strange metal object

[rockpassion]

I have bought this strange metal object from a guy who found it with the metal detector in Groningen the Netherlands. He had it analized and it contains 94 % iron and other metals but he does not remember what. Has anyone seen anything like it before and if yes what is it. It is made up of large crystals and smaller dendritic crystalazation see last photo as example.

 

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[Red-Coat]

Looks like it might be a crude pig iron billet, as a first stage of iron ore processing. The billets are usually resmelted through progressive stages of refinement to produce cast iron, wrought iron or steel for manufacturing purposes. These are more refined steel ones:

Pig iron is rather brittle, to the extent that a billet could readily break to show the internal structure seen on your piece.

 

[rockpassion]

Looks like it might be a crude pig iron billet, as a first stage of iron ore processing. The billets are usually resmelted through progressive stages of refinement to produce cast iron, wrought iron or steel for manufacturing purposes. These are more refined steel ones:

View attachment 2202254

Pig iron is rather brittle, to the extent that a billet could readily break to show the internal structure seen on your piece.

oke, the object atracts a magnet strongly. and has those strange ventholes on the side. does that say anything.

 

[Red-Coat]

oke, the object atracts a magnet strongly. and has those strange ventholes on the side. does that say anything.

Well...

- It's high in iron but impure
- It's man made
- It has been crudely cast within the constraints of a mould
- It has purged steam or gases before it solidified, producing vesicles and vent holes
- It has not been produced with sufficient care to be a 'finished part'
- The end has a fractured appearance, characteristic of brittle materials

That's what leads me to believe it's an intermediate manufacturing material intended for further processing and pig iron would be the most likely possibility.