is this rock in a natural form or something man made

[alge]

Hello, I found several fragments of something that i cant fathom. Hopefully someone may have an answer as to what it is.

Found in a sweet chestnut coppice of some age, in a spot noted for its geological variety in the context of kent. Chalk, clay, thanet bed. woolwich, sand + plus others i cant remember apparently are all evident within close proximity to one another.

There has been a history & evidence of low levels of population for several thousand years close by, so by no means an isolated spot.

I cant work out if this is some sort of slag type substance, the globular appearance of one surface certainly reminds me of welding, and the rusty hue suggest a high content of an ore. But the feel although heavy is pretty rock like. where it has broken it has the look of a broken casting and air pockets suggest it formed quickly. Could it from space? Volcanic? part of charcoal making? I havent a clue.



This is the largest piece it measures 8cm x 5cm x 4cm and weighs 325g if anyone can advise i would be pleased for the response.

Many thanks in advance

Alex

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Alex,

This is truly not my area (I hope I can find my way out of here!) - but is it magnetic? Probably the only thing I can say on this.

Take care,

Jason

[alge]

Not enough to attract metalic objects but enough to wobble a compass needle a little when passed over one.

thanks jason i didn't think to do that.

Alex

[Jason Green]

Pleasure - but as I say, I don't know much about this area! Yes, the bubbles look like it's dried quite quickly - I wonder... I'll watch with interest.

[The_Doctor]

Looks to me like it's from some sort of volcanic event, though I can't comment on the area but I'm pretty sure there aren't any volcanoes in Kent

[solus]

Looks a bit like slag from iron founding to me but I really don't know. It doesn't look natural though.

[loripo]

I thought possibly blue chert - but not sure about the folding...

[alge]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

Looks to me like it's from some sort of volcanic event, though I can't comment on the area but I'm pretty sure there aren't any volcanoes in Kent

No there aren't your quite right. which is why if it is metamorphic whats it doing amongst all these sedimentary glacial melt deposits?

solus
Looks a bit like slag from iron founding to me but I really don't know. It doesn't look natural though.

I'm wondering if it is spoil from an old site, there is a large old earth working close by. Its worth me speaking to someone locally to see there is any historical examples of this type of thing cropping up.

loripo
I thought possibly blue chert - but not sure about the folding..

It is a similar colour but your right about the folds, what ever it is it formed quickly.

we even have ww2 bomb holes scattered around the woods and fields of the area it may have been a result of one of these????????

[LynM]

Like Jason, I'm no expert, but it is the blue colour that makes me think that it may not be natural. Someone local who is in to archaeology may be of help and I guess that there is probably a geology group of some sort in the county.

I shall follow this with interest!

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by solus

Looks a bit like slag from iron founding to me but I really don't know. It doesn't look natural though.

I'm with Solus - not sure but looks like slag. Did it come from anywhere near the Kent coalfields. All sorts of things are likely to turn up near old mine sites.