SMELTING ORES BY ELECTRICITY 



A summary of the results of the Soo experiments 

 follows : 



1. Magnetite can be as economically smelted by the 

 electro- thermic process as hematite. 



2. Ores of high sulphur content, not containing man- 

 ganese, can be made into pig iron containing only a few 

 thousandths of a per cent, of sulphur. 



3. The silicon content can be varied as required for the 

 class of pig to be produced. 



4. Charcoal, which can be cheaply produced from mill 

 refuse, etc., can be substituted for coke as a reducing 

 agent without being briquetted with the ore. 



4. A feroo-nickel pig can be produced practically free 

 from sulphur and of fine quality from roasted nickeliferous 

 pyrrhotite. 



6. Titaniferous iron ores up to about 5% titanic acid 

 can be successfully treated by the electric process. 



When we consider that the modern blast-furnace and 

 the different methods of steel making are the result of a 

 hundred years' experience, and that the electric furnace 

 has been invented in very recent years, and is, therefore, 

 yet in the experimental stages cf development, may we not 

 assume that some future improvements will make it a keen 

 rival of the older methods ? 



The following are significant facts : 



The electric furnace is applicable to the smelting of 

 such ores as copper. It is verj- simple in construction. 

 The available temperature is 1,000 C. above that of the 

 blast-furnace, and the regulation of the heat supply is under 

 perfect control. Familiarity with handling heavy currents 

 and experience already gained in smelting, will aid materi- 

 ally in solving the difficulties encountered in the smelting 

 of ores, which up to the present time, have proven refrac- 

 tory to all known processes. 



The electric-thermic principle is made use of in remov- 

 ing the obstructions which form and cling to the inside of a 



