IRON SAND EXPERIMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4209, 23 August 1876, Page 4

IRON SAND EXPERIMENTS.

(Taranaki Budget.)

Mr E. M. Smith recently conducted some trials at Henui for smelting the Taranaki iron sand. At the time appointed about twenty persons (amongst whom were the leading tradesnn n and two or three blacksmiths) arrived on the works, accompanied by Mr E. M. Smith, who at once set to work, aided by Mr Atkinson. A crucible, holding about a quart,, was filled with Mr Smith’s patent compound brick and charcoal, and set in the fire. The metal was expected to have been ready to run into a mould in half-to-hour; but owing to the damp rising from the still wet mortar which had - heen used in the erection of the fire--place,* it was three-quarters of an hour before the crucible was taken out, when the bottom was still of a dull black eplor; instead of being at white heat. • The metal did not run, bub on the contents of the crucible being turned out ‘•hd allowed to cool, metal mixed in t!n•lag' was to be seen, which on bein', tried with a file was found to be of tin quality pf the' finest steel, and took a igood ipojiah. The second experiment ; tvaa intended to show that metal pro dpced from iron sand could be remelted into moulds'again if required. of metal obtained

at the trial made with the furnace some'years ago broken up and placed in crucible'with charcoal and lime stone and placed in the fire. In shorter time than that occupied in the first case, the crucible was taken out, and on being turned over the metal ran f reel Pieces were broken which showed an extremely fine grain, and having a bright sparkling appearance. The outside appearance was quite silvery, which was said to be evidence of good quality —the result of the titanium. Judges pronounced the metal as something excellent. For the third experiment a small quantity of pure iron sand was put into the crucible with calcined beach stone, the material from'which Mr D. Atkinson makes his cement. In due course the crucible was taken from olf the fire in white heat condition, the furnace having by that time got in good trim. On being turned over on to a clean iron plate both slag and metal ran free. On cooling the slag was found to be brittle as glass, of the" color of porter bottle glass, aud contained globules of metal from the size of the finest shot to the size of an ordinary marble. This experiment was intended to show that even with beach stone only as a flux the most perfect separation of the particles of iron from the slag could be ensured. It was a clear illustration of the manner in which Mr Smith at his late lecture said the iron would trickle in globules through the slag to the crucible of a furnace like that at the Henui, aud so enable the metal to be run off in the form of pig iron or more properly speaking steel bars. Mr W. H. Mathieson (a shareholder in the Titanic \ ompany), after these experiments is nmre than ever convinced of the practicability ot the iron sand being successfully smelted, if on!} r the furnace is banded over to the competent manager. Either Mr Smith or Mr Atkinson is willing to bake charge. Mr Smith is burningly anxious, and will never be satisfied until he himself or some competent man who has faith in the process, has been allowed the use of the furnace. It will have been observed b) r our telegrams yesterday that the directors of the Titanic Company have given Mr Smith the opportunity he desires.