Is this a piece of fossilized burnt wood?

It's A Trap! · May 15, 2017

I found this along a railroad track near a couple piles of shale. It doesn't smell like charcoal and doesn't leave a black mark like charcoal and it looks sort of porous. It also doesn't smell like sulfur like the coal around here does. It doesn't really smell like anything at all. Its pretty light as well

Longhair · May 15, 2017

Looks like slag to me.
Or possibly coke?

See if you can burn it.

olfart · May 15, 2017

My guess was coke, but you beat me to it. Fossilized wood is heavy (rock), but coke is very light for its size.

It's A Trap! · May 15, 2017

olfart said:
My guess was coke, but you beat me to it. Fossilized wood is heavy (rock), but coke is very light for its size.

Never seen coke around here before, only coal and iron ore pellets. Did a quick Google search on coke fuel and you're probably right about it being that. Thanks!

KingTotsalot · May 17, 2017

KT's best guess from your description and location info is that it is a clinker from a coal fired stream engine. Sometimes when burning coal a piece of rock coated with coal dust is tossed into the fire box and gets roasted. It was always a hassle when this clinker build up had to be removed and the stuff was typically tossed out along the track right of way by the stoker.

Longhair · May 17, 2017

KingTotsalot said:
KT's best guess from your description and location info is that it is a clinker from a coal fired stream engine. Sometimes when burning coal a piece of rock coated with coal dust is tossed into the fire box and gets roasted. It was always a hassle when this clinker build up had to be removed and the stuff was typically tossed out along the track right of way by the stoker.

When was the last time you saw a coal fired steam engine in operation? Most have been diesel for decades.
However, coal and coke are still both transported in open hoppers for use in foundries and power plants, so likely what was found was spillage rather than discard.

KingTotsalot · May 18, 2017

Longhair said:
When was the last time you saw a coal fired steam engine in operation? Most have been diesel for decades.
However, coal and coke are still both transported in open hoppers for use in foundries and power plants, so likely what was found was spillage rather than discard.

And how would you know that this is recent and not something say 80 years old???? Hmmm? 80 years ago in Arkansas we had narrow gauge steam engines hauling pine logs out of the woods!

MattLock · May 21, 2017

coke, coal or clinker...slag? google those terms to learn more

Is this a piece of fossilized burnt wood?

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