Even after the introduction of anthracite smelting to the US in 1839,[1] and the development of American coke production later in the century, charcoal iron continued to find favor because of its heat-resistance, toughness, and malleability.
In Western Australia, pig iron was made using charcoal between 1948 and 1981 at Wundowie.
[4] There are still charcoal-based iron and steel making operations in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
[5][6][7] The traditional Japanese tatara furnace uses charcoal and ironsand to produce a mixture of iron and steel.
The tatara smelting process involves direct reduction and—unlike a blast furnace—at no time is the product fully molten.