Organic or man made? Ancient or Modern?

[Sarahs]

I found this in my back field. My area used to belong to the Maidu native tribe of the American river area. It is exactly how I found it (did not polish or shape). Two arrows are exactly opposite each other going in the same direction.

 

[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Sarahs! Take a look at Forum: California for information (i.e., clubs, etc.) directly related to your state.

2nd - I moved ya from NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS over to WHAT IS IT? for more exposure.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Welcome to Tnet from Toronto Sarah!

Can you tell us... do you think this is a semi-precious stone or possibly a fossilized seed that's been tumbled in a river?

My vote would be for a fossilized seed pod.
Dave

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to T-net

That appears to be a natural, but highly polished, piece of chiastolite. It’s a a variety of the mineral andalusite which is characterised by distinctive cross-shaped black inclusions of graphite. The unusual pattern has caused it to be used as a semi-precious stone and it has been used as an amulet for centuries.



There are large deposits of it around Georgetown in California but If you go into any new age rock & gem shop, you’ll see small highly polished pebbles that have come out of a rock tumbler being sold as ‘mystical’ items. Most of what I see in UK shops has come from Spain. I don’t know how you could distinguish modern from ancient, but to me that looks like it has come out of a rock tumbler and been lost in recent times.

 

[Mud Hut]

Welcome to T-net

That appears to be a natural, but highly polished, piece of chiastolite. It’s a a variety of the mineral andalusite which is characterised by distinctive cross-shaped black inclusions of graphite. The unusual pattern has caused it to be used as a semi-precious stone and it has been used as an amulet for centuries.

View attachment 1846525 View attachment 1846526

There are large deposits of it around Georgetown in California but If you go into any new age rock & gem shop, you’ll see small highly polished pebbles that have come out of a rock tumbler being sold as ‘mystical’ items. Most of what I see in UK shops has come from Spain. I don’t know how you could distinguish modern from ancient, but to me that looks like it has come out of a rock tumbler and been lost in recent times.

Incredible ID Red-Coat!

 

[against the wind]

Welcome to the forum from Port Allegheny, Pennsylvania

 

[Sarahs]

Thank You!

Wow you know your stuff. I found a few other things near it, a grinding stone maybe-I will post to find out if it is just a rock) and some bottle pieces with the date 1915. Probably from railroad workers. Brand new to treasure hunting but addicted already.

 

[Rookster]

Welcome

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Welcome to the forum!

Good Luck and Happy hunting!