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"III. On the Materials ufed for MamifiBur'ing Cajl Iron, 

 By Mr. David Mushet of the Clyde Irm iVtrfe, 

 Communicated by the Author, 



X HE operation of extracting crude or call iron from the 

 ores is one of the leaft complicated proceffes in the art 01 

 fufion. Simply the materials are thrown into the furnace, 

 Jlratum fuper jlratum, and crude-iron is the refult. Ex- 

 perience no doubt at firft tutored the manufacturer, 

 taught him by repeated lcflbns the juft proportions necei- 

 fafy for the production of certain qualities of iron. 



The materials ufed for the manufacturing of crude-iron 

 in this iiland, before the application of pit-coal, prefent 

 themfelves in the following order : Charcoal of wood of dif- 

 ferent kinds, primary ores of iron, with various proportions 

 of argillaceous or calcareous iron ftones. Since, charcoal or 

 coaks made from pit-coal, argillaceous ores of iron, with, 

 fn all proportions of Lancafhire and Cumberland ores. 

 C« lcarcous ftones for a flux or folvenfc. 



In fpeakingof fome of thefc feparately, I (hall not confine 

 my obfervations to their application to ui'e in the ill and ot 

 Britain alone; but treat of them as connected with the 

 operation of fufion for the production of call-iron in general. 



Charred wood is almoft univerfaily ufed throughout the 

 Continent, as fuel for the production of call- iron. From 

 its great abundance in the northern countries, the difcovery 

 of pit-coal would be deemed of little advantage for many 

 years to come *. The extenfive woods in Siberia and 

 Sweden afford a conftant fupply of fuel to the numerous 

 iron works in thofe countries. The necelfary regulation* 

 which the refpecVive governments of each country have 

 thought proper to enact, will in all probability prefervt, 

 during their exiftence, the neeeflary fupply of fuel for the 



Pit-coal has been difcovered in Sibcriiof various qualities and in great 

 fit for the fame j.urpofe; to which il i 



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