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]