Dissatisfied with the soft steel pitons used by other climbers, he taught himself blacksmithing and created a spike of chrome nickel steel so strong and light that it fundamentally changed the sport.

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To wit, the engineers opted for 4130 chrome alloy steel, an aircraft-grade metal.

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An Italian group has leased the biggest chrome mine, and a Turkish outfit has started processing scrap metal at an elderly Chinese-built steel plant.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne