Gloss patina is a natural post-depositional surface alteration frequently present on flint artifacts. Features of this patina include reduced surface topography, smoothness, and a pronounced luster. Gloss patina is distinct from stain patina, desilication (white) patina, and the dark glossy patina known as desert varnish. Glossy river patina has similar features but is produced by abrasion accelerated dissolution whereas gloss patina is primarily a result of soil solution related chemical processes. Artifact adsorption of amorphous silica from its depositional environment can produce gloss patina but advanced examples of gloss patina have surface topography reduction, smoothness, luster and thickness strongly indicating dissolution and concomitant re-precipitation of artifact surface silica.
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Calvin D. Howard (2002) studied this question.
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