Comparative performance of ancient iron making furnace using different varieties of wood charcoal

Wood charcoal was used as reductantcum source of energy in ancient iron making furnaces. Tribals used wood charcoal specially Sal charcoal as reductant to reduce low grade weathered iron ore in the furnace since its inception. As Sal charcoal is not available due to its several useful applications and higher cost, other wood charcoals namely Tamrind, Jamun, Mahua, Acacia and Eycalyptus were tested and comparative performance of the furnace was evaluated in terms of furnace productivity and recovery of iron in the product.