Iron . 
4.3 
that the iron-stone was in perfect fusion, much agitated, 
and emitting large bubbles of ignited gas of a fiery colour. 
In forty minutes the crucible was withdrawn ; the surface 
of the vitrified Raid still continued to boil, and emit bub- 
bles of air, though in much less quantity. In this state 
I introduced a small rod through the scoria, and disco- 
verd the surface of a button of metal. The moment it 
frame into contact with atmospheric air, a beautiful com- 
bustion took place ; the metal rose in a spiral form to sup- 
ply the rapid inflammation, and continued till the sco- 
ria (still in fusion) closed over the surface of the button. 
When cold, I found a perfect formed button of extreme- 
ly oxygenated crude iron, which weighed 219 grains ; a 
produce equal to 25-1 per cent . from the raw iron-stone. 
The scoria obtained was of a shining black colour, firm 
and ponderous, and weighed 402 grains ; so that the loss 
in volatile matter was 254 grains, equal to 29 per cent . 
Although this iron-stone was siliceous, yet I am con- 
vinced the loss of volatile matter would have been greater, 
had not nearly one-half of the whole contents of iron re- 
mained in the scoria, united with oxygen, at the rate of 
35 per cent. I found the produce of the metallic button 
thus obtained wfliite as silver, and presenting imperfect 
radii ; the surface was considerably oxydated, especially 
where the combustion had taken effect. 
2d, I subjected to a similar treatment 875 grains of an 
argillaceous iron-stone, which contained a usual propor- 
tion of lime ; the fusion of this powder was more difficult 
than that of the former, though the phenomena exhibited 
by both during reduction were alike. The crucible 
was withdrawn from the furnace in forty minutes after in- 
troduction, and the surface of the button exposed to com- 
bustion as before. The deflagration differed little in point 
of appearance from that effected with the siliceous iron- 
stone ; the button of crude iron v/as found oxygenated. 
