Industrial byproduct (often confused with igneous rocks or meteorites)
Ferrochrome Slag
Anthropogenic silicate/oxide glass (Complex silicate matrix with Cr-Fe-Si inclusions)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Metallic silver-grey to dark matte grey; Luster: Sub-metallic to vitreous; Structure: Amorphous (glassy) with vesicular (hole-filled) texture; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Metallic silver-grey to dark matte grey
- Luster
- Sub-metallic to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Metallic silver-grey to dark matte grey; Luster: Sub-metallic to vitreous; Structure: Amorphous (glassy) with vesicular (hole-filled) texture; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed as a byproduct of smelting iron and chromium ores. It is an 'artificial rock' created when molten waste cools rapidly. Age is modern (Industrial era).
Uses & applications
Commonly used as aggregate in road construction, railroad ballast, or recycled for its high metal content; frequently collected as a 'pseudometeorite'.
Geological facts
Due to its high density, metallic luster, and bubbles (vesicles), slag is the most common material mistaken for a meteorite (known as a 'meteor-wrong').
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for spherical gas bubbles (vesicles), which are rare in real meteorites. It is often found near old railways, industrial sites, or riverbeds where waste was dumped.
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Mineral-like byproduct (often mistaken for igneous rock or meteorite)
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