Iron has shaped human civilization for millennia, yet its story begins long before the first furnace was lit. This presentation traces the natural history of iron from its cosmic origins to its earliest metallurgical use. Beginning with the formation of the elements in the cosmos and their journey through stardust, we follow iron through the astronomical, geological, and environmental processes that concentrated iron into ores accessible to humans.

Along the way, we explore meteorites, banded iron formations, bog iron, and the remarkable geochemical cycling of iron in soils, wetlands, and groundwater systems. From sulfides to oxides, the iron cycle is driven by redox reactions that govern its movement, accumulation, and transformation.

The first iron smelters learned to harness these processes, enabling practical iron and steel production and the technologies that followed. 

Speaker: Dr. Barret Wessel

Dr. Barret Wessel is an Assistant Professor of Soil Science in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University, where he teaches introductory and advanced courses in soil and environmental science. 

His research focuses on soil formation, wetland and subaqueous soils, and the science of teaching and learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Technology with a concentration in Soil and Watershed Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation, from the University of Maryland.

Join us here at the Lukens Executive Office Building as we watch a nationally broadcast monthly talk presented by the Iron and Steel Heritage Forum.