Rockhounding for hones (or why do these cost so much)

Oregon has a rich history of mining and quarrying, and several historical quarries produced natural sharpening stones. Here are a few examples:

1. The Cascade Mountains: The Cascade Mountains are a volcanic range that runs through Oregon, and they contain several historical quarries that produced natural sharpening stones. For example, the famous Pike's Peak quarry in eastern Oregon produced novaculite sharpening stones in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
(Edit: this is B.S. Pike's Peak Quarry is located in Colorado. When grilled on redirect, the A.I. coughed up this response...
I'm sorry for the confusion in my previous response. There is no Pike's Peak quarry in Oregon. Pike's Peak is actually located in Colorado, and is a well-known mountain in the Rocky Mountains.

However, there are several quarries in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon that produced natural sharpening stones, including novaculite stones. One of the most famous quarries in the area is the Queen Mine, which is located near the town of Prineville in central Oregon. The Queen Mine produced novaculite sharpening stones from the late 1800s until the mid-1900s, and was known for producing some of the highest quality sharpening stones in the world.

Other historical quarries in the Cascade Mountains include the Silver Creek quarry near Silverton, the Little Butte quarry near Eagle Point, and the Denny Mountain quarry near North Bend. These quarries produced a variety of natural sharpening stones, including novaculite and other types of volcanic rock.).

2. The Columbia River Gorge: The Columbia River Gorge is a scenic canyon that runs along the Oregon-Washington border, and it contains several historical quarries that produced sharpening stones. For example, the Oregon City quarry produced basalt sharpening stones in the mid-1800s.

3. The Blue Mountains: The Blue Mountains are a range of mountains in eastern Oregon that contain several historical quarries that produced sharpening stones. For example, the Old Maid quarry near Baker City produced novaculite sharpening stones in the late 1800s.

(Edit:
The Old Maid quarry is located in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, near Baker City. Specifically, the quarry is located in the Old Maid Flat area, which is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northeast of Baker City.

The Old Maid quarry is one of several historical quarries in the area that produced novaculite sharpening stones in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Novaculite is a type of sedimentary rock that is known for its hardness and ability to hold a sharp edge, making it ideal for use in sharpening tools and blades.

Today, novaculite sharpening stones are still produced in the area, and are considered by many to be among the best sharpening stones available. The stones are prized for their ability to produce a razor-sharp edge and their durability, which allows them to be used for many years without wearing out.

When asked where this info came from...

The information about the location of the Old Maid quarry and its production of novaculite sharpening stones in the late 1800s comes from various sources.

One source is the book "The History of Baker County, Oregon 1862-1910," written by Albert G. Walling and published in 1914. The book contains information about the history and geography of the Baker County area, as well as details about the production of novaculite sharpening stones in the Old Maid quarry and other quarries in the area.

Other sources include websites and publications that focus on geology and mineralogy, such as "Mindat.org," a mineral database that provides information about the Old Maid quarry and other mineral localities in the area.

As an AI language model, I gather information from a wide range of credible sources available on the internet, including books, articles, and academic journals, and I try to provide accurate and reliable information based on the available knowledge.)

4. The Klamath Mountains: The Klamath Mountains are a range of mountains in southwestern Oregon that contain several historical quarries that produced sharpening stones. For example, the Quartzville quarry in Josephine County produced quartz sharpening stones in the early 1900s.

It's worth noting that many of these historical quarries are no longer in operation, and some may be located on private property or in protected areas. Visitors should obtain permission from landowners and follow all applicable laws and regulations when exploring these areas. Additionally, historical sharpening stones may have different properties than modern synthetic stones, and users should exercise caution when sharpening tools to avoid damage or injury.

 

Oregon has a rich history of sharpening stone quarries, particularly in the areas around Portland and the Willamette Valley. Here are a few examples of historical sharpening stone quarries in Oregon:

1. Rocky Butte Quarries: These quarries were located in Northeast Portland, near Rocky Butte. They produced high-quality sharpening stones known as Rocky Butte stones, which were prized for their fine-grained texture and ability to hold a sharp edge. The quarries were active in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (On follow-up questions, the A.I. admitted that it isn't suitable as a sharpening stone).

2. Washougal Basalt Rock Quarry: This quarry is located in Washougal, Washington, just across the border from Oregon. It produced a type of sharpening stone known as Washougal basalt, which was used by Native American tribes in the region for thousands of years. The quarry was active until the 1930s. (Edit: the A.I. says this rock is too soft and not abrasive enough for razors).

3. Salem Stone Quarries: These quarries were located in the hills west of Salem, Oregon. They produced a variety of sharpening stones, including water stones and oil stones, that were popular with loggers, farmers, and other workers. The quarries were active from the late 1800s until the mid-1900s.

4. Springwater Quarry: This quarry was located near Estacada, Oregon. It produced a type of sharpening stone known as Springwater stone, which was highly regarded for its durability and fine-grained texture. The quarry was active in the early 1900s. (Edit: it appears to still be an active basalt quarry, and produces a wide range of basalt stone, soft and hard, the A.I. thinks there may be suitable razor stone there, and recommended I talk to the quarry owners about sourcing hard and fine stone).

It's worth noting that many of these quarries are no longer in operation, and some have been filled in or reclaimed by nature. However, sharpening stones from these historical quarries can still be found and collected by enthusiasts and collectors.

 

It spits out different answers every time I put in a question. It will be interesting to see if any of them are true, and if they are true, whether the stone is accessible, and if accessible, any good.

 

I think the A.I. gets novaculite and chert confused. When I try to pin it down on this, it chases it's tail. I think it's pulling data from very old records, which refer to the stone as a form of novaculite, whereas in modern times the Oregon form of it is recognized as chert, not novaculite.

Oregon has traditionally been a hotbed of arrowhead knappers, and I suppose tracking one of them down would probably be the best way to get to the bottom of this.

 

I think most of the rocks the A.I. named are going to be a bust, except maybe Springstone, if I can find it.

Jasper might be promising. Found this one by the shore the other day. Lots of the stuff laying around.

And my local rock club has two wet saws (oil) for chunking up any boulders I might find.