✅ SOLVED Unknown metal from the Gulf

[Crispin]

I went through all my old metal pieces from my excavation site with a more fined tune eye. First, I ran a magnet over everything and threw out everything it picked up. This eliminated most of it. That I took out obvious pieces of small copper and zinc or things identifiable as new. This left me with six pieces. I throw them in vinegar for 48 hours and pulled them out tonight. Two more revealed as modern and a third disintegrated. This left me with the three unknown metals you see below:



All three into the redox pain...

 

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[Crispin]

Piece one:



Nada, nothing...not reducing at all. Verdict: Aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Piece two, obvious bubbles, reducing: verdict...unknown

 

[Crispin]

Piece three: lots of bubbles, obvious reduction: verdict...unknown



Here is the piece of Aluminum: you can see where it was cannibalized and had electrons stolen to reduce the two metals:

 

[Crispin]

Lets shine them up a bit...shall we?



and: the two unknowns together...gosh they look at bit alike?

 

[Crispin]

So I place them side by side: notice the piece on the left is narrow on one side and starts to widen from the end...lol, two pieces of the same thing! Click on picture to get right orientation:



Can't do nitric acid test as the wife confiscated it this morning when she figured out I was using it again last night. Anybody want to hazard a guess as to what kind of metal it is?

 

[releventchair]

Clean?
Dang, Nitric restriction. That's tough.
Gee I wonder how she knew you were using it?
As Chris would say.....

 

[david680]

Yeah, thought you must have lost it or something when the post didn't start like, "So I laid out bits of metal across the entire driveway and then dumped a 55 gallon drum of acid down the slope. Picked up what didn't explode and moved onto the next step." LOL

 

[G.I.B.]

Looks like more silver. Nice find.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I hope you're doing this outdoors and away from flame. Muriatic acid (if that's what you're using) and aluminum foil produce hydrogen gas when combined.

 

[Crispin]

I hope you're doing this outdoors and away from flame. Muriatic acid (if that's what you're using) and aluminum foil produce hydrogen gas when combined.

You are confusing the tests. Muriatic test is done outside in shot glasses right next to the pool with a respiratory mask.

Redox pan is just Aluminum foil, baking soda, and heat. Done under range in kitchen. Totally safe and not explosive.

 

[Crispin]

Yeah, thought you must have lost it or something when the post didn't start like, "So I laid out bits of metal across the entire driveway and then dumped a 55 gallon drum of acid down the slope. Picked up what didn't explode and moved onto the next step." LOL

Why didn't I think of that earlier! Anybody know where I can get 55 gallons of Nitric Acid without being reported to the FBI?

 

[tamrock]

Reminds me of the stuff I found in the oil pan of my 86' Dodge D50 pickup with a 2.6 Mitsubishi 4 banger engine when it quit running.

 

[Ant]

It doesn't tale long for a human brain to become imprinted with the characteristics of common metals. The same goes for precious metals like gold and platinum. One of the most notable characteristics that they possess is that don't tarnish or oxidize in normal to extreme environmental conditions.

As for cleaning these metals It only takes dishwashing liquid and at the most household ammonia and a toothbrush. The most difficult to ID and commonly found precious metal that the novice detectorest is likely to find is silver. From a visual perspective silver is commonly confused with aluminum and it has similar electrical properties. But after you've handle both metals enough you will learn the weight, the look, and the way they tarnish. You don't really need too fool with all that junk metal.

Basement Chemistry for the Prospector

 

[Crispin]

Reminds me of the stuff I found in the oil pan of my 86' Dodge D50 pickup with a 2.6 Mitsubishi 4 banger engine when it quit running.

That could be it. I have found a few car related parts at this site. Thanks for posting.

 

[Crispin]

Most common metals found in drip pan are brass and steel. It is obviously not brass. Steel will oxidize and it feels right for the weight and color. Marked this one solved.

 

[Crispin]

It doesn't tale long for a human brain to become imprinted with the characteristics of common metals. The same goes for precious metals like gold and platinum. One of the most notable characteristics that they possess is that don't tarnish or oxidize in normal to extreme environmental conditions.

As for cleaning these metals It only takes dishwashing liquid and at the most household ammonia and a toothbrush. The most difficult to ID and commonly found precious metal that the novice detectorest is likely to find is silver. From a visual perspective silver is commonly confused with aluminum and it has similar electrical properties. But after you've handle both metals enough you will learn the weight, the look, and the way they tarnish. You don't really need too fool with all that junk metal.

Basement Chemistry for the Prospector

I know it seems a bit on the obsessive side. I am digging a site that has very, very old stuff and a lot more modern stuff then old. I'm trying to figure out a puzzle. I don't want to miss clues. If I can get better and faster at figuring out what the junk metal is then I will be able to spend more time and carefully examining anything of potential historic value. Thanks for the website, I will check it out when I have more time. I'm also trying to figure out what I need acid to identify and what I can safely rule out without using the acid. Since the wife confiscated my acid I'm stuck with vinegar and redox tests for now. Also, as crazy as this sounds, I enjoy trying to figure out what piece of metal I have.