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Argillite (slate). This material, which is much diversified in character, was in very general use by the tribes N. of Mexico for the manufacture of utensils, implements, and ornaments, and for carvings in general. The typical slates, characterized by their decided foliate structure, were used to some extent for implements; but the more massive varieties, such as the greenish striped slates of the Eastern states, the argillite of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the states to the s., and the black slate of the N. W. coast were usually preferred for polished implements and carvings. Argillite was much used by the tribes of the Delaware and Susquehanna valleys, and an ancient quarry of this material, situated at Point Pleasant, Pa., has been described by Mercer (see [[italics]] Mines and Quarries [/italics]]). Material from this and other quarries in the Appalachian region was used mainly for flaked implements, including leaf-shaped blades, knives, and arrow and spear heads, and these are widely distributed over the Middle Atlantic states. The fine-grained greenish and striped slates of the Eastern and Middle states and Canada were extensively used in the manufacture of several varieties of objects of somewhat problematic use, including so-called banner-stones, bird-stones, and perforated tablets. It is probable that, like the green agate send jadeites of Mexico, some varieties of this stone had special significance with the native tribes. The tribes of the N. W. coast employ a fine-grained slate in their very artistic carvings, which the Haida obtained chiefly from deposits on Slate cr., Queen Charlotte ids. This slate has the desirable qualities of being soft and easily carved when freshly quarried, and of growing harder with time. It is black and takes an excellent polish (Niblack). See [[italics]] Sculpture and Carving, Totem-poles [[/italics]].

References to the use of argillite and slate occur in many works relating to ethnologic and archaeologic subjects, but are not sufficiently important to be given in full.  Worthy of special mention are Abbott, Prim. Industry, 1881; Holmes in 15th Rep. B. A. E., 1897; Mercer in Pubs. Univ. Penn., VI, 1897; Niblack in Rep. Nat. Mus. 1888, 1890; Rau in Smithson. Rep. 1872, 1873; Squier and Davis in Smithson. Cont., I, 1848. (W. H. H.)

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