Question about a rock

[mallardman68]

I got a hit yesterday and when I dug it it was just a rock. I checked the hole and checked the plug and the only thing that would give me the signal was this rock.....it had red paint on it and that is the only thing different than every other rock in the yard.......ideas?

[Winger Ed.]

A picture would help.
But it might be a piece of Iron or Mercury ore. Maybe its a loadstone, that rock is that's a natural magnet.

I doubt if there is enough Lead in old paint to set off the metal detector.


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[PAPPY]

Meteorite?

[mallardman68]

It looks just like the rest of the rocks that came from a garden store for a flower bed, just a plain white rock that appears to have been painted on one side, here is a pic...sorry it is not clearer.

[bigbillinsc]

if you have a compass move it close to the stone and see if needle moves toward the rock. or you can hang a sewing needle from a piece of fine thread over the rock and see if it is even slightly magnetic. do this b4 trying to see if a magbet will stick to it. and of course trying to stick a magnet to it will be the next step to see if the metal ferrous. you may have either a loadstone or a small piece of meteorite....

[Knobertsfinds]

Your rock probably contains some sort of metalic mineral ie: nickel,iron,copper,gold, silver, magnetite, etc. A meteorite is composed mostly of iron or nickel,it will look as though it has been melted and is usually very heavy for the size.I have found several "hot rocks" while detecting.Most meteorites completely vapourize when travelling through the atmosphere and are quite rare. Hope this helps.HH