✅ SOLVED Iron Slag??

[JDO]

Hello, all - I was on here maybe 15 years ago but got out of the hobby except for beach hunting on vacations. I should have come back sooner! I recently found this item in an eroded mud cliff in Central Ohio. It was an eyeball find. It appears to be iron slag but it is hollow in the center. It is NOT magnetic. The item is on a standard 8-1/2 x 11 note pad for size reference. It is very crumbly - If I dropped it on cement, it would fall apart. If it is slag, it would be curious because it was found in an area with no known homes or industry. This was found between Mt. Sterling and Centerville, OH in a historically rural area. Southern Ohio is known for it's early iron foundries but there wasn't such a thing here as far as I know, nor was there even a farm but who knows? Ever hear of a hollow ball of iron slag? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[rockpassion]

to me it looks like a hematite concretion, google that and see

 

[searcher]

Looks a lot like a - Degraded iron concretion.
They can be crumbly when very weathered.

I have several.

 

[JDO]

to me it looks like a hematite concretion, google that and see

Maybe Hematite but it doesn't look much like the pictures returned from a search.

 

[JDO]

Looks a lot like a - Degraded iron concretion.
They can be crumbly when very weathered.

I have several.

Makes sense - would it be natural or from something that was made of low quality iron long ago?

 

[AU Seeker]

Hello, all - I was on here maybe 15 years ago but got out of the hobby except for beach hunting on vacations. I should have come back sooner! I recently found this item in an eroded mud cliff in Central Ohio. It was an eyeball find. It appears to be iron slag but it is hollow in the center. It is NOT magnetic. The item is on a standard 8-1/2 x 11 note pad for size reference. It is very crumbly - If I dropped it on cement, it would fall apart. If it is slag, it would be curious because it was found in an area with no known homes or industry. This was found between Mt. Sterling and Centerville, OH in a historically rural area. Southern Ohio is known for it's early iron foundries but there wasn't such a thing here as far as I know, nor was there even a farm but who knows? Ever hear of a hollow ball of iron slag? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Are there any old railroads near where you found it?
If so Goggle "railroad clinkers".

 

[searcher]

Makes sense - would it be natural or from something that was made of low quality iron long ago?

Naturally formed.

 

[JDO]

Are there any old railroads near where you found it?
If so Goggle "railroad clinkers".

Thanks for the input, but there are no RR tracks in the area. There is no evidence of an old track or railbed.

Naturally formed.

This sounds like what it is. I'll call it Case Closed. Thanks!

 

[searcher]

Here's a few iron concretions that I have, so that you may compare.
The roundish one in the middle is flaky and fragile.
The brownish one lower right, is encased in sandstone.

 

[JDO]

Here's a few iron concretions that I have, so that you may compare.
The roundish one in the middle is flaky and fragile.
The brownish one lower right, is encased in sandstone.
View attachment 2230618

Great pictures. I've never seen anything like it in 50+ years of looking at the ground...

 

[Gare]

JDO Welcome back Where in Ohio are you ?

 

[JDO]

JDO Welcome back Where in Ohio are you ?

Cincinnati area. Been to Canton once about 23 years ago to watch my alma mater high school football team take the state championship. I detected the old park in downtown Cleveland in 2006 - if I am not mistaken it was a Civil War camp? I can't recall the name of it. It was a sketchy area then. I can't imagine what it is like now...