Cell's all over the place at the moment though mostly sharp showers but its very early yet. Clouds to black because the bases are in shadow. the higher the cloud is the less sun gets through to the base of the cloud basically. Thats why Cb's are usually very black - they reach 1000s of feet into the atmosphere.
Thanks knocker.
The NHM has got back to me and suggests it looks like Jasper or glass cullet chunk - I really don't think its glass cullet since I have seen that before. Either way the guy said both are not usually found in Shropshire so would have transported here by man or nature. He said there isn't many minerals with such a deep red colour.
Man I love not knowing for sure! Adds to the intreague of the item! I still stand by Jasper or Carnelian!
Yup Carnelian/Sard I'm going to stick it on my shelf I think with my other odd stuff I have found over the years! Alot being fossils from Wenlock Edge and Charmouth
Nope its hard with an almost obsidian shine too it. A penny won't scratch it either - it actually scratches the penny.
I think its too smooth to be Quartz too - No crystal formation under magnification.