SIGforum
What is this rock? Coal?
June 09, 2018, 10:01 AM
MicropterusWhat is this rock? Coal?
I found this after some recent rough weather on a Hatteras beach in NC. Is it coal? It's a big rock and bigger than the chunks of coal I see on local coal trains.
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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
June 09, 2018, 10:02 AM
Jimbo54Basalt would be my guess.
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"If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird
June 09, 2018, 10:31 AM
braillediverSolidified oil sludge? We used to see something similar on the beach in New Jersey after storms.
It burns like solidified oil sludge.
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The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
June 09, 2018, 10:54 AM
MicropterusIt is really hard. Feels harer than coal I've handled. It's been wearing a long time ot be that rounded.
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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
June 09, 2018, 10:56 AM
grecoIs it light in weight?
Never be more than one step away from your sword-Old Greek Wisdom June 09, 2018, 11:00 AM
MicropterusNo, it's rather heavy. About the same as, well, a rock the same size. The fracture also glistens like mica. The glistening in the photo sin't the pronouced because I had a polarizing filter on my lens. But it sparkles.
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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
June 09, 2018, 11:01 AM
wcb6092Maybe it is manganese.
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June 09, 2018, 11:05 AM
braillediverDoes it float? Where on the beach was it found? The high water mark?
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The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
June 09, 2018, 11:05 AM
grecoA porphyry of some kind. Rhyolite? It comes in many colors, including the one in the picture.
Never be more than one step away from your sword-Old Greek Wisdom June 09, 2018, 11:18 AM
RAMIUSquote:
Originally posted by braillediver:
Solidified oil sludge? We used to see something similar on the beach in New Jersey after storms.
It burns like solidified oil sludge.
Pretty sure your referring to coal that has fallen off of barges. We still get lots washing up.
I don’t think solidified oil sludge is a thing...
June 09, 2018, 11:20 AM
Micropterusquote:
Originally posted by braillediver:
Does it float? Where on the beach was it found? The high water mark?
No, and yes. It was among the roughage - the broken shells - the form a line at the high tide mark.
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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
June 09, 2018, 11:24 AM
TigerDoreIt looks like a tar ball. They do roll up on beaches from time to time and they are usually from natural occurrence.
June 09, 2018, 11:26 AM
Oz_ShadowBasalt is my guess too
June 09, 2018, 11:32 AM
smithnsigquote:
Originally posted by RAMIUS:
quote:
Originally posted by braillediver:
Solidified oil sludge? We used to see something similar on the beach in New Jersey after storms.
It burns like solidified oil sludge.
Pretty sure your referring to coal that has fallen off of barges. We still get lots washing up.
I don’t think solidified oil sludge is a thing...
It is a thing, but it’s a little bit more mushy than a rock.
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TCB all the time...
June 09, 2018, 11:48 AM
gpbst3Asphalt?
June 09, 2018, 12:29 PM
Micropterusquote:
Originally posted by gpbst3:
Asphalt?
I was wodnering that, too. Sometimes the there is asphalt on the beach and I found some at the same time as this and the asphalt has tiny brown pea gravel in it. It was distinctly different than this.
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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
June 09, 2018, 12:39 PM
tatortodd
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. June 09, 2018, 01:18 PM
TigerDorequote:
Originally posted by smithnsig:
quote:
Originally posted by RAMIUS:
quote:
Originally posted by braillediver:
Solidified oil sludge? We used to see something similar on the beach in New Jersey after storms.
It burns like solidified oil sludge.
Pretty sure your referring to coal that has fallen off of barges. We still get lots washing up.
I don’t think solidified oil sludge is a thing...
It is a thing, but it’s a little bit more mushy than a rock.
Yes, definitely a thing. Consistency can be mushy or more dense depending on what the mass picks up as it forms and solidifies.
.
June 09, 2018, 01:28 PM
YellowJacketPoo. Definitely poo.
I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log. June 09, 2018, 02:39 PM
MikeinNCTry burning it yet? It's the only way to be sure
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