Tahawus used a high titanium ore, so there may well be some "odd"  
things at the site. Best bet is to contact Gordon Pollard at  
[log in to unmask] He has been working in the area and knows a  
good deal about Tahawus. Bob Gordon at Yale ([log in to unmask])  
can probably also help. I have copied both of them. My "expertise" is  
in 18th century operations. Although my MA was about the failure of a  
1770s furnace that used a titaniferrous ore. But you get very  
different products from a cold blast.

James Brothers, RPA
[log in to unmask]



On Jul 6, 2006, at 11:12, Marty Pickands wrote:

> I'm addressing this particularly to James and all you Michigan-types.
>
> We are in the process of cataloging some artifacts from around the  
> base
> of the "New Furnace" (ca. 1854) at the McIntyre Iron Works in Tahawus,
> N.Y., and have found numerous pieces of large (5-10cm) flakes of iron
> containing a fair amount of silicate. They are fairly thick (up to a
> centimeter) and have a layered texture. They look most of all like the
> rust flakes that have fallen off an old cauldron I have in my back  
> yard,
> except that they have no formed surface.  They were located on or near
> the casting floor. What are they? Are they some sort of slag? I can
> provide photos off list, if you wish.
>
> Marty Pickands
> New York State Museum