalcedony   Light pink color East central Utah  
Clay Point Agate / Moss Agate   Colors of red and purple ranging from homogenous to mottled.  Moss agate has black or brown dendritic inclusions. Southeastern Utah  
Cottonwood Wash Chert   Banded Southeastern Utah  
Dacite
(Generic Type)
Most commonly a light to dark gray or black Western North America Varies
Drum Mountain Plume Agate / Moss Agate / Jasper   Occurs in multiple colors including red, yellow, purple, white, and brown. East central Utah  
Duck Rock Jasper   Banded with colors of yellow, red, and brown cemented with silica. Northeastern Utah  
Dugway Geodes   Banded bluish gray to gray with a hollow interior West central Utah  
Elimia Agate
AKA: Turritella Agate
  Black to brownish gray or brownish black matrix with light gray snail shells. Northeastern Utah Green River Formation
Emmons Peak Quartzite
AKA: Uinta Quartzite
  Ranges from an off white to a red or reddish purple. Northeastern Utah Emmons Formation
Escalante Agate / Petrified Wood   Petrified wood has colors of yellow, brown, red, and white, wood grain and rings are commonly present. South central Utah  
Eureka Agate
AKA: Eureka Jasper
  Colors of red and yellow.  This material has been referred to as Eureka Jasper due to the color. Central Utah  
Eureka Quartzite
AKA: Standbury Quartzite
  Ranges from dense white dark gray quartzite to a vitreous tan to brown, milky white, pink, purple, or red orthoquartzite. Western Utah Eureka Quartzite Formation
Ferguson Wash Obsidian
AKA: Dead Cedar Wash, Ferguson Flat Obsidian
  Black Northwestern Utah  
Fiddlers Canyon Moss Agate   Ranges from a blue with black dendritic inclusions to a multi colored with colors of white, pink, and brownish orange with dendritic inclusions. Southwestern Utah  
Fish Haven Chert Ranges from a grayish tan to black weathering shades of brown. Northwestern Utah Fish Haven Dolomite Formation
Garden City Chert Ranges from a light to dark grayish blue.  Black layers of chert also occur. Northern Utah Garden City Limestone Formation
Gardner Chert Ranges from a gray to a dark grayish blue or black Central Utah Gardner Limestone Formation
Gerster Chert Ranges from a tan to a light gray or light bluish gray with a dark rusty brown cortex. Banding was reported in southern Pequop Mountains. Northwestern Utah Gerster Limestone Formation
Grandeur Chert Light gray Northwestern Utah Grandeur Limestone Formation
Hermosa Chert Has colors of red, gray and jet black. Southeastern Utah Hermosa Formation
Henry Mountain Peach Agate / Petrified Wood   Petrified wood has colors of yellow, brown, red, white, and black with wood grain or rings commonly present.  Agate is a peach color. South central Utah  
Hidden Canyon Jasper   Banded with colors of yellow, red, and green.  Mossy dendritic inclusions may be present. Utah  
Indian Blanket Jasper   Soft subtle tones of red, purple, brown, black, yellow, and tan. Southwestern Utah  
Jordan Chert Black North central Utah Jordan Limestone Member of the Bingham Quartzite Formation
Kiabab Chert Mottled with whites, light browns, tans, and light grays with a brown cortex Southern Utah Kiabab Limestone Formation
Laketown Chert Light gray Northwestern Utah Laketown Dolomite Member of the Guilmette Formation
Lenox Chert Ranges from dark bluish black to black. North central Utah  
Levan Agate   Blue Central Utah  
Levan Black Agate   Ranges from a dark gray to black Central Utah  
Little Egypt Agate   Shades of red Southeastern Utah  
Marysvale Obsidian   Black South central Utah Mount Belknap Volcanic Series
Mineral Mountain Obsidian
AKA: Pumice Mine, Wild Horse Canyon Obsidian
  Black Southwestern Utah  
Moab Agate / Chalcedony   Includes white agate and red agate with red fortifications, Chalcedony is bluish white. Southeastern Utah  
Moab Jasper   Brownish yellow and red Southeastern Utah  
Moab Petrified Wood   Shades of brown and black with wood grain and rings present. Southeastern Utah Cutler Formation
Modena Obsidian
AKA: Dry Valley, Panaca Summit, Pinon Point Obsidian
  Opaque to slightly translucent black with faint translucent gray banding commonly present. Southwestern Utah  
Morgan Chert
AKA: Morgan - Maddison Chert, Morgan Jasper
Has colors of orange to a pumpkin orange, reds, yellowish "mustard" brown to a reddish brown. East central Utah Morgan Formation
Morrison Chert
AKA: Brushy Basin Chert / Burro Canyon Chert
Commonly mottled and ranges in shaded of maroon, green, tan, and brown. Eastern Utah Burro Canyon Formation / Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation
Morrison - Cloverly Quartzite
AKA: Morrison - Cloverly Orthoquartzite
  Ranges from a tan to brown or purple to maroon or gray. Eastern Utah Morrison and Cloverly Formation
Morrison Mudstone   Commonly mottled and ranges in shaded of maroon, green, tan, and brown. Eastern Utah Burro Canyon Formation / Brushy Basin Member,  Morrison Formation
Morrison Petrified Wood   Colors of red, yellow, purple, black, gray, brown, and white.  Wood grain and rings are commonly present. Eastern Utah  
Morrison Silicified Sandstone   Commonly mottled and ranges in shaded of maroon, green, tan, and brown. Eastern Utah Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation
Murdock Mountain Chert Ranges from a light gray to a bluish gray or tannish gray. Northwestern Utah Murdock Mountain Limestone Formation
