Unusal stone - worthless?

Cuchulain

Sorry I dont think this would come under the archaelogy section but its the closest I could find.
My cousin found this stone somewhere in northern France, Ive had this stone for years but its probably worthless. I would like opinions from the learned people here.

Doozie

Is it worked, as in have the edges of the stone been chipped away to form a sharp edge?
I dont know much about paleolithic artefacts from France and this doesn't look like a hand axe or anything. Could it just be a naturally formed material? If the edges look deliberately worked then it could have been a tool. This of course is highly speculative.

Also, to your question is it worth anything? Are you thinking of presenting it to the museum in the hope they offer you a vast fortune?
If so....I would stop hoping.

Millucc

Take another two photo's...

1) with a ruler alongside, for scale...

2) from the 'side', to let us see the depth/thickness...

It 'looks' like a flint 'thumbnail scraper'.

The edges 'could' be worked, but also could be natural. Need to see them closer up. The middle 'gap' looks like natural erosion. What's interesting is the 'bulge' below that. This could be what is called the 'bulb of percussion', from when it was first struck off a flint core.

Cuchulain

I'd be surprised if work was done it, although looking at the edges it does look very clean. Also the edge of the cut doesnt seem very eroded so it looks like the stone was broken "open" recent to its find.

My wording of "worthless" might be misleading, its been sitting in my drawer for the last decade before I lob it over the ditch I though maybe somebody could have a look at it, as its always been in the back of my mind because of its unusual appearance.

Thanks for the replies anyway, here are some more pics.

Millucc

Well, I wasn't expecting the other side to look like that!

Bad news is, its not what I first thought. And its not flint. Looks like it could be a natural, sea stone, smoothed by wave action and split in half at some point. But geology isn't my strong point.

You might want to ask in a geology forum for more detail about the stone.

tricky D

This is a natural stone. I think it's formed by lava balls cooling. Can't remember the name, will try to get it or ring my geologist brother-in-law.

edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geode

they're common enough only worth a few euro as ornaments

Cuchulain

Thanks tricky. Looks like you've found the answer.

Riamfada

Geolite?

cnocbui

I am no expert but that look like it might be an agate nodule that has been cracked in half. Another term for them is thundereggs.