Hi, im doing an extensive project on metal working during the medieval and early industrial ages. mainly im trying to focus on how metal working was done - such as what equipment they used, what metals were common, and what materials they burned to heat up metals, etc.
Here is my list that im working on:
Tin Nickle Cobalt Copper Lead Bronze (Tin and Copper) Silver Gold Early Steels (Iron worked on at higher tempratures)
Here is what I do know (from searching around, it may be inacurate):
Rough Melting Points:
200C - 330C - Lead, Tin. 400C - 1070C - Bronze, Brass, Copper, Silver, Gold. 1100C - 1600C - Iron, Steel, Nickel, Cobalt.- Silver and Lead are mostly come from Galena.
- Gold is naturally occuring in nuggets.
- Copper comes from natural occuring copper.
- Coal comes from natural coal deposits or sea-coal
- Coke is a by product of coal.
- Iron comes from Hematite
- Charcoal is 'cooked' wood that can burn hotter then actual wood.
Here are my problems:
- Im not exactly sure how Tin, Cobalt, and Nickle appear in nature (what ore you need to mine/smelt)
- I dont know the average temprature points of burning wood, charcoal, coal, and coke using a kiln (and with or without a bellows and hearth)
- What did the act of smelting involve (other then turning up the heat)
- What other equipment was necessary to work with metal (other then a kiln, bellows and anvil).
- Did any of these materials have traditional names (eg. sulfur = brimstone, quicksilver = mercury)
- Were there any other materials used in smelting (such as limestone?)
Any info on the above will greatly help me.