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Unidentified metal sphere mystery
05-22-2011, 02:07 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Unidentified metal sphere mystery
I'm passing this along for my DD who lives in Missouri (and, no it's not a jawbraker or bubble gum ball):
"Can anyone tell me what this is?
I found it on our creek bank today. The closest match that I can find is that it might be a Civil War era musket ball. It is approximately 1.5" diameter and perfectly smooth and round, other than a distinct equator-like ridge. It has a few rust-looking spots on it, but isn't magnetic. Any thoughts? I'm very curious!"
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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05-22-2011, 02:18 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
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That's way too big for a musket ball.
Obviously two half spheres joined together, so does it seem solid or hollow? Did you weigh it?
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I thought growing old would take longer.
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05-22-2011, 02:28 PM
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#4
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 598
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A weight from a fishing net?
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05-22-2011, 02:35 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
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05-22-2011, 02:56 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
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When you say it is not magnetic, It does not act like a magnet, or/and a magnet does not have an attraction to it?
Looks like a few of these:
grinding balls - Google Search
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If it is after 5:00 when I post I reserve the right to disavow anything I posted.
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05-22-2011, 03:01 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: irradiated - too close to the nuclear furnace
Posts: 1,294
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God holding the Earth about to pop it between his fingers? Maybe that prophesy was off a day! 
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05-22-2011, 03:18 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
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__________________
I purr therefore I am.
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05-22-2011, 03:56 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic23
When you say it is not magnetic, It does not act like a magnet, or/and a magnet does not have an attraction to it?
Looks like a few of these:
grinding balls - Google Search |
I'm pretty sure she meant it had no noticeable attraction to a magnet.
She also said it was heavy like a rock.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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05-22-2011, 03:58 PM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 739
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I think it is a ball bearing and the ring around it indicates that it was constantly spinning in the same manner. Theoretically they are supposed to move around occasionally in the bearing race but some will spin the same orientation.
That would be a heck of a musket ball, and probably required a pound of powder to move it.
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05-22-2011, 04:02 PM
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,356
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The heaviness makes me think it's a mixing ball, the kind used in a ball mill.
Ball mill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
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05-22-2011, 04:21 PM
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#13
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 31
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Sorry for the misinformation - it would weigh between 6 and 8 ounces.
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05-22-2011, 04:23 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Waimanalo, HI
Posts: 1,881
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I've looked at some pictures of meteorites, but I can't find any spherical ones, and of volcanic beads, but these seem to be glassy, and you say the thing is metallic. An intriguing problem.
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Greg (retired in 2010 at age 68, state pension)
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05-22-2011, 04:24 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lemming
A weight from a fishing net?
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+1
I vote for this one. The fact that she found it in a creek confirms it for me.
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Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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05-22-2011, 04:58 PM
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#16
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Knoxville
Posts: 369
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I have no idea what it is, but thanks for reminding me of a good movie. In Starman (1984) Jeff Bridges is a visiting alien that, according to Wikipedia, "has seven small silver spheres which provide energy to perform miraculous feats". 
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05-22-2011, 05:11 PM
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#17
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Northern, Florida
Posts: 925
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It's Kryptonite.
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Retired in 2006 at age 49.
"Who among us is smart enough to learn from the mistakes of others?" - Voltaire
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05-22-2011, 05:18 PM
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#18
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 567
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That's my fake eye, thank's for finding it! (stupid HMO wouldn't even pay for a glass one...)
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05-22-2011, 06:17 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
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Rich, I just have to take this opportunity to mention you look pretty dang sexy in that new avi of yours. Yowza baby. First time I've seen that picture :-)
Let us know what you figure out with the "thingy".
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I purr therefore I am.
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05-22-2011, 06:40 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Purron
Rich, I just have to take this opportunity to mention you look pretty dang sexy in that new avi of yours. Yowza baby. First time I've seen that picture :-).
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 I've changed just a bit  .
The original was taken by my late mom in 1970. DW and I started out tent-camping in Virginia, got caught in an ice storm and were kicked out of camp by a ranger at 3 am. We headed south and barely stopped til we got to South Florida.
Mom and Dad had to contend with the hair, tie-dyed jeans, ambiguous sleeping arrangements, among otoer things. The pic (before cropping) showed us wringing out our wet, mud-covered tent the day after our arrival.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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