Newcastle Chalcedony     Southwestern Utah  
Notch Peak Chert Dark colored gray Eastern Utah Notch Peak Formation
Nugget Sandstone   Ranges from buff to pink. Utah Chug Water Formation of the Thrust Belt
Obsidian
AKA: Volcanic Glass
  Black to black with bands of dark reds (mahogany obsidian) or white flakes (snowflake obsidian) Western North America Volcanic
Old Paria Petrified Wood
AKA: Paria Petrified Wood
  Shades of gray, brown, black, white, and pink with wood grain and rings present. South central Utah  
Opal Hill Opal / Chalcedony   Primarily milky white with black, brown, and pea green occurring East central Utah  
Opal Hill Petrified Wood   Primarily milky white with black, brown, and pea green occurring East central Utah  
Opohonga Chert White Central Utah Opohonga Limestone Formation
Owl Rock Chert   Southern Utah Owl Rock Member of the Chinle Formation
Paradise Chert Translucent white matrix with mottling of opaque cream to yellow or brown opaque patches. Southern Utah  
Petrified Wood
(Generic Type)
    Color based on the minerals present during the process.  It can range from black green to blue yellow, red, and brown , pink and orange, yellow, white  Utah Varies
Phonolite Hill Obsidian   Primarily gray ranging to black.  Flow banding may be present. South central Utah Marysvale Volcanic Field
Phosphoria Chert
AKA: Tosi Chert, Big Horn Chert
Ranges from colors of red, maroon, purple, orangish red, green, black and white. Northern Utah Tosi Member of the Phosphoria Formation
Pine Canyon Chert Black Central Utah Pine Canyon Limestone Formation
Plympton Chert Ranges from a light milky gray to dark gray weathering brown. Eastern Utah Plympton Formation
Prospect Mountain Quartzite   Brownish white, darker and more ferrous towards the base and lighter towards the top of the formation. Eastern Utah Prospect Mountain Formation
Red Creek Quartzite
Uinta Quartzite variant
  Very crystalline white quartzite. Northeastern Utah  
Reed Argillite / Chert
AKA: Reed and Benson Argillite / Chert
  Light yellow cherty argillite North central Utah Reed Formation
Rex Chert Ranges from a brownish red to purple or an ashy gray to black Northern Utah Rex Chert Member,
Phosphoria Limestone Formation
Rhyolite
(Generic Type)
  Gray to grayish black, flow banding may be present alternating from light to darker gray North America Volcanic Activity
San Rafael Agate / Jasper   Ranges from white to red and yellow East central Utah Brushy Bush Member of the Morrison Formation.
San Rafael Petrified Wood   Colors of brown, black, and white with wood grain and rings present. East central Utah Brushy Bush Member of the Morrison Formation.
Septaria
AKA: Oderville Agate
  Outer edge of a dark brownish gray with an interior of a lighter brown and white. Southwestern Utah  
Sheep Creek Quartzite   Most commonly tan to cream color with light gray occurring and less often dark gray, white or red.  Banding is commonly present Northeastern Utah Uinta Quartzite Formation
Shinrump Chert   Ranges from gray to white. Southeastern Utah Shinarump Conglomerate Member of the Chinle Formation
Shinarump Quartzite   Black and red Southeastern Utah Shinarump Conglomerate Member of the Chinle Formation
Silicified Dinosaur Bone         Utah  
Spor Mountain Jasper   Colors of yellow, orange, and gray with dendritic inclusions. West central Utah  
St. John Jasper   Variegated jasper with colors of red, pink, white, and black. Southwestern Utah  
Summerville Chert Two variations.  One is black chert and the other is a white or red opalitic chert. Southeastern Utah Summerville Formation
Swan Peak Quartzite   Ranges from white to gray Northern Utah Swan Peak Formation 
Thompson Agate / Jasper     East central Utah  
Tiger Chert
AKA: Bridger Basin, Green River, Oil Chert, Zebra Chert, Shavetail Chert
  Primarily dark brown with wide tan banding.  If the material is smaller, the tan could be primary with the darker brown bands. Northeastern Utah Pine Springs Formation
Tintic Quartzite   Primarily white weathering a brownish red North central Utah Tintic Formation 
Topache Chert Light bluish color Southwestern Utah Topache Limestone Formation
Topaz Mountain Obsidian
AKA: Thomas Range Obsidian
  Black West central Utah  
Torrey Agate / Jasper / Petrified Wood   Petrified wood has shades of tan and gray with wood grain and rings commonly present. Southeastern Utah  
Tuff
AKA: Solidified Volcanic Ash
(Generic Type)
  Contains greater than 75 volcanic ash and ranges from white to tan, gray or pink. North America Volcanic activity
Utah Wonderstone   Banded rhyolite with banded colors of maroon, yellow, and white. North central Utah  
Watahomigi Chert
AKA: Supai Chert, Watahomigi Jasper
  Shades of medium to dark red or purple with white quartzite veins commonly present. Southwestern Utah Watahomigi Formation of the Supai Group
Wendover Moss Agate   White to bluish matrix with red or yellow dendritic inclusions. Northwestern Utah  
White Mountain Obsidian   Black Central Utah  
Wildcat Hills Obsidian   Black with phenocysts inclusions present. North central Utah  
Woodman Chert Ranges from a dark gray to black Northwestern Utah Woodman Formation
Yellow Cat Redwood   Red limb casts without any trace of wood structure. East central Utah  
Young Peak Chert Dark gray Northwestern Utah Young Peak Dolomite Formation