Iron ore
In cast iron sulfur promotes the formation of white iron. As little as 0.5% can counteract the effects of slow cooling and a high silicon content . White cast iron is more brittle, but also harder. It is generally avoided, because it is difficult to work, except in China where high sulfur cast iron, some as high as 0.57%, made with coal and coke, was used to make bells and chimes . According to , good foundry iron should have less than 0.15% sulfur. In the rest of the world a high sulfur cast iron can be used for making castings, but will make poor wrought iron.
Cast stone
Cast stone has been a prime building material for hundreds of years. The earliest known use of cast stone dates from about 1138 in the fortress of Carcassonne, France. Cast stone was first used extensively in London in the 19th century and gained widespread acceptance in America in 1920.