Alien artifact?
April 11, 2009 1:12 PM Subscribe
I found something in the road. It's metallic and magnetic. Just curious if anyone can tell me what it might be. Photo here and here. Thanks.
Best answer: I think it's magnetite, an iron ore. You see those kinds of polished pieces of it being sold sometimes in places like science museums.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:17 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:17 PM on April 11, 2009
Best answer: Yep, polished hematite. They sell them in museum gift shops for a few bucks for kids to play with.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:19 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:19 PM on April 11, 2009
Our local game store sells those as an impulse item by the cash registers.
posted by The Deej at 1:21 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by The Deej at 1:21 PM on April 11, 2009
I agree, it is hematite.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:22 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:22 PM on April 11, 2009
PS if you ever come across one of these hematite "singing" toys you should buy it, they are super fun.
posted by sararah at 1:27 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by sararah at 1:27 PM on April 11, 2009
Response by poster: Oh thanks everyone! At first I thought from its squarish shape that it might have some technological purpose, but I see now it must just be a gift shop item. I'll pass it along to the nearest kid!
posted by various at 2:11 PM on April 11, 2009
posted by various at 2:11 PM on April 11, 2009
One of the reasons these are neat is that it's very dense, so they weigh a lot more than we are used to rocks that size weighing.
(By the way, since my answer was wrong, I don't think I deserve a checkmark.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:08 PM on April 11, 2009
(By the way, since my answer was wrong, I don't think I deserve a checkmark.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:08 PM on April 11, 2009
I think some are confusing the mineral Hematite with a ceramic magnet, or man made Hematite .
I have a Hematite bead that I can barely pick up with a very powerful magnet, and I have a rattle snake egg that appears to be hematite but is actually a powerful ceramic magnet polished egg shape.
posted by hortense at 4:06 PM on April 11, 2009
I have a Hematite bead that I can barely pick up with a very powerful magnet, and I have a rattle snake egg that appears to be hematite but is actually a powerful ceramic magnet polished egg shape.
posted by hortense at 4:06 PM on April 11, 2009
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posted by sararah at 1:17 PM on April 11, 2009