i went on vacations to Mexico and my grandma's house is really really old..they were doing some maintenance in the backyard and they were digging. My aunt was digging too and she found a bar..it looked all dirty but when we cleaned it it was shiny and silver like. It is super heavy..its like the heaviest thing ever and its not even that big. It has some letters (k 100) and star on it. and when i touch it it stains my fingers black....i dont know what it is....what could it possibly be????
2007-07-08 08:11:42 · 11 answers · asked by Vegetarian Princess 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It sounds as though you have found a bar of lead! I would refrain from handling it until you can identify it. If it gouges very easy I would suspect lead. Silver will gouge also but not as easily. Lead will turn your fingers black very easily also. Silver will not. Also, lead will melt very easily. A propane torch will melt a large lead bar, but not a silver one. Try to shave some off with a knife, then have an adult put it into a metal can and place it on the cooking stove. If it melts, it is lead. Or use a soldering iron. Same thing, if it melts, it is lead.
Good luck.
2007-07-08 08:44:20 · answer #1 · answered by It All Matters.~☺♥ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Might well be silver, (currently $12.70 / troy Oz.).
It would pay to have it tested. "K100 plus a star" does hint at a mint mark.
Might also pay to dig a bit more in the same area.
Might also be plumbers solder though, (lead, tin, antimony), so do wash your hands free from any of that tarnish before food handling or eating.
Otherwise, don't worry about toxicity.
2007-07-08 19:41:30 · answer #2 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have a lead bar too..but here's where my thought differs from the rest of your answers...lead was one a very valuable commodity..it was traded much like currency's..and the means of transport was to cast it into bars...
those days are long gone...if that bar is one of 'those' bars, it has historical values far beyond it's weight in lead value...but... if you have tampered with it , or , altered it..it is only a lead bar...
take it to your history teacher or college or some place and get an opinion that matters... you may be glad you did.
2007-07-10 21:53:02 · answer #3 · answered by olddogwatchin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Princess, The bar cold be silver, and the K100 could be the weight. It should be taken to an appraiser.
2007-07-08 16:09:03 · answer #4 · answered by David L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be silver - silver tarnishes black and will stain your fingers that way. The lettering may be a monetary value.
2007-07-08 15:25:30 · answer #5 · answered by f38stingray 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its probaly silver so u shuld go 2 ur jeweler and cash it in
2007-07-08 15:20:29 · answer #6 · answered by misssunshine2523 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i thing u better send it to the owner,don't open the letter OK, cause is not Ur business!!!!!
2007-07-12 12:54:38 · answer #7 · answered by LOO K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i highly doubt that it is...it mgiht just be there from when the house was built but who knows hopefully it is!
2007-07-08 15:15:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
talk to your science teacher.
2007-07-08 15:34:25 · answer #9 · answered by buoisang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who knows but if u dont know wat it is u shouldnt touch it w/o gloves could be dangerous
2007-07-08 15:19:59 · answer #10 · answered by Xenu ^Thrash Metal^ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