This article presents the results of a pilot study exploring the feasibility of using

non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry

for the chemical sourcing of flint from three geographical areas: eastern Denmark

and southwestern Sweden (Stevns Klint, Møns Klint, Södra Sallerup),

south and southwestern Sweden (Klagshamn, Östra Torp, Smygehuk) and

southeastern Sweden (Hanaskog). The EDXRF results showed that the flint

samples from Stevns Klint are all chemically alike on the basis of Si/Ca/Fe and

Ca/Fe ratio data, even though they possess markedly different visual qualities

and are of different geological ages. The samples from Södra Sallerup, Sweden,

and Stevns Klint, Denmark, are chemically similar. Since the chalk slabs at

Södra Sallerup were re-deposited by glacial ice, the results of the chemical analysis

may indicate that they originated from the same formation that emerges

at Stevns Klint. The samples from Klagshamn, Östra Torp and Smygehuk are

visually alike and bear the same chemical signature; all three originate from the

same geological formation of Danian age but are from different localities. The

Common Kristianstad Flint (Hanaskog) is distinctive in appearance and the

results of the EDXRF instrumental analysis yielded a corresponding unique

Ca/Fe chemical signature. In summary, the pilot study successfully revealed

distinctions among the flint samples.