36 Transactions of the Royal Canadian Institute 



The obvious solution of this difficulty is to develop a method of smelting 

 that will suit these ores. The size of these deposits as they occur in many 

 countries warrants a considerable effort along this line, particularly in 

 Central Canada, where titaniferous iron ore comprises such a large 

 fraction of our iron ore resources. 



For some time past there has been in progress in the laboratories 

 of Queen's University an attempt to find a method of smelting suited to 

 titaniferous iron ore. This work has been based upon a study of the 

 chemical relations of the elements involved, rather than upon the results 

 attained in any accepted method of iron production. It is now realized 

 by progressive metallurgists that the laws of solutions, as worked out 

 for liquids at ordinal y temperatures, apply equally well to solutions at 

 high temperatures, such as slags.^ That the solution which is the slag 

 is the predominant factor in the smelting of iron, is well put thus. "The 

 production of a high-grade slag means the production of a high-grade 

 pig-iron. Scientifically considered, the blast fuinace is primarily a 

 machine for manufacturing slag, the pig-iron being a necessary by-pro- 

 duct. "^ The gangue materials of the average titaniferous iron ore 

 consist essentially of titania, silica and alumina, with magensia next in 

 importance and lime in comparatively insignificant amount.^ If a satis- 

 factory slag can be made consisting essentially of the same ingredients 

 in like proportions, then ideal smelting conditions for this ore will have 

 been provided. 



An examination of Mendelejeff's periodic arrangement of the ele- 

 ments shows that calcium and magnesium are on the basic side of the 

 table, and that aluminium is inclined that way. Silicon and titanium, 

 in the central group, may swing either way. But experience has shown 

 that, while aluminium and titanium are truly amphoteric, silicon has a 

 decidedly acidic tendency. Thus, in iron blast-furnace practice, silica 

 and lime are made the major constituents of the slag, and flux one another 

 satisfactorily, with the help of smaller amounts of alumina, magnesia, 

 ferric oxide and so on. Now, to get the ideal slag for the ores under 



ijohnson, J. E., Jr.— "Principles, Operation and Products of the Blast Furnace." 

 1918, Page 21. 



Feild & Royster— "Slag Viscosity Tables for Blast Furnace Work." U. S. Bureau 

 of Mines, Tech. paper 187, 1918, page 5. 



Morey, G. W.— "Solubility and Fusion Relations at High Temperatures and 

 Pressures." Jour. Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, Nov., 1918. 



^Feild & Royster, as above, page 14. 



'Pope, F. J. — "Investigation of Magnetic Iron Ores from Eastern Ontario." Trans. 

 A.I.M.E., 1899. 



Singewald, J. T., Jr.— "The Titaniferous Iron ores in the United States." U. S. 

 Bureau of Mines, Bull. 64—1913. 



