What the heck did I just find?

[Rocky77]

I live in Virginia and the soil here is red clay. I dug up this weird rock in my back yard and have no idea what it might be. It's black and glassy and smooth on some sides. It also looks as if it has some air pockets and some goldish tinting to it. It's about the size of a softball, but it's not that heavy as if it were made of iron. I don't live near any mountains and this is just weird. Not sure if it's a meteorite. I put a magnet to it and felt just the slightest attraction if not at all. Hopefully someone can help me ID this. Thanks for looking.

 

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[TeAra]

I swear that is what people do to me. Throw rocks and such on my property because I am told those are not local to me so I think maybe it is from years ago when a somewhat close volcano erupted and it made its way near us. I do not know exactly where you are at but I looked up and noticed the volcanoes in VA. The active as they said are to the north near the W.VA border.

 

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[dieselram94]

Bottle that has been struck by lightning? Just a suggestion.

This is not a joke, I have found bottles after they have been struck and they look strikingly similar to your pictures ...

 

[302guy]

I'm from Delaware. And have property right near Harper's Ferry WV. I assure you, there has been volcanic activity in this region. Mole hill in Harrisonburg is a now dromant volcano and is the youngest in the area , coming in at the very young age of only 47 million years old, from what I've just read on wikipedia. So that piece is at least that old. Nice find. Get it carved into something. Or just set it on the mantle as is.

 

[Rattlehead]

Slag glass. For sure. I've got a ton of similar.

 

[302guy]

Slag glass. For sure. I've got a ton of similar.

Even with those rough holes and pits in it? Slag glass is usually free of those kinds of voids and pretty much a solid blob of melted glass isn't it?

 

[rock]

No a good sign of slag is the bubbles. But it does show in some other types of stone also.

 

[302guy]

No a good sign of slag is the bubbles. But it does show in some other types of stone also.

Yeah bubbles...but this thing has obvious voids and holes. without fractures of cracks. Not the vitrification signs of a byproduct of a manufacturing process IMHO. But I could be wrong. I have been before.

 

[NuggetHead]

No doubt...That is slag...

 

[Rattlehead]

This pic is slag glass. That is what you got.

http://www.mnironrange.com/2006/slag-glass1.jpg

 

[302guy]

I'm still not convinced. His looks way too organic and mineralized to me.

 

[Rocky77]

This pic is slag glass. That is what you got.

http://www.mnironrange.com/2006/slag-glass1.jpg

That definitely looks like what i have. How and where does it form? I know I'm on the internet and can find it out myself, but I'm currently busy doing other things at the moment. Thanks!

 

[mamabear]

Isn't it coal?

 

[302guy]

This pic is slag glass. That is what you got.

http://www.mnironrange.com/2006/slag-glass1.jpg

Can it be carved and polished like Obsidian too? I want to find some too. Where does it come from?

 

[Rattlehead]

Go to my site: Spheremaker.com (not a shameless plug, but I probly have the most pictures of slag around)
Type in "slag" in the search at the top
Look at all the pictures. I find tons of it in Lake Michigan and have dug it up also. Some of it may have some iron ore traces or actually pieces in it. It shines like the glass it is when polished. I make spheres and jewelry out of it. The quality varies and can be quite interesting both good and bad.

***History of slag glass****
Slag Circa 1875-1900 - This unique material, part stone, part glass, is an industrial by-product from the short lived days refining iron ore in Northern Michigan along the Great Lakes. The ores, which were mined in the Upper Peninsula, were sent down state by freighter to the new smelters.

Here, it was believed, grew an unlimited supply of hardwood forests needed to make the charcoal for the blast furnaces. The ore was melted at extremely high temperatures in the huge furnaces and the 'pig' iron was separated from the slag which was dumped in Lake Michigan. The smelters lasted only a few decades due to the fact that the forests for miles around were clear cut to make charcoal and the operation became too expensive.

Today, the lucky beachcomber may still find these gems, varying in color from black, green, purple, and most rarely, blue.

 

[Rocky77]

I have a feeling this is more than slag. I examined this closer and found that if you look at the pics...second row, picture on the left...it is clearly cut at a 90 degree angle. The top of this rock is completely smooth and flat and if you place your hand on it, like palming a ball, your fingers fit perfectly in the grooves on the rock. It has been clearly "worked" and it shows. This might actually be some native american artifact for skinning? I'm almost certain, but not 100% sure, but this is more than just a rock.

 

[tammahawk]

dont rule out it being a meteorite, there are many websites that can help you identify it if it is, heres one Meteorite Identification,

 

[Rocky77]

I have a feeling this is more than slag. I examined this closer and found that if you look at the pics...second row, picture on the left...it is clearly cut at a 90 degree angle. The top of this rock is completely smooth and flat and if you place your hand on it, like palming a ball, your fingers fit perfectly in the grooves on the rock. It has been clearly "worked" and it shows. This might actually be some native american artifact for skinning? I'm almost certain, but not 100% sure, but this is more than just a rock.

The rock is very coarse and rough on the bottom. Would this be a type of artifact for skinning or some other purpose? It has been tooled. There are clear markings of this.

 

[Brian T. Booth]

I've seen these in may areas. From the pictures it looks to be slag. A byproduct from smelting iron ore.

 

[kuger]

Even with those rough holes and pits in it? Slag glass is usually free of those kinds of voids and pretty much a solid blob of melted glass isn't it?

....I have dealt with tons of obsidian,and have never seen anything similar to this ....I have seen exact glass slag though....actually bought a piece that looked like Jolly Rancher Apple green to knap...wish I would have kept some of the finished products

 

[Shwicken]

It's a Dragon Egg!