I believe you have what is known as Muntz metal. a non-rusting
amalgam of zinc Å40% and copper Å60 per cent. It was used as a
cheaper non-rusting option for ships Try this: http://www.intota.com/
multisearch.asp?strSearchType=all&strQuery=muntz+metal
-- Stephan
On 20 Jun 2007, at 00:44, Barrett Decker wrote:
> Hi- I have a question that I have wondered about for a long time.
> Perhaps one of the "ironmasters" has the answer. I have run across
> a type of grey metal produced between 1780-1850 that seems to be
> rust proof- one item, a firming chisel lost prior to the WBTS and
> found about a hundred years later in a rubble stone wall where it
> had fallen between two of the rocks with no apparent rust, the
> other, the large ringbolts in the stones above the last lock on the
> downstream end of the Va canal around Great Falls that were used to
> anchor stabilizing ropes down to the boat in the lock as it
> descended to the river level- also rust free since 1790- the
> mention of titanium in the ore from the Albemarle IW got me
> thinking about it- any thoughts? Thanks-Barrett
>
> Barrett Decker [log in to unmask]
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Brothers" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 4:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Augustine Washington Seniors Will (George
> Washington & Iron Works).
>
>
>> Never said that George Washington didn't own an interest in iron
>> works. He did. As I have stated he was a part (1/12) owner in the
>> Principio Co. But with the exception of the Potomac (Accokeek) IW
>> and associated mine (which were closed in the 1750s) all of the
>> Principio holdings were in Maryland.
>>
>> Due to the laws governing ore in the Northern Neck, 1/3 of all
>> ore mined was owed to the Proprietor. A number of ironmasters and
>> owners (including Augustine Washington and John Tayloe), claiming
>> that the ore in Virginia was not good, asked for and got
>> permission to import Maryland ore tax free. As this "poor"
>> quality ore had been successfully used by Neabsco, Bristol.
>> Occoquan, Grimes' Recover, Chiswell, Fredericksville, Marlboro,
>> and Tubal(and came from a variety of deposits) it seems more
>> likely that it was an economic issue and not one of quality.
>> Modern analysis of Virginia iron ore has not revealed any
>> problems, except for high quantities of titanium in the ore used
>> by the Albemarle IW.
>>
>> The "iron mines" of the day were open pit and often, per A
>> Progress to the Mines, required blasting. It was not all heavy
>> manual labor.
>>
>> James Brothers, RPA
>> [log in to unmask]
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