Noro: Iron Slag Flowing out from a Small Tatara Steelmaking Furnace and Its Utilization as a Lava Teaching Material

Abstract

A lava-outflow experimental reactor is developed for use in teaching about the lava streams that flow out a volcano when it erupts. The furnace in this experiment is designed based on the small-scale tatara steel manufacturing method. Iron slag called noro flows out from the furnace during operation. The amount of SiO₂ contained in noro is lower than in basaltic lava, however, the surface of noro is similar to basaltic lava. The noro outflow was used effectively as a teaching material in integrated learning periods related to science and social studies in elementary schools.