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[ New Search ] Electric Phosphate Smelting Furnace Location : AL Date : Jun, 1942 Agency : OWI Credits : Palmer (OWI Photographer) Owner : FDRL Medium : B&W Photo Control Number : Photographs (General): TVA: Dams: Alabama: Muscle Shoals Enlarged Image Description : TVA Production: Elemental Phosphorus. A large electric phosphate smelting furnace used in the making of elemental phosphorus in a TVA chemical plant in the Muscle Shoals area. The phosphorus, used in the manufacture of incendiary bombs and shells and of material for "smoke," is produced by smelting phosphate rock, coke and silica together in the electric furnaces and condensing the resulting phosphorus gases. When surplus phosphorus is available it is converted into highly concentrated phosphate fertilizer, much of which is shipped abroad under provisions of the Lend-Lease Bill. (June, 1942) Listed Under: [Tennessee Valley Authority][Hydroelectric Power][Industrial Uses]