2,\6 On the Component Parts of Iron-Jlones. 



been conceived ; and its refults afford the moll beautiful and 



interefting phenomena known in the art of manufacturing 



Iron. 



De-oxygenatiorl in the cafe of iron-ftones will admit of 

 being divided into three diftinct ftages, all of which tend to 

 the fame final refult. 



1. That wherein iron-ftone is found to have loft its water 

 <fi cryftallifation and continuity of fracture; to have affumed 

 a greyifh white colour, foft and pulverulent ; and greatly 

 fpecifically lighter than formerly, having' loft from 2-5ths to 

 o-2ofhs of its original weight. 



2. That ftage wherein the pieces have affumed the ftate 

 of malleability, and have again become firm and connected; 

 wherein they brighten under the file ; and, when fubjected 

 to the hammer, under various degrees of heat, receive irq- 

 preffions at pleafure, and draw into Ihape. 



3. That ftage wherein, by prolonging cementation, tbe 

 pieces of iron-ftone are found to have paffed into the ftate of 

 fteel ; poffeffmg all its properties, though difficult to feparate 

 from the earthy parts, and preferve its quality ; but which 

 may be precipitated from the fteelified ore by fufion, in the 

 Jftate of caft-fteel, by means of the affay-furnace. 



Thefe three diftinct ftages of de-oxygenation are produced 

 by a continuation of the fame caufe to which all iron-ftones 

 may at pleafure be fubjected. With primary ores, richer in 

 iron, the refults are more certain, ponderous, and much 

 better fuited to operate upon, for the production of good 

 malleable iron and fteel : thefe are almoft univerfally capa- 

 ble of being de-oxygenated, for the production of both thefe 

 modifications of the metal. I have met with no exception, 

 indeed, but in the cafe of a few granulated Norwegian ores, 

 a blue fpeckled Danifh ore, a few Ruffian bog ores, and the 

 Scotch ore of the illand of I flay. 



In the prefent paper I fhall confine myfelf to a minute de r 

 tail of the firft ftage of de-oxygenation ; the fecondand third 

 fiages, as they more immediately belong to the manufacture 



of 





