Citations:smelt

Variant of the stem of Old English meltan (“to melt”).

1. Production of metal from ore; or, any of the various liquids or semi-molten solids produced and used during the course of such production.
   • 1982, Raymond E. Kirk and Donald F. Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Wiley, →ISBN, page 405,

     The green liquor, ie, the solution obtained on dissolving the smelt, contains an insoluble residue called dregs, which gives it a dark green appearance.

   • 1996, Arthur J. Wilson, The Living Rock: The Story of Metals Since Earliest Time and Their Impact on Civilization,

     When the smelt was complete the crucible could be lifted out and the metal poured directly into the moulds, thus avoiding the need to break it up and remelt

   • 1997, Anthony Lawrence Kohan, Boiler Operator’s Guide, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 159–160,

     (2) reaction between a weak or low solid concentration black liquor that is sprayed into the furnace and then because of its high water content, reacts with the smelt in the furnace; and

   • 1998, Deanna J. Richards, Greg Pearson, National Academy of Engineering, The Ecology of Industry: Sectors and Linkages

     Dissolving the smelt liberates some hydrogen sulfide and particular matter

   • 2000, Julian Henderson, The Science and Archaeology of Materials: An Investigation of Inorganic Materials,

     can vary in different positions in the furnace and during the smelt.

     Furnaces are unlikely to survive the smelts; all that often remains on metal production sites is just furnace bases and broken fragments of furnaces

   • 2002, Jenny Moore, “Who Lights the Fire? Gender and the Energy of Production”, in Moira Donald and Linda Hurcombe (eds.), Gender and Material Culture in Archaeological Perspective, Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, page 130,

     Women are allowed to play some small part in the smelt if they are breastfeeding or post-menopausal (van der Merwe and Avery, 1988).