What is this stuff?

[Krovas]

Forgive the crude pic; I should really invest in a new camera.

I've been finding this stuff all over western PA for a number of years. At first glance, it looks like dark volcanic rock full of gas bubbles, but it shows up as metal on my detector, and a large enough sample will set off my pinpointer as well. The surface is typically dull, but the stuff is easy to cut, and when I do so, the interior is always bright and shiny, but briefly exudes a foul, almost sulphurous stink.

My guess is this is some sort of industrial waste, but beyond that I have no idea. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Broken knee]

Looks like coal slag?

 

[BosnMate]

Clinker from a coal fire.

 

[weregolf]

Its soft or hard like rock?

 

[Backwoodsbob]

What was around the area in which you found it? More than likely it's slag. That may not be a bad thing either. I've found similar pieces. Well hundreds of them.

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[relic lover]

I find them too in Western Pennsylvania. They rang up in the nickel range oddly enough.

 

[Keith Jackson]

Sounds like what we used to call "fart rock".

 

[Anduril]

Those are most likely "droppings" from Pennsylvania politicians.
The ones that smell really bad might be from West Virginia.

Hey - You did say they had a "dull" outside appearance!

I think all this non-stop election coverage might finally be getting to me?
Otherwise, I have no idea what those are - but I don't think I'd collect them.

 

[gunsil]

Yep, as others have said, cinders from a coal fire. Folks used to throw these down on their walkways in the winter for traction in the snow, and if they had a coal burning stove they always had plenty in stock.

 

[Krovas]

Yep, as others have said, cinders from a coal fire. Folks used to throw these down on their walkways in the winter for traction in the snow, and if they had a coal burning stove they always had plenty in stock.

Why do they show up as vaguely metallic?

 

[nsdq]

Some detectors can pick up minerals and it sets them off, it does this all the time with my ACE 150, also known as hot rocks