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Michael,
Do you have samples of the furnace lining? The clay used to build the furnace may well have reacted with the slag, transferring Al to it.
David Starley PhD
Science Officer
Royal Armouries
Conservation Dept.
Armouries Way
Leeds LS10 1LT
United Kingdom
tel 0044 (0)113 220 1919
fax 0044 (0)113 220 1917
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Keech [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 7:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Iron Smelting
I am currently studying for an MSc in Archaeological Materials, and require
some advice or points of guidence with my dissertation topic.
I am studying Iron slags from a 12th-13th century iron smelting site in the
East Midlands. The site consists of eight furnace installations. I am half
way through the analysis of the furnace slags with a SEM.
The problem which I face is that the results show two types of furnace in
use at the site, one is a basic bloomery furnace producing results which
are typical of other sites of the period.
The second type of furnace, produce results in the slags which are high in
alumina levels (12-16%) in both furnace and tap slag, iron levels between
23-53% and calcium levels of 5-6%. The alumina is not provided from the
ore, which has been analysed and is hematite.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Michael Keech