On a new compound of Iron and Carbon. 45 



themselves to practical men, but at present I shall content 

 myself with calling public attention to the subject in this 

 brief notice. 

 January, 1845. 



On a new compound of Iron and Carbon. By Captain J. 

 Campbell, 2lst Regiment M. N. I. 



1. In January 1842, during some experiments for making 

 cast iron with magnetic iron ore and charcoal, in which 

 an intense heat was produced, I found among the products 

 of the furnace some pieces of charcoal retaining perfectly 

 their original form and appearance, but quite metallised, and 

 for want of a better name I will call this for the present " fer- 

 ruginised charcoal. 



2. All the cracks and pores in the piece of charcoal were 

 quite visible, and it seemed as if wetted with the metal, 

 which pervaded its substance. When scraped with a knife, 

 it resisted strongly, and shewed a smooth metallic ap- 

 pearance, strongly attracted the magnetic needle, and was 

 readily raised by the magnet. Examined with a lens, the 

 outside appeared covered with minute glistening planes of 

 a leadish black colour. Filed in a vice, was cut by the 

 file like metal, and gave a metallic surface of a dark-black 

 lead colour, with some pores and specks. The filings 

 had a black charcoal colour and appearance, but not quite 

 the soot colour of charcoal powder, having a more leadish 

 hue. The filings were completely raised by the magnet. 

 A portion of the piece of charcoal retained the original ap- 

 pearance not having been wetted by the metal, this portion 

 filed, had a dark soot colour, and the filings were not affect- 

 ed by the magnet. 



3. A piece of the " ferruginised charcoal," weighing 

 31.82 grains, was put into a digesting flask, and an ounce of 

 diluted pure muriatic acid was poured upon it ; action 



