Interesting fragment

[Out Of Time]

I stumbled across this unusual fragment I think is worth sharing.
Most likely it's a broken bead . Highly polished black stone with an hourglass shape.
Shell beads are most common around here, though magnesite ones have been found. Those are invariably cylinder shaped (with straight sides) and most often pink, orange or cream colored.
So this object doesn't conform. Other possibilities (though doubtful) are it's an ear spool or part of a pipe. Whatever it is, it's beautifully made...
Also throwing in a field grade obsidian point collected at same site.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any opinions on what it is and what it's made of.

Northern California.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[CreekSide]

I think your 2 last guesses are closer than the other ones. I was thinking pipe but ear spool is another option. It’s very interesting
Nice point also

 

[dognose]

I agree it's interesting.

is it magnetic?
if so then it may be hematite.
could be slate

 

[CreekSide]

I know it’s small but do you see any decorations on it like scratches?

 

[newnan man]

Too small for a pipe, a bead is most likely. Nice finds, I like that point.

 

[Out Of Time]

I agree it's interesting.

is it magnetic?
if so then it may be hematite.
could be slate

Not magnetic and I don't think it's slate.
I'm looking through my rock collection in case I find a match.
Closest thing I have is this....

This piece is not quite as dark but has similar properties. I've always believed it to be type of basalt, but I'm not an rock expert.

 

[Out Of Time]

I know it’s small but do you see any decorations on it like scratches?

No decoration that I can see, just scars and striations from polish and use.

 

[DirtyHandsCleanPoints]

I stumbled across this unusual fragment I think is worth sharing.
Most likely it's a broken bead . Highly polished black stone with an hourglass shape.
Shell beads are most common around here, though magnesite ones have been found. Those are invariably cylinder shaped (with straight sides) and most often pink, orange or cream colored.
So this object doesn't conform. Other possibilities (though doubtful) are it's an ear spool or part of a pipe. Whatever it is, it's beautifully made...
Also throwing in a field grade obsidian point collected at same site.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any opinions on what it is and what it's made of.

Northern California.
View attachment 2147617View attachment 2147618View attachment 2147619View attachment 2147620View attachment 2147621View attachment 2147622

I’m going with mouth piece to a stone pipe obviously it was longer than it currently is and it would’ve expanded most likely but here’s some examples that point me in that direction. Not my artifacts

 

[Out Of Time]

I think I found a match on material in the Hearst Collection.
It looks identical to this steatite pipe.

Pipe

Part of tubular steatite pipe.

portal.hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu

I still think it's more likely a bead, but not quite as sure as I was....

 

[Out Of Time]

I’m going with mouth piece to a stone pipe obviously it was longer than it currently is and it would’ve expanded most likely but here’s some examples that point me in that direction. Not my artifacts

You may be right. Though pipes are commonly straight tubes (around here) this could be part of a fancy one.
See my link to the pipe at Hearst museum.

 

[Out Of Time]

I dug a little deeper at Hearst Museum and bingo....

Beads

Steatite, spool shaped.

portal.hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu

I found a broken steatite spool bead. Very satisfying

 

[CreekSide]

It’s a good find T_ _ you always seem to find the best things

 

[Rockdog]

Nice find. If it was around here I would guess it was black noveculite. We find alot of pounts and things made of that here. Definitely a bead. Great find.

 

[unclemac]

yeah, in Northern CA the highways sometimes cut right through soapstone formations. I have pulled over more than once to pick up a rock or two. I like it as a pipe stem too. It was a common stone to use that way in those parts.