Color: Shakopee Chert is mottled, ranging from white to gray with contrasting banding.
 
Texture: Primarily medium grain, but coarser and finer grains do occur.

Luster: Dull to waxy

Silica Fabrics / Fossils: Usually absent

Patina:

Heat Treatment:  Heat treatment introduces colors of various hues of orange and slightly increases the luster.

Knapping:  Non-heat treated material can be difficult to work with.  Heat treatment improves the flaking quality.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution Comments:

Shakopee Chert is associated with Shakopee Dolomite Member, Upper Prairie de Chien group.  It is named for outcroppings in Shakopee, Scott County, Minnesota.  It has primary outcroppings in Winneshiek County, Iowa.  It is found throughout the Illinois River basin in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri and the Fox River basin in Wisconsin.