Making Fire (theory - I've not tested yet)

[Keith_Beef]

Right, like I state in the subject, I've not tested this, but it's collated information from sources on the web...

Ingredients:
a piece of flint, vaguely rod shaped,
a piece of marcasite, big enough to hit with the flint,
a piece of amadou or other tinder,
a small piece of wood to help support the marcasite.

Marcasite is a naturally occurring mineral, similar to iron pyrites (fools gold). The chemical composition is FeS2. It has been used for jewellery, so should be available from lapidarists.

The technique is to hold the piece of marcasite on the wooden base, with the tinder on the ground next to the base. Now, strike the marcasite with the flint. The flint being harder, it will stike big, hot, long-lasting sparks off the marcasite, which should fall on the tinder and set it alight. You should smell the distinctive sulphur odour of a struck match.

The rest, blowing the tinder and gradually adding bigger kindling, should be common knowledge...


Keith.

[Tony]

Right, like I state in the subject, I've not tested this, but it's collated information from sources on the web...

Ingredients:
a piece of flint, vaguely rod shaped,
a piece of marcasite, big enough to hit with the flint,
a piece of amadou or other tinder,
a small piece of wood to help support the marcasite.

Marcasite is a naturally occurring mineral, similar to iron pyrites (fools gold). The chemical composition is FeS2. It has been used for jewellery, so should be available from lapidarists.

The technique is to hold the piece of marcasite on the wooden base, with the tinder on the ground next to the base. Now, strike the marcasite with the flint. The flint being harder, it will stike big, hot, long-lasting sparks off the marcasite, which should fall on the tinder and set it alight. You should smell the distinctive sulphur odour of a struck match.

The rest, blowing the tinder and gradually adding bigger kindling, should be common knowledge...


Keith.

Put the tinder on the marcasite before you strike the flint, you want the sparks to catch as soon as possible as they are not very hot and cool very quickly. The closer the tinder the better your chances and the sparks will fly into the tinder better in that position.

[Metala Cabinet]

I've tried this and I can't seem to get any decent size sparks. It may just be my poor technique as I haven't had a lot of time to practice this. Would things improve if I scrape off some of the oxidised layer on the marcassite where I intend to strike it?

[Realgar]

I'm wondering if it makes any difference whether you use marcasite or pyrite?

BTW - can anyone suggest common objects that are the right type of steel for a flint and steel set - 9 inch nails or something like that?

Realgar

[Not Bob]

Isn't marcassite just finer grained iron pyrites (fools gold)? I do know that the crystals of the pyrites you get from the local rock shop are too big for lighting fire this way because they'll just break off.
BTW this method of firelighting is at least 80,000 years old.

[Realgar]

Marcasite is an allotrope - same chemical composition but totaly different atomic arrangement. I've got a chunk of pyrite formed of small crystals, it's resilient enough to use for striking but my quick couple of attempts just lead to skinned knuckles. I'll have a play with it.

Realgar

[Not Bob]

That helps to explain why I consistently came last in my chemistry class at school!