The extraction of lead from its ores by the iron-reduction process: A historical perspective

The iron-reduction process for extracting lead from its ores, as practiced in different parts of the world, is reviewed and discussed in this paper based on literary and documentary evidence. It has been shown that the early 14th century Indian reference of Thakkura Pherū appears to be the first evidence on this subject. This process was most vigorously adopted for the production of lead in Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries. Developments in the original iron-reduction process were also carried out in Germany, wherein the reductant iron was produced in-situ by the carbothermic reduction of iron-bearing material in the lead smelter itself. This process eventually replaced the original iron-reduction process in Germany in the later part of the 19th century.