Samples of slag I collected at the site of the Albemarle Iron Works
(1771-72), South Garden, Virginia, USA have numerous iron prills. The
samples have been analyzed by Gerry McDonnell at Bradford, Charlie Swann
at U. Delaware, and are now with Geoff Grime at the Materials Lab at
Oxford. Gerry and Geoff have both found that the iron prills contain
3-5% carbon. The PIXE used at Delaware could not detect carbon.
The level of carbon is consistent with cast iron produced in a charcoal
fired cold blast furnace. One was built at Albemarle IW. Although
there is no record of a bloomery, it was not uncommon to build one to
try ore in the 18C. According to Needham, and others, the Chinese used
a "bloomery" system to produce steel. How high a carbon content is
possible? Is it possible to produce high carbon "cast iron"?
Recognizing that the desired end product in a European bloomery is low
carbon iron for forging, is it likely?
James H. Brothers IV
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