Just mining for coal...maybe.

[GodOfRustyNails]

While going back to the office from my accountants I saw an old stair case that leads down to the St. Joseph River by my home. I had never really noticed it before so went to have a look. The stairs are in awful shape. I realized on the side were a lot of bottles. At first I thought trash. But on closer review they were older bottles. One said “Pluto Water” (a laxative from the early 1900’s, another had the remains of a label which I believe to be an old ammonia bottle. I found several others that I have not identified yet. I then started noticing the soil it was in was not the same as the rest of the soil on the embankment. It appears to be ash…old ash. I then found what I thought were rocks but were not. I cannot tell if it is coal or cinders. They look like wood but are as hard as a rock and somewhat crumbly. If they are in fact cinders, I have to believe they were under extremely hot conditions because of their mirror like luster. My question is this:
If it is in fact cinders, what could make it so hot it gets that luster? Thank you for your help.
Steve

Another question:
Should I swing my metal detector through there or will I get a bunch of hot rock signals? (I own a M6).

 

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[wesfrye53]

Crystallized tar?

 

[DCMatt]

GofRN,

I can't speak to the luster of the cinders you found, but I do have some experience MDing through the coal cinders. I have been searching the yard of a house that once had a coal-fired heating system. The cinders and clinkers were dumped in the yard (not an uncommon practice, I'm told). They make my Whites Classic V crazy. I'm sure the clinkers masked good targets. I did come away with some keepers, though. You never know until you try.

DCMatt

 

[GodOfRustyNails]

I am sure it is not crystallized tar. The pieces of wood I have broke open (I mean literally "break." They are hard). Here is another picture ofa wood sample. Everything was burnt but not burned recently.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Partially burnt coal ash. Coal is shiny black through & through. That piece just didn't burn fully to ash.

Coins under that will probably be nasty. Rain + coal ash = acids.

 

[Ramitt]

. One said “Pluto Water” (a laxative from the early 1900’s,

Cool find being from your state. Right out of French Lick the home of Larry Bird. That area of So. indiana has a fascinating history and is a reviving community since the opened the Casino.

http://www.frenchlick.com/about_us/history2.asp

Been there a few times and I tell you there is no way I would drink the pluto water, the smell from the springs is aweful. No wonder the devil was there mascot.

 

[Rubicon]

As an old boy from coal country, it looks like a piece of anthracite. It was shipped all over the country to fire heating units.