strange foreign material

[grovestone]

I found this today on the lower neches river on top of a shell midden. it has a perfectly flat (appears ground) place apoximately 1X1.5 in. the material is very porous and hard, in the sun it is brilliant black and shiny. You would expect this peice to wiegh at least a few pounds (grape fruit size) but it weighs about what a cell phone weighs. I have seen volcanic rock used as pumice washed up on mcfaddin beach but was not as porous. I know this material is a long way from its original home. Any ideas or similar finds. Just a geofact or would this serve some strange purpose to earlier americans? appreciate any feedback.

[Indianasmith]

Sure looks like pumice to me!

[Steve Valentine]

Being as light as it is it is either Pumice or Slag.

[grovestone]

yall are right my uncle said it washed up from mexico onto mcfaddin beach and the indians carried it up river and used it like we do sand paper, hence the worn spot

[grovestone]

its pretty cool to find volcanic rock around here, we live in the SWAMP!

[joshuaream]

Originally Posted by grovestone

yall are right my uncle said it washed up from mexico onto mcfaddin beach and the indians carried it up river and used it like we do sand paper, hence the worn spot

I don't know if a porous rock like that would polish that smooth...

I'd carefully and maybe outdoors, take a lighter and heat up an edge. See if it has an odd smell, it kind of looks like some of the ancient asphalt/tar balls I've seen.