upper michigan suprise

[the backyardigans]

My husband and I were metald detecting some old schools in Upper Michigan and stumbled across the beautiful piece of copper which in itself is not a rare thing since it is know as copper country but finding the silver inlays in it was a wonderful bonus. I didn't even know these existed, apparently they are rare?

 

[mlayers]

Nice piece of copper. At over $3 a pound that is a great find......Matt

 

[carp killer]

cool! what town did you guys find it in?

 

[chkn]

I'm just wondering if that's pure silver peaking out and the copper oxidized out to the surface because it's been through a fire. I don't know if oxidized is the right term or process but I'd be willing to bet that is a piece of silver jewelry that's been through a fire.

 

[GringoStarr]

This appears to be a mining artifact. What it is, is copper/silver lode that went through a stampmill. It is worth a lot more than the copper content alone. The oxidation is typical for something processed as such. I have one very similar to it, without the silver.
Very nice find! It may be highgraded, piece. Which would explain why you found it at a schoolhouse.
You did very well indeed!

Gringo out.

 

[pat (chicago)]

Copper nuggets from Michigan are known as float copper and a lot (if not all) of it has silver content. What you have is known as a "halfbreed". Fantastic find!! If I had found it it, I would never part with such a fine example of a copper & silver nugget. Congrats!