Iron ivith Manganese. 359 



The result of this fusion was a smooth button of soft iron 

 iveighiug 126 grains, equal to 25y-„- per cent. Glass opaque, 

 shining, and highly metallic. 



No. 19. Argillaceous iron ore . . . . 500 grs. 



Charcoal 50 



Oxide of manganese . . . . . . 200 



Result of this fusion a metallic button weighing 55 grain?, 

 which is only equal to 11 per cent, being a diminution of 71 

 grains of iron, or upwards of 14 per cent., in consequence of the 

 addition of 200 grains of manganese. Glass black, shining, me- 

 tallic, opaque. 



No. 20. Argillaceous iron ore . . . . 500 grs. 



Charcoal . . , . . . . . 50 



Manganese roasted . . . . . . 200 



The metallic button resulting from this fusion weighed 60 

 grains, or 12 per cent. The demetallization therefore occa- 

 sioned by roasted manganese is less bv 2 per cent, than when 

 raw ore is used : this is of course occasioned by part of the 

 oxygen of the ore being expelled from it in roasting, leaving so 

 much less to act upon the charcoal of the experiment ; the ex- 

 tent of the decarbonation in both being measured by the lack 

 of metallic produce when the manganese was employed. In 

 No. 19 a metallic deficiency wa^ experienced of 71 grains, a 

 quantity which required for its reduction 28 grains of charcoal : 

 and in No. 20, a loss of Gb' grains of iron, whicii would have, ac- 

 cording to the result of No. 18, required 18 grains of charcoal. 



From these facts it appears to me extremely probable that, 

 •should the ores of manganese ever be introduced into the smelt- 

 ing furjiace, a considerable diminution of the carbonating pio- 

 pert'ies of the coke will be felt ; or, in other words, less burdeii 

 will be carried, and more coke necessary to supply the waste 

 occasioned by the combination of the oxvgen of the manganese 

 with the fuel. Ex|)eriment and jiractice alone will determine 

 the comparative advantages and disadvantages that may result 

 from so novel a proceeding, if ever introduced at our iron- 

 works. 



In most ores of manganese tliere is a portion of moisture and 

 oxygen that may be expelled at a low heat ; but the greatest 

 quantitvof the latter rcn»ains combined witij the metal, and from 

 which the last portions are not easily expelled even in the highest 

 temperature of the esf>ay furnace. 



The essayist, not having the same means to guide him in fixing 

 the perfection of his art on the development of a transparent 

 glass (as is, or ought to be, the case in operating with ores ol 

 iron) is frequently left in the dark, and puzzled to determine 

 vhcthcr he has obtained the whole metallic produce from the 

 Z4 ore 



