Tony Zaffuto
>I picked up a stone this past week, about 2" X 6" X 1". Stone is jet black and fairly soft. Doesn't appear to have ever been oiled and was dished pretty well in the center. I flattened it using 60 grit AO paper. Doesn't feel or look anything like a waterstone, and the back part of the stone looked almost like slate.

Anyone have any ideas about this baby? I have been visiting the dealer where I got it for half a dozen years, and in that time, have never seen any Japanese tools or stones.

T.Z.