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OP here, I'll share my knowledge.
Iron looks like reddish turds, almost. It is a rather porous looking rock and is magnetic. In order to work with it, you'll need a fire that is around 2000 degress, but generally a bit higher than that. You don't want it TOO high though, as you could actually burn your iron or steel. You can tell this is happening when you start to see the metal spark in the fire. This is not good. In order for you to make your iron into steel, you need carbon. Put some (not too little, not too much) into the crucible with your iron, and also some sand and glass shards; this helps to separate impurities from the finished product.
As far as making a forge goes, I prefer the original method mainly for looks and because gas can explode (not that breathing in coal smoke is any better); Two or more bellows, clay, bricks, a coal or charcoal fire, and a crucible (no witches, though).
Pic is unrelated, but if you've seen it before, you're awesome.
