May The Flux Be With You – the Many Uses of Limestone

A lecture by Mike Weber
Tuesday evening, November 10, 2026, 7:00 pm

This month’s program will explore the many uses of limestone in the production of iron at charcoal-fueled furnaces like Cornwall, as well as the important role this common Pennsylvania rock has played in other industries and everyday life. The presentation is the final installment of a four-part series in which Mike has examined the raw materials used in charcoal iron furnaces and the primary solid waste product they produced – slag.

A long time ago, in a charcoal-fueled furnace near you… join us to discover the fascinating story of limestone and its role in Pennsylvania’s iron industry.

The presenter, Michael Weber, volunteers as a guide, researcher, and lecturer at Cornwall Iron Furnace. As a 1982 Geosciences graduate from Penn State, Mike worked for 36 years as a geologist, health physicist, and manager for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey. After retiring from Federal service, he returned to Cornwall

Furnace, where he serves as a guide and researches the history of mining and the geology at Cornwall and similar deposits in PA. He is the author of Always More Production, a history of the mining operations at Cornwall.

This in-person and online lecture will utilize the Zoom platform.

Registration is required for online attendance only. To register for the virtual lecture, please go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LyYtIA6PQu-MGE7juKTNzQ

The presentation is offered at no cost to attendees, but donations are greatly appreciated and can be made in person or by following this link: https://givebutter.com/supportcifa