Flint in its diverse natural occurrences: geo-­‐tools for a better definition of the sourcing of secondary outcrops

Abstract : Precise identification of siliceous geo-resources used during prehistory still poses many problems, and archaeologists make ever-increasing demands for this data. The purpose is to provide a database containing an exact and descriptive identity for each different type of geological flint found within a region. The parameters we have chosen to characterize are the mineralogical composition (by optical microscopy, SEM, microprobe, cathodo-luminescence), microfacies characteristics (identified during microscopy and SEM image analysis), porosity measurements (by image analysis and porosimeter), and the presence and distribution of major and trace elements (using ICP, LA-ICP-MS, XRF, PIXE, Raman and SEM-EDS) at the surface or in the cracks in the matrix.