Obsidian found in NC. Call me a fool!

NC field hunter

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Jul 29, 2012
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Today I was able to hit a strange field for awhile. I passed it with no intention of hunting. A mile later, I pulled a U. This field had more odd stones than any other I had seen. Stuff that just isn't normal. I actually found obsidian!!

image-2201936408.jpg



image-1029738101.jpg

It's unworked, but must trace back to native trade. Also a couple broken points.

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image-1987065441.jpg
 

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OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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Contact a flint knapper in your area. They will let you know if its obsidian or not. It could be a lower grade obsidian. I have found obsidian points on the New Mexico desert which is hundreds of miles from obsidian deposits.

I can't think of a local flint knapper. If one does exist, I doubt he would know much about obsidian. It's not that uncommon, 2 dormant volcanoes are at my back door, basically.
 

OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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NC what you have there is a piece of Anthracite aka, coal. From what I see of the pictures that is my take on it.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770265"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770264"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770263"/>

I thank you for the input. However, I have coal from the RR and the river. They aren't the same. Nice try.
 

Aleisters

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Jul 8, 2012
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Agree that it is black slag. If you hit Google Images and search Black Slag Glass you will see identical pieces. If you search just slag glass you will see the vast colors slag can be found in. Slag glass is translucent and was used for construction of Tiffany type lamp shades. When I first moved to Ohio I was out searching with a friend where a new road was being put in. We found a ton of black glass we were sure was Obsidian because the Hopewells did import it to Central Ohio, we took them into the ASO meeting....it was all black slag.
 

OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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Here is a close up of the small piece I knocked off.

image-2451020526.jpg

I think slag would be more translucent than this piece. This is a really hard glass. I appreciate your help, but still think its a poor grade obsidian. If you look close, white spots can be seen in the translucent area. Hence, snowflake obsidian.
 

OP
OP
NC field hunter

NC field hunter

Silver Member
Jul 29, 2012
4,227
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NC what you have there is a piece of Anthracite aka, coal. From what I see of the pictures that is my take on it.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770265"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770264"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770263"/>

THP I think this is what you have.

image-79411696.jpg

Similar look. What I have is a hard glass. I didn't realize how tough it was until I struck it with a hammer. It is glass for certain. Thanks for taking time to post. That means a lot to me.
 

OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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Jul 29, 2012
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THP I think this is what you have.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=770365"/>

Similar look. What I have is a hard glass. I didn't realize how tough it was until I struck it with a hammer. It is glass for certain. Thanks for taking time to post. That means a lot to me.

I'm not sure how I slaughtered your initials so bad. GTP!!
 

Get-the-point

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Well when you write my icon name .make sure it is correct.....lol.. ..anyway what I had was true anthracite in the picture. When wet it was identical to your sample. Glad you got to the bottom of it.....
 

leachmagnant

Newbie
Jul 10, 2013
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When I get home, I'll split the piece. It'll be translucent then. In a couple hours we will have a verdict! Hippy, I'm on the VA. Line. Obsidian is not abundant in VA. but not impossible to find either. I think this piece has made a 20 mile travel at some point in time. It's small for a blank and has no sign of reduction as a core should. The piece matches the obsidian sample in my geology kit. My kit was given to me by the principal of our local high school. It isn't a kit put together by a nitwit such as myself. It's a professional geology sample kit. By the way, I never consider what we do as "arguing" I'm just an old country hippy myself. Hippies don't argue, we just try to better mankind. I thank you for any input on any post I may have. For this one, you said it, my mind is made up. It's made up on pretty reasonable research and comparison.



staticmap


Hi there, saw your post and wanted to inquire on this piece my 5yr old found on the bank of the Chickohominey River this morning. Hopefully the image posted. Do you think it might be Obsidian?
 

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OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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Hi there, saw your post and wanted to inquire on this piece my 5yr old found on the bank of the Chickohominey River this morning. Hopefully the image posted. Do you think it might be Obsidian?

I'm not sure. I see some characteristics of obsidian, but not enough to make a positive call. Can we have a couple more pictures?
 

rock

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@ Leach you can try putting it in the rock forum to see what some of those experts say. In that forum there are some very good people that actually know their rocks. Try that and see what they say. I dont want to be a downer on it but it might be slag which comes in all colors, might not be though.
 

OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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I'm not seeing the air pockets that slag has. I'm thinking this may be an old piece of coal. Being found on a river, coal makes sense to me. Although, I have found tons of slag on rivers as well.
 

GatorBoy

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May 28, 2012
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I was thinking coal.
The original fossil fuel.
Nice job on that point WCP.
 

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MicahMae

Tenderfoot
Jun 29, 2013
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Have you tried a scratch test? That could rule out everything but slag glass. Unfortunately, slag and obsidian can be difficult to differentiate - both are glass. Slag often contains metal (lead, iron) which could make it magnetic.
 

OP
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NC field hunter

NC field hunter

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Jul 29, 2012
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Have you tried a scratch test? That could rule out everything but slag glass. Unfortunately, slag and obsidian can be difficult to differentiate - both are glass. Slag often contains metal (lead, iron) which could make it magnetic.

Scratch test is a nice start. I wasn't able to say my find was obsidian until I actually put it beside an undoubtedly obsidian piece. Kuger sent me these to help with the drawing of my conclusion.

image-2357305833.jpg



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