Since you've posted with flint and steel info before...<br>With respect to rocks for fire starting, is a suitable steel always necessary? I was out backpacking last weekend and discovered some really cool rocks (found out later it was quartzite). They spark readilly when struck together, and I thought I'd found a completely natural firestarter. I tried all kinds of tinder from dryer lint to thistle down which ignites instantly from the sparks of the metal flint on my magnesium firestarter. Nothing! I'm concluding that the spark produced is not hot enough to ignite anything. I haven't tried an appropriate steel with the rocks as I was hoping I wouldn't need one.<br><br>--Mike Briggs<br> Maryland<br><br>