What the heck did I just find?

[Rocky77]

I live in Virginia and the soil here is red clay. I dug up this weird rock in my back yard and have no idea what it might be. It's black and glassy and smooth on some sides. It also looks as if it has some air pockets and some goldish tinting to it. It's about the size of a softball, but it's not that heavy as if it were made of iron. I don't live near any mountains and this is just weird. Not sure if it's a meteorite. I put a magnet to it and felt just the slightest attraction if not at all. Hopefully someone can help me ID this. Thanks for looking.

 

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[302guy]

Obsidian maybe.

 

[Rocky77]

That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure. It's just strange that it would be in Virginia red clay. There are no other kinds of rocks like it around. Ayone else have any ideas?

 

[302guy]

It's volcanic...it may have landed there. Definitely not a meteorite. It would have turned to dust on impact with the atmosphere. Still an awesome find though.

 

[Rocky77]

I live on the east coast of the US, miles from any volcano. THanks for the info, though.

 

[LinkHylian]

It reminds me of the movie "Joe Dirt" and that frozen piece of airplane poo that dropped from the sky hahaha.
Real cool find, especially in your own backyard!!! What else is buried back there? Keep us informed!!

 

[Rocky77]

Not sure what else is back there, but I'll keep looking. It's definitely not frozen poo!

As for the rock, on the bottom it's non-glossy and coarse then above that striation it becomes glossy and smooth. Is obsidian native to northern Virginia? It's confusing to me. Would love some other opinions. Thanks!

 

[dieselram94]

Bottle that has been struck by lightning? Just a suggestion.

 

[dieselram94]

And welcome to the forum!!

 

[gabberbob]

do nikel test. may be meteorit

 

[TeAra]

Not sure what else is back there, but I'll keep looking. It's definitely not frozen poo!

As for the rock, on the bottom it's non-glossy and coarse then above that striation it becomes glossy and smooth. Is obsidian native to northern Virginia? It's confusing to me. Would love some other opinions. Thanks!

I didn't see obsidian listed in Va. How heavy is the rock?

 

[Eu_citzen]

Slag, perhaps?

 

[boris]

View attachment 747017View attachment 747018View attachment 747019View attachment 747020View attachment 747021View attachment 747022View attachment 747023View attachment 747024View attachment 747025View attachment 747026I live in Virginia and the soil here is red clay. I dug up this weird rock in my back yard and have no idea what it might be. It's black and glassy and smooth on some sides. It also looks as if it has some air pockets and some goldish tinting to it. It's about the size of a softball, but it's not that heavy as if it were made of iron. I don't live near any mountains and this is just weird. Not sure if it's a meteorite. I put a magnet to it and felt just the slightest attraction if not at all. Hopefully someone can help me ID this. Thanks for looking.

I found out from a jeweler that obsidian was used as ballast on ancient ships, use metal detector there and search for metal objects buried nearby? HH Boris

 

[302guy]

I live on the east coast of the US, miles from any volcano. THanks for the info, though.

From Wikipedia:

be found in many other western U.S. states including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, [13] Oregon [14]

and Idaho. Obsidian can also be found in the eastern U.S. states of Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania.

Only two east coast states that are mentioned.

 

[Rocky77]

do nikel test. may be meteorit

How do you do that? I'm unfamiliar with such a procedure.

 

[Jereifx]

Definitely obsidian. I live in south western Idaho, and have found loads of that stuff.

 

[marinedad]

obsidian or possibly slag glass.

 

[rock]

If it is obsidian it could of been traded by the Indians. They traded all types of rocks and other things. Might of been traded so people could pass through as a gift for safe passage.

 

[302guy]

How do you do that? I'm unfamiliar with such a procedure.

Take it to a meteorologist...ask him to pay you a nickel a gram....if he jumps on it....then it is a meteorite.........

 

[Rocky77]

I didn't see obsidian listed in Va. How heavy is the rock?

It really isn't that heavy. Maybe a couple of pounds. I don't live anywhere near volcanic activity and I'm far from the ocean. Maybe someone just threw in there one day or the previous owner didn't want it and threw it in the yard.

This looks nothing like slag glass. Guess I need to find a local geologist or someone who knows about this stuff.