IRON, a metal of a white, livid, greyish colour; extremely hard; and, next to platina, the most difficult to be fused. See METAL; METALLURGY; and CHEMISTRY, no 145, 202, 242, 279, 382. See also COLOUR-Making, no 13, 32; and DYEING, no 17.
From some observations made by Mr King on a petrification found on the coast of East Lothian in Scotland, he hath concluded, that iron greatly promotes petrification*. He hath likewise observed, that solutions of iron may be of considerable efficacy in preventing the destruction of stones by the sun and air. See the articles STONE, PETRIFICATION; also ROCK, MARBLE, MOUNTAIN, &c.