Chunk of metal

[NBTexan]

Found this while MDing in my mothers yard, the house was built in the early 1830s here in Texas. I have no idea what it could be but it is heavy for its size, I'm pretty sure it's a hunk of lead but could it possibly be silver?

Air Force & Coast Guard Vet, Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero

 

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[CC Hunter]

The chunk of metal looks more the color of lead rather than silver. Lead is much softer material compared with silver. If it is lead, the thin edge portions should bend easily. Also, lead that is nearly pure, will easily cut or scratch with a knife. Melted pewter or britannia metal is another possibility.

Generally silver if found melted in a chunk in a home site location, is either from coins, jewelry, or tableware/dinnerware. The purity will then likely be 90% (coin) up to 92.5% (sterling). I have seen and recovered low grade silver in melted chunks from mining areas, having a dull grayish color. The higher grade silver will usually be a brighter color, or very black, depending on conditions. My own impression though, judging by the photo, is that this chunk is not silver.


CC Hunter

 

[rickn1]

Did this register on the detector or did you find it while digging ? Judging by the " crystaline " outside it looks to me like a piece of calsite , maybe post on the rock furum. ...Rick...

 

[NBTexan]

When I found it the VDI on my A/T pro was 99 ( big silver) the only time I ever have seen 99 before was when I found my Morgan silver dollar. I have tried a couple of my own test. I tried to melt some of it with a propane torch and it didn't want to melt, I also tried to bend it with a couple pairs of pliers and it's solid. The strange thing I'm pretty sure it's not a geologically occurring stone here in New Braunfels as the only two stones are lime stone and flint. That and it was found right in front of the house.

Air Force & Coast Guard Vet, Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero