Chert Quartz Quarry
In ancient Alberta there were no good weapons without good stone. Flint and obsidian came from afar through trade, but chert, a type of quartz harder than steel was close at hand, the best available through quarrying. The Livingstone Range north of Turtle Mountain in Crowsnest Pass was a major quarry site as long ago as 8,000 years. The site was a long, steep climb above the valley floor and the chert lay beneath a thick layer of limestone. The ancient miners toiled with antler wedges, wooden stakes or hammerstones, but the results were worth the effort: Etherington chert is both durable and beautiful.
Photo courtesy of Heartland Associates, Inc.
Photo by Peter St. John and Dennis Pankiw.
