Hi John,
I own up! I pasted a lot of that from a website on mineral names and didn't
edit it enough!!
Elba haematite specimens are world-renowned, as were the mines. Should be
more diligent!
With regard to iron-age processes, I'd suggest that you had a talk with
Pete Crew from Snowdonia National Park authority. I've watched him smelting
iron using field-furnaces based on designs gleaned from his many "digs".
Telephone 01766 770 274 for the Park HQ - they should be able to put you in
touch with him.
I did some exploration work back in '93 for baryte in the
Wilderley/Cothercott area and the only significant sulphides encountered
were chalcocite and bornite - secondary copper sulphides in localised
highgrade pods, so the possibility of much "acid-grade" pyrite etc seems
unlikely. In general from my experience of the two main styles of
mineralisation in SW Shropshire, iron sulphides seem to be pretty scarce.
Cheers - John
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