Try iron carbonate, or ferrous carbonate. The modern mineral name is
siderite, old mineral names chalybite, Spathose iron.
 
It is a common mineral.
 
 
Having done a bit of blacksmithing myself, I would be interested in the
flux used. I have used fine silica sand which works well, and nothing
which also works on the 19th century puddled iron I was using.
 
 
On Wed, 12 Mar 1997, Early American Museum wrote:
 
> I'm trying to find the up-to-date and common name for a compound which was
> called "Carbonate of Iron" around the turn of this century.  Chemical
> reference books at the local library refer to iron carbonate as a less
> common, after iron oxides, iron ore so it may be that carbonate of iron is a
> fairly frequently occurring mineral.  I have encountered it in a c. 1900
> blacksmith's document as an ingredient in welding flux which leads me to
> believe it is/was not terribly exotic.  Any help will be appreciated.
>
> Charles M. Keller
> Collections Manager
>
 
Yours
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