Iron Production, Smelting and Furnaces

Iron Production, Smelting and Furnaces

Citation: 

[1] V. Biringucci, C. S. Smith, and M. T. Gnudi, The Pirotechnia. Cambridge, Mass: M.I.T. Press, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1966.

Year: 1540 (1942 translation)

[2] I. srl, “The history of the mines on the island of Elba,” Infoelba, https://www.infoelba.com/discovering-elba/history-of-elba/mines/#:~:text=The%20giant%20iron%20and%20steel,first%2C%20main%20sources%20of%20steel. (accessed Jun. 24, 2024).

Location: Italy

For background information on Iron and it's products see: Iron in all it's varieties 

The sixth chapter: Concerning Iron Ore and it's nature [1]

In the following text Biringuccio will talk about the different forms of Iron. The one from Elba island he reveres I believe to be Magnetite since of the most commonlly found iron ores this is the only one that is black. The only thing that is confusing is that he says not to use those of the color of loadstone...but loadstones are made of magnetite. According to [2] "iron minerals from Elba: magnetite, hematite, limonite, siderite and pyrite, all first, main sources of steel."

Blast Furnaces

The below photos taken from [1] are of blast furnaces.