Please help me identify this nugget of metal.

[steve burgess]

I was detecting near Gold Hill Colorado in the famous telluride rich mining district in Boulder County Colorado today and came across the following Nugget. It is about 1/2" X 1/4" and it has a well defined crystalline structure. It is non magnetic and does not leave a gray streak when rubbed across paper. I think it may be Platinum??

 

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[bradyboy]

slag?
Lead? solder
IMO

 

[steve burgess]

Thanks for the reply but iron slag would stick to a magnet and lead or solder would leave a gray streak like a pencil. As well, it was found in very difficult terrain. also this other metallic piece was in the same hole:

 

[bradyboy]

your pics don't seem to match - imo

 

[vhs07]

We call them beach nuggets down here. Looks like melted aluminum.

 

[Clay Diggins]

What color is the streak?

 

[mick56]

I agree with melted aluminum can.

 

[WaterScoop]

Tin that was slow cooled. Possibly a can thrown in the campfire that cooled slow thus exposing the crystalline structure of the compound.

Cheers

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

While it is indeed true that most of the silverish-grey "nuggets" we dig are fire-melted aluminum, I think we shouldn't be too quick to conclude that any similar-looking "nugget" is melted aluminum. This one's finder, new member Steve Burgess, says he found it in a famous metal-mining area of Colorado. So there's more than a slight chance that he did find a native (natural) nugget. Steve, you're more likely to get a "professional" identification for it by posting it in TreasureNet's "Rocks/Gems" forum, where the professional Minerologists and rock-hounds hang out.
Rocks/Gems

The photo below shows natural Nickel nuggets, from the following website:
Awaruite Native Nickel Ore Placer Nugget

 

[steve burgess]

This nugget is very heavy so I know Aluminum is out of question. Since both of these were found together and neither of them stick to a magnet (one appears to be pure metal and the other is somewhat stony), I was of the original opinion that they may be small meteorites. No apparent source of water is nearby to explain the smooth surface on the nugget and weathering since it was found on a steep hillside. The next step may be to find someone with and XRF scanner to help I.D. these mystery pieces. Thank you for your input.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

If you do get those nuggets identified by an XRF scanner, please return to this discussion-thread and let us know the answer. Thanks.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

I would do a specific gravity test. If platinum, it will register between 18, and 22 or 23. If it's that high, and silver in color, you can be fairly certain it's platinum. The only other metal, that would be that heavy and silver, would be mercury-coated gold. Another test, to see if it's mercury-coated gold is to heat it with a propane torch. The mercury would boil-off leaving the metal behind. If it's platinum, you won't be able to melt it with the torch. If you do that test, do it outdoors, and stand upwind of the specimen.....don't want to breath the fumes from mercury.
Jim

 

[WaterScoop]

What does the VDI number indicate that will also be a BIG CLUE. Is it low or high conductor.

 

[bigjake65]

I found something similar twice. Because I cast bullets, I found that there are a few metals that are fairly easy to melt, lead, aluminum, tin, zinc. I believe what you found is zinc. It melts at a temp somewhere between lead and aluminum.

 

[steve burgess]

Mystery SOLVED!!!

What this has been identified as is a piece of lead that has been heated and cooled at a point where the surface formed a crystalline structure which is what threw us off to begin with as it did not leave a gray streak. Since I was detecting in an area that was the site of a major forest fire several years ago, we think what happened is that there was a bullet laying on the surface of the ground that was exposed to the extreme heat from the fire but then cooled slowly forming the natural nugget shape and structure. I have found a lot of bullets over the years but this one definitely threw me off. So next time you go and detect a fire burn area, you may find on of these "Fire Nuggets"...

Thanks to all and keep detecting.