That rust color could be iron and minerals.

It presented a new hobby and passion of mine (Real Estate) in which I am now pursuing every day through their podcasts and audio books.  

I'll ask the really stupid question here, but did you acquire the mineral rights or the mineral rights and the land?

Depending on where you are located, mineral rights may be a possible.  

If you're struggling finding suitable real estate to put your 1031 into though you may think about purchasing some oil mineral or gas interests.  

I might try and see if Mineral Spirits or Acetone will cut through the gray stuff tonight.

@Michael Woodruff  As @Nick C. said, that is exactly the kind of thing that requires a real estate license in Massachusetts.Here are the most relevant parts of the MA law from the link I provided above - the emphasis is mine:''Real estate broker'', hereinafter referred to as broker, any person who for another person and for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, or with the intention or in the expectation or upon the promise of receiving or collecting a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, does any of the following: sells, exchanges, purchases, rents or leases, or negotiates, or offers, attempts or agrees to negotiate the sale, exchange, purchase, rental or leasing of any real estate, or lists or offers, attempts or agrees to list any real estate, or buys or offers to buy, sells or offers to sell or otherwise deals in options on real estate, or advertises or holds himself out as engaged in the business of selling, exchanging, purchasing, renting or leasing real estate, or assists or directs in the procuring of prospects or the negotiation or completion of any agreement or transaction which results or is intended to result in the sale, exchange, purchase, leasing or renting of any real estate.As I said before, there is not a millimeter's worth of wiggle room in there.Right now, I'm working with a young couple who is selling their home here in W.

The other RE that may have money put towards it really is not part of the other RE refinance (other than the borrow chose to use the funds toward a different RE versus stocks, of mattress, or commodities, or bonds, or mineral rights, or ???

A claims adjuster said , from their inspection of the home, that some of the attic insulation is of mineral fiber and likely asbestos.

If you can reach it from the outside, you might (gently) poke a toothpick into any small holes near the bottom corners; sometimes they get plugged up with mineral deposits from the evaporated water, or leaves, bugs, mud, etc.