Glow of Iron
Bohinj, Slovenia
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Initial work
Collection of ore
We were gathering ore in the ex mines of the Bohinj region. Luckily we were saved by finding great pieces of limonit on Pokljuka region. We broke it into smaller pieces and roasted it. So it became porous and able to crush into 1 – 2 cm pieces. We also cut charcoal into the same size to get the best conditions for reduction.
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limonite and iron stone -
crushing ore -
roasting -
cutting charcoal -
ore after roasting -
reconstruction Renn furnace, K. Bielenin, Krakov -
author's design of experimental furnace -
both parts furnace -
furnace is put together -
smithing tools
Chemical analiysis is almost the same for all kinds of the Bohinj ore, big limonit or thin »iron stones« or even bog ore which is also of limonite origin. There are only traces of Si, Mn, P oxides.
| total Fe (%) | FeO (%) | Fe2O3(%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
ore before roasting |
57,8 |
0,7 |
81,8 |
ore after roasting – everage sample |
65,4 |
6,2 |
86,6 |
ore after roasting – selected sample |
66,5 |
32,2 |
59,0 |
Building of devices
We need some month to prepare everything. Smithing tools and hearth were at home from my father. The anvil was even made at the old Fužina Bistrica where my grandgrand father worked. We made smelting furnace with nowdays materials, later they can be replaced with original sandstone and argil. We had all instruments for measuring ( time, temperature, pressure, and weighing). At the end we succed to get all necessary analysis of ore and our products.
exponats, furnace from argil and cross section of furnace,
made for Center TNP in Trenta, Slovenia