Found Something

[sabertooth]

Was detecting the other day in a lot behind an old house built in 1890's. I found burried approximately 6 to 8 inches a large glump of metal...it had been burned...and melted perhaps in a house fire. It was blackened on the exterior but when I broke it, it was nice and shiney silver....So I ask this...could a house fire get hot enough to perhaps melt silver flat wear or coins into a ingot? I am a fire fighter but Considering todays houses being less compustable than say heart pine ..I am not sure if it would actually melt the mentioned items into an ingot? Anyway is there any test I can do to see what it is....its not lead and it does not attract to a magnet
Saber

 

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[stoney56]

Sabre, it's entirely possible to melt silver to a blob that you describe, especially with all the chemicals in todays uses. If it was near high combustible liquids stored under kitchen cabinets, it could become a molten puddle. I've seen an aluminum skillet that wouldn't have recognized w/o the handle sticking out. You can get a bottle of acid used to determine whether silver or gold from a number of jeweler wholesale houses.
http://www.mmwholesale.com/sup_catalog.asp?item=SILVER&mfgrname=

I use a fine grain whetstone and use the scratch test. Then I put a drop of the acid on the mark and if it stays then it's that rating. If ring is 10k and 14k or 18k acid is used, it will eat it away.

 

[sabertooth]

Thanks...

I have a feeling this is perhaps the remants of a silverware set or a cach of coins that burned ina hous ein the 1920's

Ill see if I can find the acid in my area..we are kinda back woods here.

Saber

 

[Gabbit]

not sure what type of metal detector you have, but depending on how large the chunk of metal is -- i would slice off a piece and run it by my coil -- it would ID 0/28 on my EX2 and to the right of my screen on my ACE250. Meep MeeP

 

[sabertooth]

I have a whites spectrum xlt.......(but soon to have a tesor tejon or garrett gtaX 1250 ) but it IDs around thee 88 to 92 range on my machine. I dont know...I really think its a hunk a hunka a hunka burnin silver, but if not its really cool looking. May even be a "Space Peanut" :P

Thanks Saber....

OH Happy Late NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gabbit]

still neat to shine up and put in the keeper pile -- one mans junk is anothers treasure -- happy hunting

 

[littlehugger]

I believe it is possible for a house fire to melt silver, but it would not lose strength like that.
Can you break a silver coin? Even a dime?
It might be pewter.
Pewter is silver colored, tarnishes black like silver, and is heavy, but soft and breakable.
This is an old post. Did you ever figure out what it was?
Hugger