im 
Lead* 
with much more loss of the metallic contents, especially 
when alkaline fluxes are used, all of which act more or 
less on this oxyd. 
Smelting and reduction of Lead Ores . 
The only ore of lead that is wrought in the large way is 
galena, and the method of treating this is very simple, 
partly on account of the richness of the ore, and partly on 
account of the low price of the metal itself, which there- 
fore will not admit of any but the most summary methods 
of bringing it into a marketable state. 
The ore when first brought up from the mine is dressed 
by women and boys, who with a hand-hammer separate 
the greater part of the adhering impurities, consisting of 
blende, iron, pyrites, quartz, calcareous spar, Sic. The 
residue being broken into pieces about the size of a hazle- 
nut, is washed from all adhering clay and dirt, and is then 
ready to be smelted. The furnace used for this purpose 
is the common reverberatory with a low arch. A ton or 
more of the ore is spread on the floor of the furnace, and 
by means of the flame from pit-coal it is quickly brought 
to a bright red heat. In this situation it is occasionally 
stirred with iron rakes to expose fresh surfaces to the ac- 
tion of the flame and facilitate the separation of the sul- 
phur. In a short time the mass begins to acquire a pasty 
consistence ; upon which the heat is lowered and the ore 
is kept at a dull red till the sulphur is nearly all got rid 
of ; the fire being then increased the ore is brought to a 
state of perfect fusion, and visibly consists of two fluids ; 
the lower is the metallic lead, the upper is a vitreous slag, 
still holding a considerable portion of lead but mixed with 
various impurities. In this state of the process the fire is 
damped and a few spadefuls of quicklime are thrown into 
the fluid mass ; by this, the scoriae are suddenly solidified, 
and are raked to the side of the furnace ; the tap-hole is 
