does anyone know what this is!!

[homerule]

hey everyone,
i was out metal detcting on a nearby beach and i found this around 10" deep in the sand.i have a sovereign XS-2, and it came up on dicriminate mode.
there seems to be no metal on it that i can see, but there are little gold spects on the back.
does any one have any idea?
thanks
john,


found in wexford, ireland

 

[Ron Lord]

it's made out of Zinc,and it discharges the static off Boats and motors .Zinc is wourth about 35 cents per pound here in FL

 

[DukeOBass]

n/t

 

[homerule]

junklord,
thanks for the reply,
how come there is a straight line on the stone in picture 2, is it natural?
thanks
john

 

[Tim-PY]

[size=medium]I could venture a guess, but just a guess! It certainly looks manmade by viewing photo 2. I wonder if this could be a Gold or Silver "mold" for pouring bars? I couldn't determine the depth of the worked out area, also your detector may have hit on trace elements of past pours? Again, just a guess! Either way unique and appears to made for some purpose.[/size]

 

[steelheadfever]

I agree with Junklord. It appears to be what is left of a zinc anode that has been used up and fallen off a boat. HH Dennis in Idaho

 

[bdahunter]

Sacrificial Zinc Anode, for sure.

BDA

 

[Tim-PY]

[size=medium]Boy do I need to open my eyes! Missed the above posts from experienced members! Well at least I said it was a only a guess! They know, they have been there done that, mystery solved! The outside looked crude to me although the inside was surely cut. Next time someone asks I will be able to say, "sure that's a Zinc Anode!" Great forum![/size]

 

[homerule]

thanks everyone for the help, i would of never found out otherwise! what exactly is a zinc node?
thanks john

 

[TreasurdiggrNY]

[quote homerule]thanks everyone for the help, i would of never found out otherwise! what exactly is a zinc node?
thanks john[/quote]

Without getting too technical, saltwater has electrons in the water that will eat up all the nuts, bolts and all other metals on a boat that sits in the water. The anodes are installed in certain areas of the boat as a sacrifice. The electrons attack the zinc before attacking the metal parts. The zinc anodes come in all different sizes for the areas they get installed. They get inspected regularly and are replaced as needed.
Glenn

 

[DukeOBass]

That's like an electrical terminal or an electrode (something you connect an electrical current to). OR something will attract a charge.

 

[homerule]

thanks for all the help everyone,
so is there anything i can do with this? sell it?!
thanks
john

 

[thadious]

John I installed many of those in my younger days in the navy. they are a dime a dozen. Not worth much except as souvenier. good luck on next hunt. Ted