Alien artifact?

April 11, 2009 1:12 PM

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.
posted by various to Technology (11 answers total)

Hematite?
posted by sararah at 1:17 PM on April 11, 2009

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

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

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

I agree, it is hematite.
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

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

or keep it in your pocket as a touchstone
posted by QuakerMel at 2:51 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

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

polished "anthracite"
posted by Taurid at 7:39 PM on April 11, 2009