Dear Meli,

I can not tell you what it is, but knowing the type of iron would help. 
 From the photographs the fracture, specially at the curved end, would 
suggest that the break was a brittle fracture, which would suggest cast 
iron. Thence, ruling out the possibility of the object being a drift pin 
or rail spike. Better photos of the fractures please it might be 
possible to deterine the fracture type from under the corrosion.

Chris


-- 
Chris Salter
Senior Analyst,
BegbrokeNano,
Department of Materials,
Begbroke Science Park,
Sandy Lane, Kidlington,
OX5 1PF