Hi Wizard!
Hardly ever check the forum lately, but rained out at the ranch and spending a couple nights with my computer. Sure would love to see that rock your wife found. Take a ceramic plate (white) and rub the rock on it to produce a streak. If the streak is red, what you have is naturally occurring but uncommon hematite. It often looks melted, and is very black. I found a little piece of it at Rock Springs Ranch once.
If no red.................hmm.................
Show it to me sometime when I have my rock ID book handy.
Peace..........sycamore