Read the paragraphs below and then match the materials to th…
Read the paragraphs below and then match the materials to their properties from the information given. Ancient Materials Thousands of years before Europeans settled in North America, Native Americans were using a wide variety of rock and mineral resources for tools, weapons, pottery, building materials, jewelry, and artwork. As in other parts of the world, the specific materials used depended on what was available locally or through trade, what methods had been developed to extract and use the materials, and finally the need for materials with specific properties. People were quarrying quartzite as early as 10,000 years ago. Quartzite is a very hard metamorphic rock that breaks into sharp pieces that are ideal for use in knives and spears. Obsidian and flint were also used for weapons and to start fires. Other types of hard rock, such as igneous cobbles, were used for grinding and hammering. Beginning around 7,000 years ago, Native Americans mined copper in Michigan from both surface pits and underground shafts. The malleable copper was used for making items such as fishhooks, spear points and jewelry, and was also used for trade. Soft and colorful minerals such as turquoise were used for beads and jewelry. Native Americans also used clays for pottery and mined or extracted salt for cooking.