688 Chronicles of Science. [Oct., 



authority writes "that 46,000 tons of sulphur are volatilized into 

 92,000 tons of sulphuric acid ; that in the neighbourhood of Swansea 

 65,900 cubic metres, or nearly two millions and a half cubic feet, are 

 projected into the atmosphere ; and Le Play estimates the value of the 

 sulphur dissipated at 200,000Z. yearly." 



M. Moritz Gerstenhofer has invented a furnace, by means of 

 which a considerable portion of this sulphur will be converted into a 

 marketable product. Mr. Hussey Vivian writes, " We have had two 

 calciners at work for some months, and are now building twenty-six 

 more. As far as I can form an opinion, it (Gerstenhofer's calciner) is 

 a perfect success, and will put an end to all vapours arising from our 

 calcining and roasting furnaces. I believe that when this furnace is 

 universally adopted, the only vapours arising from our copper works 

 will be those of the melting furnaces. At a rough guess, probably 

 upwards of two-thirds will be condensed and turned to profitable 

 account." The ores of copper smelted are usually oxides, carbonates, 

 and sulphides. The two former produce no injurious consequences, 

 but the latter, which is by far the most abundantly used, fills the air 

 with sulpliur vapour. In Gerstenhofer's furnace the ore is so divided 

 as it passes from the regulated hoppers at the top, that it shall fall on 

 a triangular bar, and then on to similar bars below each other, and 

 thus expose the ore to continued subdivision, till it reaches the 

 bottom and is freed from the sulphur. The heat and oxygen converts 

 it into sulphurous acid, which is constantly passing off through the 

 side into leaden chambers, where it gets an additional supply of 

 oxygen in the usual manner, and is collected as oil of vitriol. In the 

 process no additional fuel is required, for the sulphur catching fire at 

 the upper bars, the heat evolved suffices to keep the falling ore in a 

 state of ignition. 



Puddling by machinery appears to be making certain, although 

 slow, advances. The apparatus erected at Dowlais by Mr. Menelaus 

 is, by all who have seen it at work, pronounced to be, mechanically, 

 perfect. The defect of the arrangement at present being the difficulty 

 of securing the lining of the pear-shaped revolving furnace. This is 

 thought by most ironmasters to be a difficulty which will be remedied 

 after a Little more experience has been gained. 



A Swedish chemist has discovered a method of reducing the ores 

 of Tungsten, and of obtaining the metal at once in a state of fusion. 

 It is stated that ingots of the pure metal weighing several pounds are 

 now shown in Stockholm, and that by the new method the cost of 

 obtaining tungsten does not exceed a few shillings the pound.* Since 

 this metal is found to give great toughness to iron, it may become 

 very valuable as an alloying agent, and this process may be of im- 

 portance. At Drake Walls, at Kit Hill, and East Pool, in Cornwall, 

 almost any quantities of wolfram can be obtained, and if brought 

 into use, that which is now a waste material and an annoyance, would 

 become both useful and profitable. 



* • Mechanics' Magazine/ 



