I had a look around on Google but still confused. Why can I start a fire with a flint rod and a knife. How are the sparks made and what are they.
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Your “flint rod” is not flint the mineral. It is an alloy of iron, cerium, and other various rare earth metals (lanthanides). When you scrape away tiny flakes of it with your knife the friction heats them and they ignite in the oxygen of the atmosphere. The cerium etc. lowers the ignition temperature of the flakes, and the iron provides fuel, and structural integrity to the rod.
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