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Agate | Southern California | Arrow points |
Agatized wood (petrified wood) | San Diego and Imperial County | Arrow points |
Actinolite | San Francisco Bay region | Charm stones, ceremonial |
Alabaster | Central California | Charmstones |
Amethyst | Santa Barbara Channel region | Beads |
Amphibolite schist | Sacramento Valley region | Ceremonial plummets |
Asphaltum, Brea (tar) | Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Kern, Marin, Ventura, San Luis Obispo Counties, Channel Islands | Adhesive, sealant, medicine |
Basaltic rocks | State Wide | Metates and mortars, adzes, mauls |
Biotite | Sacramento Delta region | Ornaments |
Calcite | San Diego, Imperial County | Beads |
Chalk | Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Inyo, Modoc Counties | Pigment, face paint |
Chalcedony | Southern California | Arrow points, scrapers |
Chert | State Wide | Arrow points, scrapers |
Cinnabar | San Jose, New Almaden mine, Death Valley | Paint pigment |
Chlorite schist | San Francisco Bay region | Charm stones |
Chrysotile asbestos | Sacramento Valley region | Ceremonial |
Chrysoprase | Southern San Joaquin Valley | Unknown |
Clay | State Wide | Pottery, cooking stones, pigment, face paint, effigies |
Diatomaceous earth | North Eastern California | Pigment |
Dolomite | Central Valley, Imperial County | Mortars, charmstones |
Flint | Southern California | Arrow points, scrapers |
Galena | Santa Catalina Island and Owens Valley | Ceremonial Amulets, paint |
Gilsonite | Santa Barbara County | Ceremonial? |
Gypsum | Southern California | Ornaments |
Granite | State Wide | Mortars and pestles, charmstones |
Graphite | Southern California desert | Pigment, face paint |
Halite | State Wide | Seasoning |
Hematite (red ocher) | State Wide | Paint pigment, face paint, in clay as a food purifier |
Jasper | Southern and Central California | Arrow points, scrapers |
Kaolinite (see clay) | See clay | See clay |
Limonite (yellow ocher) | State Wide | Paint pigment |
Magnesian mica | Santa Barbara and Sacramento Valley region | Bowls and jars |
Magnasite | Pomo Tribe of Lake County | Beads for money and ornament |
Malachite | Sacramento Valley Region | Paint pigment |
Manganese | Imperial County, San Diego County and Mono Lake | Paint Pigment |
Muscovite (mica) | San Francisco and Drakes Bay areas | Arrow points, ornaments |
Obsidian | State Wide | Arrow points and chipped tools |
Opal | Southern California | Arrow points |
Porphyry | Southern California | Spear points |
Pumice | State Wide | Abrasive |
Quartz crystals | Central and Southern California | Ceremonial and Arrow points |
Quartz, rose | San Diego and Imperial County | Arrow points |
Salt | State Wide | Food additive, food preservative |
Sandstone | State Wide | Metates, mortars, abrasive |
Schist | Southern California | Arrow straighteners |
Silica (sand) | State Wide | Abrasive |
Slate | State Wide | Arrow points, effigies |
Steatite (soapstone) | State Wide | Vessels, pipes, ornaments, arrow straigheners, cooking stones, atlatl weights, medicinal, effigies |
Serpentine | San Francisco Bay region | Charm stones |
Tourmaline | Mesa Grande, San Diego County | Ornaments |
Turquoise | San Bernardino, Inyo Counties | Ornaments |
Zincblende (sphalerite) | Sacramento Valley region | Ceremonial |
References:
1. Mines and Quarries of the California Indians, Robert
F. Heizer and Adan E. Treganza, 972 Ballena Press, Reprint, California
State Division of Mines.
2. The Natural World of the California Indians, Robert
F. Heizer and Albert B. Elasser, 1980, University of California
Press.
E-mail your comments to "Chuck Kritzon" at chuckk@petroglyphics.com
We hope the information on the PrimitiveWays website is both instructional and enjoyable. Understand that no warranty or guarantee is included. We expect adults to act responsibly and children to be supervised by a responsible adult. If you use the information on this site to create your own projects or if you try techniques described on PrimitiveWays, behave in accordance with applicable laws, and think about the sustainability of natural resources. Using tools or techniques described on PrimitiveWays can be dangerous with exposure to heavy, sharp or pointed objects, fire, stone tools and hazards present in outdoor settings. Without proper care and caution, or if done incorrectly, there is a risk of property damage, personal injury or even death. So, be advised: Anyone using any information provided on the PrimitiveWays website assumes responsibility for using proper care and caution to protect property, the life, health and safety of himself or herself and all others. He or she expressly assumes all risk of harm or damage to all persons or property proximately caused by the use of this information.
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