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1797 Views 9 Replies Last post: Sep 3, 2012 7:13 PM by Gijs

batfink

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Sep 1, 2012 10:09 AM

I found an interesting rock

A week ago I found a strange looking rock (see attachment picture) onHopton beach near Great Yarmouth. I am very interested to find out

what it is.It is heavy and very hard on the outside shell with a rusted looking smooth rock like finish, it repels an earth magnet so it must contain iron, when i found it the inside was soft like clay but has since hardened. I think it might be volcanic but all the pictures i have found look nothing like it. Other people have said it looks like a Meteor or a fossil. Maybe you can point me in another direction. whatever it is, i have never found anything like it before.

Message was edited by: batfink

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Great%20Yarmouth-20120824-00106.jpg (345.5 K)

Tags: beach, dinosaur, fossil, identification, unusual, rock, egg, meteor

Gijs

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Sep 1, 2012 4:29 PM (in response to batfink)
Re: I found an interesting rock

Rock? No.
Meteor? No.
Volcanic? No.
Fossil? No.

Cut off a piece and put it on fire.

Smell and report please.

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- batfink
  
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  Sep 1, 2012 9:49 PM (in response to Gijs)
  Re: I found an interesting rock
  
  Ok, I'll set a bit on fire. Does that go for both parts, the rock like outer crust, the softer inner-section, both? As it is rock shall I use a blow torch, I don't think it will burn easy? Can I ask what the burn and smell test will acheive, sorry for my basic knowledge.
  
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  - Gijs
    
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    Sep 2, 2012 9:48 AM (in response to batfink)
    Re: I found an interesting rock
    
    I suggest you go for the softer innersection first.
    
    The burn and smell test might show that it is not a rock but an organic substance.
    
    Be careful with fire.
    
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    - batfink
      
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      Sep 2, 2012 6:07 PM (in response to Gijs)
      Re: I found an interesting rock
      
      BURN TEST
      
      1. The inside could be cut with a knife.
      
      2. When heating the inner-section it changed colour from light brown to a deep red and there was no flame it just glowed like an ember.
      
      3.The outer shell when heated exploaded and turend a purple brown.
      
      Not a very strong smell, slightly chemical smell maybe?
      
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      - Gijs
        
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        Sep 2, 2012 7:54 PM (in response to batfink)
        Re: I found an interesting rock
        
        Hmm, I was thinking more about taking a teaspoonful of the soft innersection and continue from there.
        
        You have been quite active.
        
        Conclusions?
        
        Mine are: not an excrement, not a tarball and not C4.
        
        Also still not a rock, not a fossil and not a meteorite since those do not contain soft-like-clay innercores that harden.
        
        Not volcanic either, for sure, since the region where you live has not known any volcanic activity since last Christmas.
        
        Less destructive research could tell more about the true nature of your find, perhaps a museum can help you.
        
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        batfink
        
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        Sep 2, 2012 8:15 PM (in response to Gijs)
        Re: I found an interesting rock
        
        Cool, I wasn't too destructive, less than a teaspoon for sure. Which people and museums would you suggest, and which departments. I could phone the NHM?
        
        I'm really intregued by this thing, its really odd.
        
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        Gijs
        
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        Sep 2, 2012 8:22 PM (in response to batfink)
        Re: I found an interesting rock
        
        Sometimes a museum has a special day on which the public can show their finds and ask for determination.
        
        You can inquire by telephone if such services exist, NHM first ofcourse...
        
        I hope you will find out what it is, it certainly seems to be an odd object.
        
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        batfink
        
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        Sep 3, 2012 5:22 PM (in response to Gijs)
        Re: I found an interesting rock
        
        Cracked it !!!! Sorry for the punn
        
        Its Clay Ironstone, commonly found on the Norfolk Coast
        
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        Gijs
        
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        Sep 3, 2012 7:13 PM (in response to batfink)
        Re: I found an interesting rock
        
        Congrats!
        
        Now how did you find out?
        
        Also, here is more clay ironstone: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?objectid=1632783&partid=1&output=Places%2F!!%2FOR%2F!!%2F5476%2F!%2F5476-3-1%2F!%2FExcavated%2FFindspot+Robin+Hood+Cave%2F!%2F%2F!!%2F%2F!!!%2F&orig=%2Fresearch%2Fsearch_the_collection_database%2Fadvanced_search.aspx&currentPage=1&numpages=10
        
        Quite a link that is btw.
        
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Sep 1, 2012 10:09 AM

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