1925 analysis of iron sands in Kuji region

[Randy McCall]

This may only be of interest to members with a special interest in steel-making and forging, but I thought I would pass it along:

 

Iron-sands in the Kuji region: James W. Neill, Consulting Mining Engineer and Metallurgist. Address before the joint meeting of The NIPPON KOG YO-KWAI and The NIPPON TEKKO-KYOKWAI in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 1925. (.pdf 25 pages)

 

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/sh ... 9_137/_pdf

 

The article examines the history of mining in that region, describes the opening of very old mining tunnels and what they found, the mine's geology, chemical analysis, mining methods, etc. Refers in passing to the use of ore in making of swords. In part a history, in part a geologist's report on future mining potential.

 

First page:

 

The production of Iron in the Kuji region dates back many centuries, and is part of the story told of Old Japan, as here the iron was produced from which the famous "samurai" swords were made. No doubt their good qualities were due to the presence of some titanium in the steel ! Actual historical data is known as far back as KWANBUN, about 260 years, to the time of the Third Shogun TSUNAYOSHI, papers giving details being kept at the store house of Baron Nanbu at Hachinohe.

 

The record of the old miners is written on the surface of the country, in old shafts, large pits and heaps of slags. Our developments also opened several old tunnels. These old miners must have had keen judgment of locality, as many of their old pits are located at the point of greatest are development and thickness. Large pine trees are now growing in these old pits and on the slag dumps. One such dump at Kanamabu contains not less than ten thousand tons of slag, and trees growing on it are over two feet in diameter.

 

These old miners were not seeking the "black sands", but preferred the heavy limonite ores, as these were more easily reduced in the furnaces, the black sands were used as flux only.

41_137(1).pdf

[bubba-san]

Very Interesting post . Some of the old mines contained different trace elements , giving the respective blades thier unique qualities . I have made swords from limonite , Hematite and magnatite. All make thier

unique steel what it is today. Thanks for posting info about forging . Its nice to know the history but, equally nice to see and forge them yourself ...... and have data about selected areas that were mined..... JAMES

[Dr Fox]

Randy

 

Have you posted the right article?

 

I get Notes on decapitation!!!!

[Randy McCall]

Randy

 

Have you posted the right article?

 

I get Notes on decapitation!!!!

 

Oops! My mistake... the link is correct now.

 

I was mining several databases this morning, on a wide variety of historical, cultural, metallurgical and anthropological topics, with about 20 tabs open at any given time. Unfortunately I clicked-and-copied the wrong item. Apologies.

[Peter Bleed]

Thank you Randy. This was an interesting post. Northern Iwate had to have been pretty remote so this research was real adventure. I assume that this iron ore was largely used in the cast iron industry, but the role of northern steel working in early development of Japanese swords is way under appreciated. I wish he had done soem archeology while he was visiting those old mine shafts.

Peter

[ROKUJURO]

Thank you for posting this interesting link!

[cisco-san]

Link to the .pdf is not working any more?!

[Randy McCall]

Link to the .pdf is not working any more?!

 

It's working, but apparently some web browsers are having trouble realizing the file is in Adobe Acrobat format. I've just uploaded the file to the starting post, so you can download it directly.