On Cast Iron and Steel. 297 



Swedish irons. As far as my own experiments go on the sub- 

 ject of analysing by deoxidation and fusion the ores from which 

 the Swedish steel irons are manufactured, I have not found any 

 indications of a larger proportion of manganese than 1 found in 

 the ores of this country. Nor have I at any time been able to 

 satisfv myself that the presence of manganese imparted any pe- 

 culiar excellence to the steel produced in these experiments. 



At the time when the alloys of manganese with iron excited 

 consideral)le interest in this country, I made some experiments 

 on the subject, whicii if you consider at this late period fit for 

 insertion in your Magazine, they are much at your service. 



I first attempted to prove whether it was probable that me- 

 tallic manganese united to iron in the process followed by Mr. 

 Reynolds. — For this purpose I selected a quantity of cast iron 

 boring dust, with which the following experiments were made: 



Grains. 



1. Boring dust 400 



This was fused alone in a clay crucible, and the 

 result was a mottled button of cast iron, weighing 382 



Loss equal to 4| per cent. , . 18 



This experiment repeated (by simple fusion) made the 

 loss 20 grains, or 5 per cent. 



2. Boring dust 400 



Manganese |th (black oxide) . . . . . , 50 



A small portion of brown glass was formed in the fusion. 

 The metallic button weighed 3S2 grains ; loss, IS grains, 

 or 4y per cent, of iron. 



3. Boring dust . . 400 



Manganese (black oxide) jth .. .. .. 100 



The result of the fusion of this mixiure was a button of 

 cast iron of a white fracture and minute steely grain j 

 weighed 375 grains. 



Loss 2.5 grains, or 6| per cent. 



The glass was yellowish, opaque, and dense. 

 \. Boring dust .. .. .. .. .. 400 



Manganese (black oxide) | . . . . . . 200 



Result of this fusion a metallic button weighing 367 grs. 



Loss 33 grains, or 85 per cent. 



Fracture, that of dense hard steel, grain blueish dull, si- 

 milar to steel made by decarbonation from cast iron. Glass 

 deep brown, opaque, though in thin fragments possessed of 

 ^ome transparency. 



The general result of these experiments in close cruci- 

 bles by no means indicates a combination of metallic 



manganese 



