Copper smelting: Difference between revisions
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== Process == | == Process == | ||
Smelting is usually done using a furnace, whose design can be as simple as a pit in the ground. In this case, | Smelting is usually done using a furnace, whose design can be as simple as a pit in the ground. In this case, with copper ore and bellows, one of the possible processes steps are the following: | ||
# A small pit is dug unto the ground using an antler pick or another tool, such as a stick. | # A small pit is dug unto the ground using an antler pick or another tool, such as a stick. | ||
# A small groove cut into the edge to allow air from a set of leather bag bellows | |||
# The copper ore is crushed on a small anvil until it is a fine powder. | |||
# A [[fire]] is lit in the pit and [[charcoal]] is added. | |||
# The crushed ore is sprinkled onto the hot coals. More charcoal is added. | |||
# The end of the bag bellows is placed in the pit and a turf cap is placed over the pit. | |||
Normally, a natural draft furnace using wood, a kiln, can reach up to 1400 Celsius degrees (or 2552 Fahrenheit), while a furnace that uses fuel such as charcoal can reach temperatures up to 1600 °C degrees.<ref>[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/making-charcoal/ Making Charcoal] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 19 February 2016. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref><ref>[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/natural-draft-furnace/ Natural Draft Furnace] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 27 October 2017. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref> | Normally, a natural draft furnace using wood, a kiln, can reach up to 1400 Celsius degrees (or 2552 Fahrenheit), while a furnace that uses fuel such as charcoal can reach temperatures up to 1600 °C degrees.<ref>[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/making-charcoal/ Making Charcoal] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 19 February 2016. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref><ref>[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/natural-draft-furnace/ Natural Draft Furnace] - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 27 October 2017. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:17, 28 August 2022
Smelting is the process of applying heat to ore in order to extract a base metal. In the case of copper, combining tin and/or arsenic in the right proportions produces bronze, an alloy that is significantly harder than copper.
Process
Smelting is usually done using a furnace, whose design can be as simple as a pit in the ground. In this case, with copper ore and bellows, one of the possible processes steps are the following:
- A small pit is dug unto the ground using an antler pick or another tool, such as a stick.
- A small groove cut into the edge to allow air from a set of leather bag bellows
- The copper ore is crushed on a small anvil until it is a fine powder.
- A fire is lit in the pit and charcoal is added.
- The crushed ore is sprinkled onto the hot coals. More charcoal is added.
- The end of the bag bellows is placed in the pit and a turf cap is placed over the pit.
Normally, a natural draft furnace using wood, a kiln, can reach up to 1400 Celsius degrees (or 2552 Fahrenheit), while a furnace that uses fuel such as charcoal can reach temperatures up to 1600 °C degrees.[1][2]
See also
External links
- Prehistoric copper smelting in a pit!, ancient1580, 25 May 2012, YouTube
Further reading
- Rehder, J.E. (2006). The Mastery and Uses of Fire in Antiquity. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0773530746.
References
| This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Smelting, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors). | 
|
- ↑ Making Charcoal - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 19 February 2016. Retrieved on 28 August 2022
- ↑ Natural Draft Furnace - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 27 October 2017. Retrieved on 28 August 2022