Copper smelting: Difference between revisions

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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:<ref>DA Chapman RCA, SG Chapman MA AIFA (2013). [http://web.archive.org/web/20201106232544/http://www.ancient-arts.org/pentrwyn%20exp%20report.pdf Reconstructing and testing the Pentrwyn pit furnaces], ancient-arts.org. Archived on 6 November 2020 from the [http://www.ancient-arts.org/pentrwyn%20exp%20report.pdf original link]. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref>
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:<ref>DA Chapman RCA, SG Chapman MA AIFA (2013). [http://web.archive.org/web/20201106232544/http://www.ancient-arts.org/pentrwyn%20exp%20report.pdf Reconstructing and testing the Pentrwyn pit furnaces], ancient-arts.org. Archived on 6 November 2020 from the [http://www.ancient-arts.org/pentrwyn%20exp%20report.pdf original link]. Retrieved on 28 August 2022</ref>


# A small pit is dug unto the ground using an antler pick or another tool, such as a stick.
# Dig a small pit 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
# Cut a small groove 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.
# Crush the copper ore on a small anvil until it is a fine powder.
# A [[fire]] is lit in the pit and [[charcoal]] is added.
# Light a [[fire]] in the pit and add [[charcoal]].
# The crushed ore is sprinkled onto the hot coals. More charcoal is added.
# Sprinkle the crushed ore onto the hot coals. Add more charcoal.
# The end of the bag bellows is placed in the pit and a turf cap is placed over the pit.
# Place the end of the bag bellows in the pit, as well as a turf cap over the pit.
# Force air into the pit by the bellows, increasing the temperature inside and creating a simple furnace. Continue for a couple of hours.
# Changes in the color of the flame coming out of the pit show the progress of the smelting. When the process is complete, remove the cap and retrieve the metal.


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 (2912 °F) 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 (2912 °F) 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 20:49, 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, lead 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:[1]

  1. Dig a small pit unto the ground using an antler pick or another tool, such as a stick.
  2. Cut a small groove into the edge to allow air from a set of leather bag bellows
  3. Crush the copper ore on a small anvil until it is a fine powder.
  4. Light a fire in the pit and add charcoal.
  5. Sprinkle the crushed ore onto the hot coals. Add more charcoal.
  6. Place the end of the bag bellows in the pit, as well as a turf cap over the pit.
  7. Force air into the pit by the bellows, increasing the temperature inside and creating a simple furnace. Continue for a couple of hours.
  8. Changes in the color of the flame coming out of the pit show the progress of the smelting. When the process is complete, remove the cap and retrieve the metal.

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 (2912 °F) degrees.[2][3]

See also

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). Wikipedia logo
  1. ↑ DA Chapman RCA, SG Chapman MA AIFA (2013). Reconstructing and testing the Pentrwyn pit furnaces, ancient-arts.org. Archived on 6 November 2020 from the original link. Retrieved on 28 August 2022
  2. ↑ Making Charcoal - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 19 February 2016. Retrieved on 28 August 2022
  3. ↑ Natural Draft Furnace - primitivetechnology.wordpress.com, 27 October 2017. Retrieved on 28 August 2022
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