2 stone firestarting, without marcasite

[Galemys]

I always thought that for fire starting with 2 stones, at least one of the two should be made of marcasite (or pyrite) to provide the right kind of sparks.
Percussion or scratching of quartz on quartz can seem to make sparks, but this is in principle a light emitting effect, and for a great deal can be attributed to triboluminescence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboluminescence). The sparks from these stones were deemed to weak to start a fire with.

I guess I was wrong:

Quartz on quartz:

Agate on agate:

The super sensitive tinder (palm scurf with added charred material) that Dalem Gumino uses here must be a key factor.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Toddy]

I wonder if our amadou would take the spark ?

 

[artizan]

Oh - that's interesting.... Thanks for the links.

 

[Toddy]

I'm wondering too about the definition of 'china'.....because we have fine bone, bone, porcelain, earthenware and stoneware.

 

[Pattree]

On the Mohs scale stoneware and porcelain test at about 7.
Flint rates 6.5 - 7
It should be possible to get an iron spark using pottery.
If you’re going to try it; I’d recommend a sherd from the base of a vessel where the clay has been most compacted, is probably thickest and may be supported by a basal ridge.
Edited to add:
Hand thrown may well be more compacted than commercial, slip cast pottery which often relies on centrifugal force rather than physical pressure to compact it.

I hope someone tries it.
I might try some on a piece of ordinary bamboo myself just to play.

Both bamboo demonstrations used large pieces of big diameter stem. I wonder whether that contributes or whether you could knock a spark off the edge of a pocket sized bamboo knife strop.


Edited again [lightbulb]
Is he making his “charcoal” from paper handkerchiefs? I’ll certainly give that a go!

Also: he’s striking downwards with his scraper below the tinder.
I’m a newbie to flint and steel etc (Thank you @Tony) but: how is the hot bamboo spark reaching the tinder????

 

[forrestdweller]

our local quartz is white and too "crumbly" to use and i haven't found anything like the type of tinder he uses locally, but now i've something else to try

 

[HillBill]

Put the tinder ABOVE the the stone. Not below it. The sparks come from the strike and are created at the top, not the bottom.

Well, what i said is 100% true for flint and steel... Give it a go. Be interested in the results.

EDIT. Second vid is what i meant, i jumped the gun a little it seems.