What in the world is this?

[mr helton]

I found it in a hole while metal detecting. Some of it is metallic and sets off the detector, though that's not what set it off in this hole. The metal part is magnetic.

 

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[Buckshotnc]

Looks similar to magnetite here in Western North Carolina.

 

[littleneckhalfshell]

looks like slag from an old iron smelting site, I've found similar chunks around stone blast furnaces from the 1800's. The limestone they used for flux in the process would melt and be drawn off, sometimes it would have some of the iron with it and when it solidified then you get a glass like slag with attached iron.

 

[DDancer]

Slag is a possibility *shrugs* however it looks to me like a bit of agate with either hematite or magnetite attached. If the iron content is high enough ironstone will sound off on a detector.

 

[Eu_citzen]

I'm also leaning towards slag.

 

[TheHarleyMan2]

Well from the looks of the first 2 photos is may be a nail stuck in it!

 

[Rattlehead]

Another slag vote here