The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16

WQlLo loau cdu any SAAVoI Uo oO'oAoS
whereas out Of the black this is commonly
DONE" That the ancient metallurgists
must have had some Of the chemical reac-
tons of the furnace confused may be gath
cred from the following, ''They record an
ore containing silver, lead, and tin, (whichin
itself seems peculiar on being smelted the
tin was the first metal to run off.
The Greeks and Romans used an alloy OF
copper consisting of eight pounds of lead to
every one hundred pounds of copper, for
utensils and implements Of war. Alloys were
also made Of tin, lead and copper, cores
ponding to our bell metal or bronze, but in
all probability these ancients were ac-
auainted with zinc brass long before this
period. Aristotle mentions copper OF
exceedingly bright color secured, not by the
addition of tin, but by mixing it with an
earth found in the vicinity Of the Euxine
Sea. Pliny affords little information on
this metal but calls attention to the presence
OF an earth possessing medicinal prophecies
and giving fine color to copper. This new
earth as he calls it was not regarded as
distinct metal although he mentioned brass
made from copper and cadmia Of varying
composition. The presence of zinc brass
with the ancients is proven by analyses OF
some of their instruments and utensils.
The first authentic account Of zinc was
made in 1541 showing that although zinc
brass is of great antiquity the cadmia had
been used in ignorance of the presence Of
zinc, and that the true discovery of zinc is
comparatively modern.
Iron was unknown during the age Of
bronze yet it was doubtless employed in very
early times. At the time of Homer, iron
was we'll known but was used to much
less extent than bronze, and appears to have
been of considerable value, as mass of iron
was presented to Achilles as prize at the
funeral of Patroclus. Aristotle says that
iron was purified from scoria by melting and
after having been treated several times and
become pure it was changed to steel. A
writer contemporaneous with Alexander
the Great mentions four different kinds of
steel each steel being used for different
purpose as we have them to-day. The
great usefulness of iron was recognized at
an early date. Pliny mentions numerous
articles made Of iron which apparently
resemble some of our cooking utensils. Nor
did our early predecessors lack the ambition
of earring on extensive explorations. Pliny
says that it was found in nearly every part
of the known world but was especially
abundant on the Island Of Elba.
In reducing iron the Romans used chiefly
the hematites and bog iron not touching the
more difficult clay iron stones. The foot
blast was used for the furnace.
Anthony was reduced from anthony sui
phide by the Greeks and Romans the pro-
cess being to enclose the ore in dough, then
burned in Goals until reduced to cinder
After being extinguished with milk and
wine it is again placed in Goals and blown
upon until ignition takes place, but if
burned longer it becomes lead. Pliny di-
reefs cow dung to be used in the place Of
dough, and also recommends moderation in
burning lest it be converted into lead, From
the conclusions Of the above references we
may infer that the pursuit Of ancient metal
lnrgy was influenced by religious beliefs,
Ihe discovery OF mercury ore IN this
country In l845 BY . priest was made in the
following why, Having pulverized the ore he
spripkled some of il over a bed Of Goals,
then dasbing water over this he held an in.
vsrtsd tumblar in the rising steam and
noticed that globules Of mercury had formed
on the sides Of the glass. 5ss
The torn NAncient Metallurgy" Is a
purely relative one for We have mentioned
not only the strictly ancient discoveries and
practices but also some Of those Of compare.
lively modern times, and which were still
primitive 10 tho extreme when compared
with the extensive operations Of the present
time. While all the early workings were
ii carried IN in n very nrnflA manner Wa must