I'd be shocked to see it was cast iron piping, Steel or galvinized, but not cast.
No way in a million years would I have used any form of steel piping under ground.
It will 100% of the time plug up those heads with rust and will close up on the inside redusing flow and rust out and leak.
As mentioned, you have some sort of crud, grit (e.g. sand) around the pop-up stem and you will have to dig the head out and take it apart. Clean it up so the stem can move freely again.
The head is attached to a riser (it may be galvanized) and as suggested by others this is probably threaded into something other than metal pipe. My guess is a PVC fitting so be careful not to crack it or the pipe to/from the fitting. I guess if this is a really old system you could have galvanized irrigation pipe runs but I really doubt it.
Just a comment and not saying you shouldn't repair the head if you can. A new one will not be that expensive. Make sure you clean out or replace the nozzle on the head if it is clogged also.
sorry if i had seen this the other day i would have taken some pics. I am currently in the process of replaces alot of the sprinkler heads at my house. PHO did some "cheap" replacements
Well, it is clearly an older system but if the pipe is not leaking that is not an issue. There will be a riser coming out of t or elbow fitting to the sprinkler head. The head is screwed on to that riser.
Since the pipe is so corroded you will likely need the wrench shown for the head and a pipe wrench to hold the riser. You will have to dig around it enough to have clearance for the pipe wrench.
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