Iron/copper ore or slag?

[yaxthri]

Hello fellow enthusiasts.

I have a question about two rocks(?) I found.
These two are magnetic, pretty heavy for their size, have the colour or rusted iron and also have small inclusions of (what seems to be) corroded copper (measuring tape is in inches). Anyone know what they may be made of?




I found them both near neolithic settlements (lots of obsidian chips and stone tools around), at two different locations on the coast . I wonder if these are pieces of ore used for really early copper extraction. Does this exist, an iron/copper mineral? Or is this some kind of slag from this procedure?
Or could they have been used as firestarters incombination with a flint stone?...

Or could this be more recent and something completely different?
For example, a result of WW2 bombings? The sites I found these also have remains of German fortifications, spent cartridges etc...

Any help appreciated

 

[yaxthri]

So, not even one had something to write about this?...

Maybe I shoud've written "Iron/natural platinum ore or slag found doing some leg-pulling" to get some answers...

 

[DCMatt]

So, not even one had something to write about this?...

Maybe I shoud've written "Iron/natural platinum ore or slag found doing some leg-pulling" to get some answers...

I've little knowledge of neolithic metallurgy. Next time make the title "Found in a Civil War camp (which may or may not have been a neolithic settlement)".

Which "coast" are you on? Location may provide a clue about the availability of copper and iron ore.

DCMatt

 

[yaxthri]

Well I too know almost nothing about prehistoric metallurgy.
I like your suggestion about the title, I'll keep it in mind hahaha.
If I called it a "Civil War Camp" this would be too misleading, "our" civil war was past WW2, I live on the "Northern mediterranean coast", in Greece.
There are ancient mines near where I found these, this just came to me now that you asked... Thanks I'll check that possibility out.

 

[ohiowhiteguy]

So, not even one had something to write about this?...

Maybe I should've written "Iron/natural platinum ore or slag found doing some leg-pulling" to get some answers...

ha ha.sometimes we just don't know.it looks like slag to me but i would have to hold it in my hand..is it magnetic..is it heavy.
sometimes you can break a piece off and smell it..sulfur? anyway i think we all have posted finds we weren't sure of and have gotten no reply's.
keep lookin keep posting that's why were here.
owg..

 

[VictorVincimus]

I live around multiple iron furnaces that date back post revolutionary war. There is a ton of slag in the creeks as a result. The slag is not magnetic and won't pick up on a detector from iron smelting. So it would have to be chunks of something else besides the iron.

 

[yaxthri]

These pieces stick to a magnet like pure iron, really heavy, no pieces can be broken off, I guess I could cut-off a piece with a hacksaw if I tried...
All in all, I guess "not slag" is an answer to start with.

Thank you all for the answers!

 

[Holly_squirrel]

I live around multiple iron furnaces that date back post revolutionary war. There is a ton of slag in the creeks as a result. The slag is not magnetic and won't pick up on a detector from iron smelting. So it would have to be chunks of something else besides the iron.

Iron slag sure does get picked up by a detector.... Even coal clinkers do. I also live in area that was surrounded by furnaces way back when.... And have a slag road a foot underground rub through my property . I can't detect in that area, cause tbe iron slag sets off my detector like crazy.

 

[boris]

Hello fellow enthusiasts.

I have a question about two rocks(?) I found.
These two are magnetic, pretty heavy for their size, have the colour or rusted iron and also have small inclusions of (what seems to be) corroded copper (measuring tape is in inches). Anyone know what they may be made of?

View attachment 756586
View attachment 756587

I found them both near neolithic settlements (lots of obsidian chips and stone tools around), at two different locations on the coast . I wonder if these are pieces of ore used for really early copper extraction. Does this exist, an iron/copper mineral? Or is this some kind of slag from this procedure?
Or could they have been used as firestarters incombination with a flint stone?...

Or could this be more recent and something completely different?
For example, a result of WW2 bombings? The sites I found these also have remains of German fortifications, spent cartridges etc...

Any help appreciated

I have learned obsidian was used as ballast in old ships, and copper you found may have been used as trade silver was also used in ancient times. Shapes are interesting too! HH Boris

 

[VictorVincimus]

Do they have a color when scraped?