Found this while detecting the other day...dont have a clue what it is.

[leadnbrass]

Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

This was about 6" down in the middle of the woods. I was walking from one area to the next (about 1/2 mile) and was carrying the detector. Got a beep while walking and decided to dig. Showed as iron.

It's 1 1/2" long 1/2" at highest and 1" at its widest.

Its 70 grams or 2.5 oz and its very heavy for its size.

It's attracts a magnet (very strong)

I filed a bit of it down today and included a few pictures.

Sorry for the quality as I'm only using my phone.

***Just realized this was my first post from joining in 2005...jeez***

What do you think?

 

[creskol]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Can you post more photos from different angles?

 

[leadnbrass]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Can you post more photos from different angles?

Here's a few more with the same phone that I just took...sorry, I'm in my work vehicle so this is all I can do.

 

[degoldn1]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

It looks to me you found a meteorite, it's heavy and magnetic these are good signs. Looks like it has some rustication and smoothness. I also notice it has some metal showing fusion. Meteorites are measured in grams and you have 70 grams. They can be worth .50 cents to $50.00 a gram, depending on what type of meteorite it is and where it came from. This doesn't look like it has weathered to much, most meteorite when exposed to moisture and weather it will deteriorate and get rustic and darker. Look at some web sites to identify this meteorite like, Mr. meteorite or meteorite men are some good connections to start your search.

Happy Hunting!

Degoldn1

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

The filed part looks pretty interesting. BUT the Widmanstatten formation has to be etched by acid (nitric I think) to show up, and if the Wf had "grain", this could be cut across the grain, but I doubt it has grainage. The nickel/iron crystals are in a total criss cross pattern.

In fact, I just went out and dug up my piece of meteorite and the criss cross pattern shows on all 3 of the exposed sides. Top, side, and side. No grain. I think I would take it to a rock show before I spent $25 or $50 to have it analyzed.

This info applies to iron/nickel meteorites. That is what yours looks like. I know it's not a stony meteorite, but if it is an iron/stony, I don't know. Or if there are any other varieties.

 

[leadnbrass]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Thanks for the information so far guys...I took a few more "close-ups" today:

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

The filed part is still interesting. I know that there are rock shows in your "general" area sometime somewhere. You probably need a "bigger" one to have a good meteorite dealer there. A lot of things can look like meteorites--I was intrigued by a piece that had the "criss-cross" lines and traded a valuable little chunk of Gibeon for it. The difference? The inside of the rock was black. Come to find out, loadestone. So I am out about $50 because I didn't know what I was doing. And there was even a chunk of loadstone among the the displays there. But the polished face that distracted me. Always beware of a pretty face!

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Just did a little checking: Big weekend for rock shows coming up Friday. 2 in Franklin, NC, as well as one in Harrisonburg Va and So. Charleston WV. Pm me for details. Just in case one is close to you and you are interested at all.

Just read a short article. Said an expert had 2100 samples sent to him, 7 were meteorites. "Are you feeling lucky, punk. Well, are ya?"

 

[leadnbrass]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Thank you for all the information. I'm actually about 25 mins from Harrisonburg VA and was planning to stop by an estate auction in the area so that may work out.

If anything I can learn some things while I'm there.

Matt

 

[alexTx]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

Exterior does not look like a meteorite in my opionion. My guess is slag from a forging.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: Found this while detecting the other day...don't have a clue what it is.

So what did you find out about your rock. Don't leave me haning here, bro.