Black rock with glassy crust

by Ann Buchanan
(Connel, ,Argyll, ScotlandUK. PA371PH)

I found it on a beach in Argyll on 12th August 2020, about the same time as the persied meteor shower. The block is a rhomboid shape with one narrow edge, is very heavy and attracted to a magnet. It is mostly matt black with faint reddy-brown veins branching through it also has speckles of silvery metal which can be seen when photographed with a flash.
The glassy surface is hard with one major groove interrupting the smooth surface and some chips round the edges. It is quite a big chunk (approx.11cmx11cmx5cm). I am sending photos showing the rock taken in daylight and also with a flash.

Comments for Black rock with glassy crust

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 24, 2020
Rating

by: Douglas

I would guess you have a chunk of iron ore. This is probably not from your region but was brought from England on ships. An Iron smelter was built near you in Bonawe around 1750 and so the area was a hub of iron related activity. You might want to visit the historic furnace to learn more.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Have a rock or mineral specimen that you want to share?.

Rock and Mineral Collections

Fossil and Geologic Time Book Sets

Fossil Collections

Share this page:

What’s this?

Facebook Twitter

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.