The origin of this effect may lie at the boundary between the mantle, made up of viscous rock that extends 2, 900 km (1, 800 miles) below the crust, and the outer core, which is thought to be liquid iron with the consistency of water.

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Professor Sisson determined that the steel was attacked by a liquid slag which contained iron, sulphur and oxygen.

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As for the Mining Boom III, the pick up in export volumes flowing from the surge in mining investment in iron ore, coal and liquid natural gas will start to get underway around 2014-15.

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The machine blends iron, bleach and sodium hydroxide to form a dark purple liquid mixture of ferrate, salt and water that gets metered into the water supply. (The color disappears instantly as it reacts with the water.) Common disinfectants ozone and chlorine can turn the water cloudy or, worse, leave behind harmful chemical by-products.

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