CRAZY STONE THING (and I've been digging a long time)

[kyphote]

I can't figure this out and neither can my neighborhood rock hounds if it even falls into that category. This green stone (or what feels like stone) is semi porous. Protruding from it are small rock or rock-like "studs" much harder, darker -- AND NON-FERROUS -- than the surrounding non-ferrous material. One stud is a perfectly defined cylinder. There's no ceramic quality. Rock-hard, firmly seated, and rock or petrified something would be my only guess.

Found in a field in rural Virginia where I've dug colonial, CW and Native American artifacts, so no easy reference point.

Thanks for any help identifying this object. It's small and ugly, but perplexing enough to post.

 

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[old digger]

Looks like a cronoid fossil in matrix.

 

[jewelerguy]

Looks like a cronoid fossil in matrix.

I agree

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Looks like something encrusted in very old melted tar

 

[kyphote]

Thank you! I'd mark this as solved if I could find the button on my phone. But solved! I showed an expert in person and he concurs.