chaga fungus ID 2nd opinion

[21st century pict]

Found this yesterday and need a second opinion, on dead Birch, black on the outside, golden / ginger brown on the inside with a soft spongy texture, Chaga or just some funky wood rot? Cheers. PS Happy Solstice.
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[Mesquite]

Got any pics of it in situ?

 

[Dave]

Mmmmm, probably funky wood rot. But it looks very close?

Dry it out and see if it'll take a spark much like Horses hoof.

 

[21st century pict]

Hi Guys
Sorry no pics in situ, camera down atm, it was growing on the outside of the trunk, a just like a regular burl or Bracket Fungi but just black.
I was out looking at a gnarly birch tree for a nice burl to use as a bearing block for a Fire Bow, but other than being covered with burls the tree looks quite healthy so still looking, the "chaga"/stuff was on a dead Birch on the forest floor. I try and get a pic today,
Cheers.

 

[21st century pict]

 

[Dave]

Yes that does look like chaga.

 

[baggins]

i"d second that. looks like Chaga to me as well. But the question is, did you find any nice burls?

 

[21st century pict]

Hi Guys
That's cool, cheers DAVE, I was fairly sure it was, well 90% sure.
Spoilt for woodland and Birch around here Mr Baggins managed to get a couple of small burls ok without too much trouble, also found a few horses hoof / tinder fungus to have a shot at making some Amadou , there are quite a few big bad boys around here like this to, I thought about converting a bow saw to a wire saw blade and cutting them off vertically round the bole then covering the scar with tar. This one is off limits ATM but it had a lovely round profile. Its right next to some new flood alleviation works so who knows maybe one day. Cheers Guys

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