Sand stone or sandcast mold pieces ?

[dadzilla]

Went MDing yesterday with my dad on our River property we found a spot on top of a ridge near the river about 4 feet in diameter the made our detectors go crazy. We dug expecting to find some Iron relics or old square nails but what we found looks like sand stone all these pieces came out of 2 holes in the area we also found a small piece of flint razor sharp. Flint is not native to this area. All the pieces of stone are about the same thickness it is not salt anyone got any ideas what this might be? This Property in Leon County Texas on the Trinity river

 

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[hasbeen]

Perhaps it is cinnabar,the ore for Mercury. The Indians used it to make Vermilion to use in war paint.
Cinnabar is heavy for it's size and will leave a red streak on unglazed tile.

hasbeen

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

I am not sure myself. I do know that ealy natives would carry the flint with them, because, they realized it was their version of the American Express.

Laater...

 

[dadzilla]

thanks for the replies,
It doesn't look like cinnabar, I have collected that before in NV. desert. The stones are actually light weight.
The flint I agree, yes it was just like money to the Native American. This piece was a chad dropped while tool making. When it dries up a little I will be heading back out to look for more artifacts.

Anyone else got any ideas about the sand stone? Dose any one know about sand casting dose the sand pick up and retain part of the metal when it is molten and poured in .
This Place is steeped in history it is right beside a river that would flood and stall travellers for months at a time, next too Navarro Crossing and Camino Real (Old Spanish Trail) was within 25 miles.
Happy Hunting Dan