Color:  Swan River Chert color ranges from a creamy white to gray, pink to a rust, or pale yellow to deep orange.  Commonly has banding.

Texture:  Medium grain

Luster: Dull to waxy or glossy

Translucency: Opaque to slightly translucent

Silica Fabrics / Fossils: It is quartz bonded with chalcedony with high density of vugs.

Patina:

Heat Treatment:  Heat treatment results in the white to gray and reds.  Red is primarily a result of heat treatment, it also increases the luster

Knapping:  Poor knapping qualities which are improved with heat treatment.  Light colored pieces have a better flaking quality.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution Comments:

Swan River Chert is associated with the Souris River Formation, Point Wilks Member with primary outcroppings in the Swan Valley of west central Manitoba and at south of Dawson Bay, Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  Has been reported into southeastern Alberta.  Glacial Till has been located in eastern Saskatchewan to southwestern Manitoba and eastern North and South Dakota, northern Iowa, and most of Minnesota.