Archaeometallurgy of ferrous artefacts of the Patriótica Iron Factory (XIX century, Ouro Preto, Brazil)

Abstract

Abstract The article reviews the metallurgical processes used in the first industrial ironworks operated in Brazil, the Patriótica Iron Factory, from 1812 to 1831. It discusses its impact on the ironmaking plants that spread in Minas Gerais's state during the XIX century. The remnants of this Factory in Ouro Preto were the first industrial site listed by the Brazilian Historic Heritage Authority (SPHAN) in 1938. Vale SA, owner of the site, and the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) authorised collecting samples from two ferrous artefacts found in the old Factory, a hammer and an eyebolt nailed to the remnants of one of the reduction furnaces. The eyebolt’s microstructure suggests that this part was produced in the Patriótica Iron Factory, while the hammer’s microstructure indicates that this component was not produced in the Patriótica Iron Factory.

Keywords

• history of Brazilian ironmaking
• The Patriótica Iron Factory
• archaeometallurgy
• direct reduction
• slag inclusion
• microstructure
• provenance