[attachment 296072 tungsten1.jpg]....The 'Tin Eater' was discovered back in the 1700's in Sweden during the smelting process for Tin, they called it "Wolfram", and it bears the atomic symbol "W" to this day.....This strange compound devoured tin and reduced the yield, hence its name...In 1783, the Elhuyar brothers in Spain discovered a way of isolating it and putting it to 'good' use...As far as we detectorists are concerned, this is not one of them!
It is just a few atomic weight and density numbers shy of pure gold, which makes it a good medium for counterfeiters to gold plate, and sell as solid gold..Its heavy! It also has the highest melting point of all the known metals.[attachment 296073 tungsten.jpg]
I discovered this Tin Eater today, got a super strong hit, in shallow water, the TID showed a 70, and a hard mid-tone signal...I knew before I started excavating it was a big ring, most likely a big gold ring, and when it was in the scoop, you can imagine my happiness and satisfaction! You can also imagine the plethora of creative and naughty utterances that shortly followed! The sand I was standing on turned to glass from the heat of my verbal causticities! ...since theres a slight SW wind, those words are now cutting a swath of deforestation somewhere NE of Muskegon..
It had me fooled right up until I could see the markings![attachment 296074 tungsten2.jpg] On my way home, I tried to sell it to the guy at the bait shop for 40 dollars...nearly had him, but from a financial standpoint, he is lacking a pot, a window, and evidently 40 dollars!
Oh well, I did some research on TUNGSTEN when I got home, and now have gained a tiny bit of appreciation for it, its history and usage...its a pretty ring, I bet it cost somebody over 300 dollars...maybe I'll throw it back? Let somebody else have a heart attack like it did to me!
Mud.
It is just a few atomic weight and density numbers shy of pure gold, which makes it a good medium for counterfeiters to gold plate, and sell as solid gold..Its heavy! It also has the highest melting point of all the known metals.[attachment 296073 tungsten.jpg]I discovered this Tin Eater today, got a super strong hit, in shallow water, the TID showed a 70, and a hard mid-tone signal...I knew before I started excavating it was a big ring, most likely a big gold ring, and when it was in the scoop, you can imagine my happiness and satisfaction! You can also imagine the plethora of creative and naughty utterances that shortly followed! The sand I was standing on turned to glass from the heat of my verbal causticities! ...since theres a slight SW wind, those words are now cutting a swath of deforestation somewhere NE of Muskegon..
It had me fooled right up until I could see the markings![attachment 296074 tungsten2.jpg] On my way home, I tried to sell it to the guy at the bait shop for 40 dollars...nearly had him, but from a financial standpoint, he is lacking a pot, a window, and evidently 40 dollars!
Oh well, I did some research on TUNGSTEN when I got home, and now have gained a tiny bit of appreciation for it, its history and usage...its a pretty ring, I bet it cost somebody over 300 dollars...maybe I'll throw it back? Let somebody else have a heart attack like it did to me!Mud.
..in fact, nothing really disappoints me to the point of cussing much anymore, just to be up and outside hunting is good enough to make all finds trophys!!
Sure would like some big gold though, and this one had me convinced until the very last that it was!...I'm running out of year here...