A bloomery is a type of metallurgical furnace once used widely for smelting iron from its oxides. The bloomery was the earliest form of smelter capable of smelting iron. Bloomeries produce a porous mass of iron and slag called a bloom.

bloomery process, Process for iron smelting. In ancient times, smelting involved creating a bed of red-hot charcoal in a furnace to which iron ore mixed with more charcoal was added.

iron processing, use of a smelting process to turn the ore into a form from which products can be fashioned. Included in this article also is a discussion of the mining of iron and of its preparation for smelting.

…spongy ball of iron—called a bloom—was produced in the bottom of the furnace. This was extracted by breaking open the furnace, and then it was hammered into bars of wrought iron, which could be shaped as required by further heating and hammering.

Iron Bloomery – The most basic process used from the iron-age to medieval times. During the iron-age, bloomery furnaces rapidly replaced open charcoal fires as an effective way to forge. These furnaces or pits were made of clay and stone and were designed to be heat-resistant, built with pipes referred to as tuyeres.

May 15, 2014 · The iron bloom is formed in the hearth of the furnace. The structure of the iron bloom is sponge-like and it contains some slag. The smelting process ends when the iron bloom gets as big as the breast wall of the furnace so that it …

Nov 30, 2023 · Bloomeries could generally achieve heats up to a maximum of c. 1,000ºC / 1,800ºF – hot enough to cause a ‘reduction reaction’, where the oxygen is removed from the iron oxide in the ore, leaving behind a mass of solid iron and slag called a ‘bloom’.

Jul 30, 2014 · As the lump of metal or bloom is formed in the belly of the furnace, the liquid slag drops down and forms a boiling pool of magma in the bottom of the furnace. You can hear it ‘wumping’ in the furnace as it boils.

Iron blooms are a metal item obtained by first refining iron ore in a bloomery. Iron blooms are intermediate products used to create iron ingots, which can then be further smithed into tools, weapons and armor.

It’s a unique festival where we dive deep into the fascinating process of iron smelting, teach ancient techniques, make long lasting friendships and discover the rich history of this craft—while having a lot of fun along the way!