Melissa,
There is not a single written source to which you can refer. I agree with the others
that talking to a steel worker, especially someone familiar with the various
elements of operations, is a good idea. Also, Ron Hatt has run workshops on coal
and slag at past SHA conferences (see past conference programs). Perhaps he
could lend a hand?
However, as an Industrial Archaeologist, I have some concerns about your work,
especially since you stated that in the past you've tended to simply classify some
materials as slag. This might be fine for most historic period sites, although, again,
I have reservations about this approach, but for an industrial site, I'd recommend
hiring a historian or archaeologist familiar with the steel industry. Have you
considered hiring an industrial archaeologist, even if on a consulting basis only?
There are people in your area with the expertise.
Tim Mancl, RPA
Heite Consulting, Inc.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: HISTARCH automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:56 -0700
>Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 15:43:46 -0400
>From: Meli Diamanti <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Industrial byproducts & waste products
>
>I'm looking for information to help me identify industrial waste and
>byproducts.
>In the past, I've had either glassy/bubbly or more metallic material
>that I have simply classified as slag. But I now have a crew doing work
>in a steel town in western Pennsylvania (Braddock) and want to know
>whether there are distinctions I should be making within slag. Also
>what does coke look like (made from coal for steel plant fuel)? What
>about other coal waste ("clinkers")? or other products that I would be
>likely to encounter in that setting. I've seen everything from black to
>ashy beige materials, to a very blue-ish gray; some dense, some very
>light and full of air bubbles like pumice. I can see that they are
>different materials, but don't know where to look, to learn how to
>better classify them. So any descriptions, pictures, or directions to
>an informative website would be greatly appreciated.
>Melissa Diamanti
>Archaeological & Historical Consultants, Inc.
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