Re: Cable inclines

[Bob Backway <b.backway@trl.telstra.com.au>]

David Martin  in reference to cable railways that ever existed in the Blue
Mountains asked:

> Does anyone know what "chert" is, and what it was used for?

Alta Vista gave thousands of references - the best from Encyclopedia.com:chert
     cryptocrystalline variety of QUARTZ, commonly
     occurring in nodules. Flint-the dark variety of chert-was
     used by primitive peoples to make knives and
     spearheads, because, although it is very hard, it is easily
     shaped by flaking off the edges. It was long used with
     steel for lighting fires and later for setting off the powder
     in flintlock firearms.

The chert I've seen is a hard grey and white banded rock that is often polished
for book ends.

Bob Backway