African Iron-Smelting Furnace Designs

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Why did some smelting furnaces in Africa use a portable shaft?

To allow for the production of natural draft (correct)

To make the furnaces more durable

To increase the efficiency of the smelting process

To reduce the need for charcoal consumption

What made the iron furnaces used by the Zulu king Shaka in the early nineteenth century distinctive?

They produced higher-quality iron

They were larger in size compared to European furnaces

They had no shafts at all (correct)

They were equipped with advanced technology

What was the purpose of removing the temporary shaft seal at the end of each batch in the Mafa iron smelting furnace?

To make the furnace more durable

To prevent contamination of the iron

To reduce the charcoal consumption

To allow for better air circulation (correct)

What was one reason for the presence of many variants in African furnace designs compared to Europe?

Functional adaptations to local conditions in Africa Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the most radical African furnace design to Western eyes?

Lack of a shaft altogether Signup and view all the answers

In which location were natural draft smelting furnaces found as described in the text?

Mandara Mountains, Cameroon Signup and view all the answers

What distinguished the earliest iron-smelting furnaces in sub-Saharan Africa from the contemporary European Iron Age furnaces?

Larger internal diameters and multiple bellows Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant advantage of the early African iron-smelting furnaces over contemporary European techniques?

They produced more iron per smelt Signup and view all the answers

Which region developed the 6.5 m natural draft furnaces in the early twentieth century?

West Africa Signup and view all the answers

In some parts of West Africa, what type of furnaces were widely used and possibly independently developed?

Natural draft furnaces Signup and view all the answers

What range of sizes did African iron-smelting furnaces evolve into from the earliest design to the early twentieth century?

From tiny slag-pit furnaces to 6.5 m natural draft furnaces Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes natural draft furnaces from other furnace types mentioned in the text?

They were mostly permanent installations. Signup and view all the answers

What was a characteristic of African natural draft furnaces?

High rate of charcoal consumption Signup and view all the answers

Why were African natural draft furnaces less fuel-efficient compared to other furnaces?

They lost much heat to radiation Signup and view all the answers

In which geographical location was the Mafa furnace designed?

Mandara mountains of north Cameroon Signup and view all the answers

What was the unique feature of the Mafa furnace design compared to other known bloomery furnaces?

Vertical single ceramic tuyère Signup and view all the answers

How did the Mafa furnace process iron oxide ore efficiently?

Minimized wastage of charcoal on making slag Signup and view all the answers

What products were simultaneously produced by the Mafa furnace?

Cast iron, steel, and wrought iron Signup and view all the answers