FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
329 
which converts the ore, by its combination with the metal during its reduction. It is simply 
a compound of oxygen and iron in certain proportions. Now in order that common readers 
may understand what is necessary to make iron from an ore of this description, I remark, that 
all that is to be done is to discharge the oxygen. This is effected by the action of carbon, or 
rather charcoal, when the temperature of the ore is raised to a red heat. Heat alone is not 
sufficient: charcoal must be in contact with the ore; and then, under these circumstances, 
the oxygen leaves the iron, and combining with the coal, forms carbonic oxide and acid, and 
escapes in the form of gas or air. This change in a pure oxide, one that is composed solely 
of iron and one proportion of oxygen, is rapid, easy and perfect, and the iron is immediately 
obtained ; or if the ore is composed of the peroxide of iron alone, the reduction is equally easy 
and certain. 
The constitution, however, of this ore, as well as that of most magnetic oxides, is different: 
it is composed of iron, with the protoxide and deutoxide in combination. Now, what is the 
result, the unavoidable practical result, when ores of this description are put into the forge 
or furnace for reduction ? It is this ; The particles of the protoxide contained in the mass of 
ore will be first reduced ; that is, the oxygen will sooner escape from this combination, than 
it will from the deutoxide, in consequence of the latter containing double the quantity of 
oxygen contained in the protoxide. When the reduction has proceeded thus far, only a part of 
the ore is ready for casting or hammering, and it is more or less mixed with unreduced ore ; 
or that portion which was in a state of peroxidation, is only brought down to the state of a 
protoxide. Again, that portion of ore which has parted fully with its oxygen will not remain 
quiescent; and though it will not, under ordinary circumstances, reabsorb oxygen, yet it will 
absorb carbon; and before that which is reduced to a protoxide has become iron by parting 
with its last atom of oxygen, the other will combine with a sufficient quantity of carbon to 
become what is called a. pot-metal; and now, if it is attempted to hammer the mass, it gene¬ 
rally falls to pieces. But the results will vary at different times ; and it often happens, that 
in the forge, a mixture of steel and iron is made, which will draw out under the hammer. 
Such, I say, may be the result often, but more frequently it is not so favorable; and, accord¬ 
ing to my present views, I conceive it too difficult and uncertain a process to work the two 
oxides when combined as they usually are in the magnetic oxide. 
The steel ore of Duane, when worked in the furnace and cast, forms a fine grained pot- 
metal of more than ordinary strength ; and when cast into plane-irons, shears, and a variety 
of articles of this description, it answers a very good purpose. The combination of carbon 
in the case of the magnetic ores, is different from what it is in the scotch pig, or pig from the 
hematites. The latter, by no means, can be made into articles equal to those made from the 
magnetic ores. They immediately break, and fall to pieces by slight jars and blows, and are, 
as is well known, almost as unsuitable for sharp instruments as the oxides. 
When the Duane steel ore is cast into chisels, plane-irons, knives, etc., it is possible to 
increase the hardness of the surface by heating, and then plunging into oil; and in this way, 
I have seen plane-irons in particular hardened and ground, which appeared as well, and per- 
Geol. 2d Dist. 42 
