This Adventure Lab takes you to 10 locations in and around Centre Co that have a direct connection to the iron industry. Areas that offer much to see have large geofencing so that you can wander the area to see all there is to offer. Geofencing is small when there is just 1 plaque or marker to see. Central PA was a prime location for charcoal iron furnaces because the 3 raw ingredients needed were plentiful: iron ore, limestone and trees for making the charcoal. The major hurdle was the transportation of the pig iron to market. The price per ton in Pittsburgh was high, but the iron had to be transported over rough terrain. Baltimore was easier to get to, but the price was significantly lower. This dilemma was a motivating factor in the establishment of forges and ironworks in the area. In the Adventure Lab Furnaces: Centre, Greenwood, Martha, Monroe Forges: Harmony and Plumbe Ironworks: Eagle Related Industries: Scotia Mines (iron ore mine) Juniata Iron - General information marker Forge House - Built for ironmaster John Dunlop, now on the National Register of Historic Places OVERVIEW Iron ore, charcoal and limestone were loaded (the process was known as charging) into the top of the furnaces. (Limestone drew out impurities.) When the furnace was tapped, the molten ore flowed into trenches that looked like suckling pigs - thus the name pig iron. Pig iron has a high carbon content, was brittle, hard and had a high melting point. At forges, workers turned pig iron into wrought iron by heating and hammering it into wrought iron. Wrought iron has a lower carbon content, less impurities, is more stable and is more malleable. Ironworks were centers with furnaces, forges, rolling mills... Refrences: Curtain Village Walking Tour pamphlet https://centrehistory.org/research-explore/centre-county-furnaces/ https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-pig-iron-and-wrought-iron
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