What Metal

[Digger54]

Killing two birds with one stone (no pun intended) as i am wrestling with my photo imaging trying to get the pic size down. Found this item in a sandy field in coastal SC a few years ago. It does not attract to a magnet. It is very hard and very heavy. I bumped it against a grinder to see the metal under the crust. Scratching it on unglazed tile produces a grey streak. My only thoughts are silver or nickel due to the weight and hardness.

 

[Tuberale]

Not metallic that I can see.

Heavy does not equate to meteorite, heaviness helps. If not metallic, then not lodestone or magnetite, which often has a natural magnetic signature by itself. Might be monzanite (a rare-earth ore).

 

[Digger54]

Not metallic that I can see.

Heavy does not equate to meteorite, heaviness helps. If not metallic, then not lodestone or magnetite, which often has a natural magnetic signature by itself. Might be monzanite (a rare-earth ore).

When I first detected it down about eight inches in sandy soil with my metal detector, I thought it was a cannon ball frag since I was in an area that saw action. It had the weight of a chunk of iron, but lacked the heavy rust that is found on cannon ball fragments. I was rather surprised that it did not attract to a magnet as I was sure it was iron.

I suppose my next step should be send it somewhere to be tested to see what it is. Recommendations?

 

[Digger54]

Not metallic that I can see.

Heavy does not equate to meteorite, heaviness helps. If not metallic, then not lodestone or magnetite, which often has a natural magnetic signature by itself. Might be monzanite (a rare-earth ore).

When I first detected it down about eight inches in sandy soil with my metal detector, I thought it was a cannon ball frag since I was in an area that saw action. It had the weight of a chunk of iron, but lacked the heavy rust that is found on cannon ball fragments. I was rather surprised that it did not attract to a magnet as I was sure it was iron.

I suppose my next step should be send it somewhere to be tested to see what it is. Recommendations?

Not sure if this helps, but it consistently reads between 20 - 22 on my F75 ltd.

 

[distimpson]

maybe Babbitt metal?

90% tin, 10% copper
89% tin, 7% antimony, 4% copper
80% lead, 15% antimony, 5% tin
75% lead, 10% tin
76% copper, 24% lead
67% copper, 28% tin, 5% lead
(from Wikipedia)

these guys might help id: South Carolina Treasure & Artifact Association http://treasuredigger.net/authors/26/South-Caroina-Treasure-&-Artifact-Association

let us know what you find out, best wishes, don