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Very large bonfires might reach about 2000F. Sand melts to glass at 3000F.

Obsidian is volcanic glass. We might have also seen glass near meteorite impacts, or perhaps lightning strikes. If not from those natural phenomena, we might have discovered it as a side product of smelting copper, or perhaps some shop's apprentice messing around with the furnace.



In particular, copper smithing predates glassmaking, 10000 years ago versus 4000 years ago


Copper melts at 1085 C, cast iron at 1200 C, steel at a bit under 1400 C, glass at well over 1400 C.

My guess is that glass was discovered by someone trying to invent steel making.


Crucible steel.




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