330 GEOLOGY OF THK SECOND DISTRICT. 



formed as well for a time as any ; and this I stated in a report to the Legislature. But it is 

 a material which, after all, cannot be depended upon. Some of the smaller articles, as knives 

 and forks, are elastic and finish well, and answer for a time ; but subsequently, after having 

 been in use, they break unexpectedly by some slight jar or blow. Properly speaking, they 

 do not temper. Hammers, springs, cold chisels, and all articles which require strength and 

 elasticity, cannot be made by casting, in the mode which has been followed in the working of 

 the Duane steel ore. That it may be an ore which is susceptible of conversion into steel, is 

 highly probable ; and that it is a useful ore, when properly wrought, is not to be disputed. 



The subject of working the compound ores in the forge, it seems to me, may now be pur- 

 sued with success, if they are wrought according to the principles which are here set forth ; 

 and according to these principles, the ore must be separated, and the protoxide must be used 

 apart from the peroxide. This may be effected by means of the magnetic separating machine, 

 referred to in the preceding pages ; but to attempt to reduce the ores when mixed, will not 

 only be attended with trouble and uncertainty, but with a great and needless waste of ore and 

 of fuel. 



That steel may be made directly from the ore by one process, I have little doubt. For this 

 purpose, take the magnetic oxide ; separate the protoxide from the deutoxide by the magnetic 

 machine, after having reduced the ore to sufficient fineness by stampers ; then mix it with 

 charcoal in a crucible, and raise it to a red heat ; continue this heat or temperature for twenty- 

 five or thirty hours, or until the oxygen has disappeared, which maybe known by the particles 

 fihng and giving the lustre of iron. When this is done, what is to hinder the iron already 

 reduced from combining directly with the carbon with which it is mixed, and forming with it 

 steel 1 It is evident the process may be carried to any point which may be desired, and ex- 

 periment will determine at what precise point the process should be stopped. In favor of this 

 mode, I would say, that the iron is probably in the best state to enter into combination with 

 carbon : it is porous, and its state and condition will be equal throughout ; the combination 

 will be equal, and more rapid by far tJian when bars of iron are exposed, as they are close- 

 grained, and are not in that mechanical state necessary to secure a uniform and rapid change 

 from the .state of pure iron to that of its carburet. Having formed the carburet, let it be melted 

 and cast after the manner of cast steel. Now if the process is carefully conducted, and the 

 proportion of carbon be right for forming steel, the cast mass may be hammered ; for by the 

 first steps of the process, it is supposed that the silex and earthy materials are separated by 

 the magnetic machine : if they are not, then there is no probability that it will hammer, or be 

 found malleable. 



In conclusion, however, I would remark, that probably better methods may be followed than 

 the one pointed out ; and though no method directed to this end may succeed, yet I fully 

 believe much more may be made of our rich magnetic and specular ores than lias yet appeared. 



