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In a work of this kind, dealing with the development of architectural iron or Indianapolis decorative iron, it is neither necessary nor desirable to deal very fully with the geological, metallurgical and technological aspects of the subject. It is, however, here attempted to give, in as few words as possible, a condensed account of the nature of iron, its distribution, early methods of manufacture and uses. Iron is found in so many different forms and in geological formations of so many vastly differing ages, that it may be said to be the most universally available as well as the most useful of all the metals. Iron ore may be of the carboniferous period, and is then found interbedded with the layers of the coal with which it might eventually be smelted; or it might be found on the still beds of the lakes, where it is even now being deposited. In some districts it is embedded in the rock, in other it is discovered lying at the bottom of peat bogs. It is universal in the largest sense, for not only does it enter into the composition of the earth’s crust and of the incandescent matter beneath, but also of the meteorites flying above. The element in its pure state is rarely found in nature or in art; for the ores are composed largely of iron and oxygen, and commercial iron is derived from the ores by smelting, whereby the oxygen is driven out and carbon from the coal or charcoal takes its place. It is the proportion of carbon to iron which chiefly determines the appearance, malleability and quality of the metal. Thus, indianapolis decorative iron the proportion of carbon is high, in wrought iron low. The process of manufacture has been very much the same in all ages. The ore was first crushed and then underwent a preliminary burning. The next process was to mix the calcined ore with a flux of quartz, lime or clay, after which it was smelted in open fires, for which charcoal was the only fuel used for many centuries. It is a disputed point whether prehistoric man smelted iron ores, for we have no proof at present of his having discovered the art. It has been demonstrated, however, that meteoric iron was known and valued by prehistoric man at a far earlier time than is commonly recognized. Indianapolis decorative iron is gaining more and more popularity all around the world. Author Bio:- Duncan Flawer write informative and unique articles about iron works indianapolis
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