jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 17:36:02 GMT -5
I walked over a mile along the tracks and found these well scattered. They are lightweight(low density). The rail gravel was pink and white granite. I don't think this material came from the granite gravel.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 8, 2015 17:37:27 GMT -5
Coal?
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 8, 2015 18:17:35 GMT -5
I agree, looks like coal. Use to find a lot of it along the tracks outside of town here.
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Post by fantastic5 on Mar 8, 2015 18:24:49 GMT -5
I've picked up quite a few pieces over the years. When people ask me what it is I tell them it is anthracite. Makes it more impressive
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Post by orrum on Mar 8, 2015 20:22:10 GMT -5
Use to be folks walked the tracks in the Appalachian Mtns. where I grew up and pi c ked up coal to burn in their warm mornin stoves. It fell off the coal stocking car and also the freight cars from the mines.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 21:36:56 GMT -5
I found no black coal any where along the tracks. If it is coal then my acetylene torch should set it on fire easily. I will try.
I tried burning a sharp edge of it with my butane lighter and it did not phase it; but it did conduct heat quickly to my fingers.
It seems real hard for coal, and is hard to chip. Seems very metallic. And shows no rust or corrosion.
I hit it hard with a hammer and it does not give. Only with a hard blow and then it breaks in shiny sheets. Not magnetic.
And it scratches glass like a butter knife...
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 8, 2015 21:41:20 GMT -5
I'm saying coal too James.......There are different hardnesses of coal on the market...Some takes a good burn for more energy to be used....
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agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Mar 8, 2015 21:45:46 GMT -5
In the picture it appears to be silver colored ?
Is that correct or just flash reflection ?
Harley
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 21:47:43 GMT -5
It will scratch glass, but does not scratch agate.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 8, 2015 21:52:15 GMT -5
Alien origin...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 21:54:51 GMT -5
In the picture it appears to be silver colored ? Is that correct or just flash reflection ? Harley That is what caught my eye, it is metallic silver. Photos are in slightly overcast sun light and color is as you see in the photos. Some of it has 1/16 inch bubbles. Very crystalline patterns. Slag of some non-metallic metal ? It will not burn. alien ? a train from Orson Wells ? I have fooled with coal, I have an antique caboose cast iron coal burner and have burned coal in it. It has a mica window. Doesn't look like any coal I have ever seen.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 22:06:01 GMT -5
Use to be folks walked the tracks in the Appalachian Mtns. where I grew up and pi c ked up coal to burn in their warm mornin stoves. It fell off the coal stocking car and also the freight cars from the mines. yes, coal was often collected on rail ways Bill. I don't think I found a single piece of standard black coal. Maybe it is anthracite. It should burn with the acetylene. Will try acetylene tomorrow. anthracite, sure looks like this material i found. fossilman correct, hardness varies, but rare to be able to scratch glass. 2.5-4 is typical Mohs:
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 8, 2015 22:22:15 GMT -5
James, did you dump that out of last year's Christmas stocking? If so, I'd say it's coal (or anthracite)
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 22:27:32 GMT -5
James, did you dump that out of last year's Christmas stocking? If so, I'd say it's coal (or anthracite) Will find out real quick when the acetylene hits it. Sure is hard and metallic. I have seen fine cabs made of anthracite. I was thinking Kyptonite
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 8, 2015 22:30:15 GMT -5
We don't burn coal out here, so I can state unequivocally that I have never seen it before.
(Kryptonite my butt, lol )
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 8, 2015 22:34:45 GMT -5
you guys got to be right. it's got to be little chunks of anthracite falling out of the train.
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 8, 2015 23:28:51 GMT -5
Phone Tom Cruise. Maybe it' some kind weird of L. Ron Hubbard volcano spew. Seriously though, metallic slags are often used as railroad ballast as they tend to say in place. I would think them heavy though..Mel
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 9, 2015 6:09:19 GMT -5
Phone Tom Cruise. Maybe it' some kind weird of L. Ron Hubbard volcano spew. Seriously though, metallic slags are often used as railroad ballast as they tend to say in place. I would think them heavy though..Mel I did find dirty heavy slags that looked like construction debris and some big grinding wheels with very coarse grit and brake components that resembled slag. This material sure does have a low SG as coal does. And in thin chips that are hard to break; let's say far from brittle. L. Ron Hubbard and Kyptonite did come to mind. Doing research I found tumbled anthracite. I believe Tela rockjunquie has made cabs of anthracite. I don't think common bituminous coal would hold up to either of those processes. I have seen pure graphite that is silver and shiny but it is super soft and greasy like talc. Slag is still a possibility, as it has what looks like casting bubbles in it. I will saw a piece on the big saw to get a clean cut. Guessing a meteorite looking cross section with metal crystals.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 9, 2015 6:36:45 GMT -5
It is not coal. Coal has a thermal conductivity of .2, copper is 400. This material conducts heat like copper or stainless steel. A Bic lighter sent heat across a 2 inch piece in about 2 minutes, had to let go of it. And the smell of coal should have been released.
Coal has the same thermal conductivity of fiber board, a decent insulation.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 9, 2015 9:40:13 GMT -5
It laughed at my acetylene cutting torch for 3 minutes. Long enough to cut a hole thru a 2 inch steel plate. It finally started melting after 3 minutes. Cutting tip runs about 6000F !! Never found much of anything the torch will not melt quickly. Hoping for platinum. Acts like Kyptonite. Ha, platinum melts at 3200F, tungsten about close at 6100F. But tungsten is similar in density to gold, very heavy. heated side: unheated side is unscathed: Scratch test on hard piece of tumbled coral. Scratches will not wash or scrub off, telling that metal is probably involved:
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