Dear Roger
> I agree with Thilo that the sulphur is most likely from the coal
> but why not the iron too! Iron pyrite inclusions are not that
> uncommon in some coals and if they were heated in a reducing
> atmosphere then prills of iron sulphide would result.
>
I would have thought that rather unlikely (at least in this instance) -
1. the inclusions lie dispersed within iron - so to me it seems more
likely they represent a reaction with the iron, rather than
wholescale incorporation of pre-existing sulphide particles.
2. on a mass-balance approach, clearly the iron in the coal will
contribute to the overall iron content of the slag, but this is likely to
be very small compared with the contribution from hammerscale
and metallic iron detritus. Products of the fuel fluxing the lining,
even in coal fired hearths, are really rather iron-poor.
3. In this slag at least sulphides are not observable outside the iron
fragments.
4. The slag also contains iron fragments of more normal aspect.
Best wishes
Tim
Dr Tim Young
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.geoarch.demon.co.uk/
Phone: 02920 747480
Fax: 08700 547366
Mobile: 0802 413704
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