Pyrite found while metal detecting dirt piles in Goldsboro, NC

[Gilligan]

My son and I were detecting some piles of dirt that apparently came from the Neuse River, perhaps at a bridge site. We found these cool pieces of fools gold during our detecting. The hooked shaped ones are a mystery, but they are solid fools gold. The egg shaped rock had a cut in it that we thought may have been made by indians, but normally that type of cut goes all the way around for a hammerhead, we kept it just in case.

 

[Skelly607]

To bad it wasn't real!!!

 

[fieldslayer]

Enjoy 'em while they last! These appear to be a 1st cousin mineral called marcasite , which occurs in sediments (often fossil bearing) as exist in your area. Unfortunately , they tend to be unstable and , over time , self destruct into piles of crumbly powder. Let's hope your's are the exception , but I sadly know this from experience. Very cool stuff to find regardless! Best Regards - fieldslayer

 

[Gilligan]

Enjoy 'em while they last! These appear to be a 1st cousin mineral called marcasite , which occurs in sediments (often fossil bearing) as exist in your area. Unfortunately , they tend to be unstable and , over time , self destruct into piles of crumbly powder. Let's hope your's are the exception , but I sadly know this from experience. Very cool stuff to find regardless! Best Regards - fieldslayer

You are right, the ones laying around appear to be turning white and crumbling