| Category | Resources |
| Type | mineral |
| Source | natural |
Saltpeter is a highly coveted commodity. It is employed in the production of gunpowder.
Saltpeter Making
Nitrate, more commonly referred to as saltpeter, is produced in warm regions through the bacterial decomposition of excreta and vegetable refuse. Where human and animal populations live in close proximity, debris accumulates around their dwellings. The interaction between decaying material, alkaline soil, plant ashes, air, and moisture facilitates 'nitrification' - the conversion of nitrogen compounds from animal and plant decay into nitrates that permeate the soil. Dissolved in rainwater, these deposits evaporate on the surface, forming crude saltpeter, a white, flower-like powder. This substance must be washed to remove earth and impurities, then boiled and evaporated to refine it.
Nitre Beds
Besides carefully selecting their raw materials, the saltpeter producers enhance the natural process by saturating the matter with blood and urine, blended with potash-rich ashes. Additionally, this gradual biological action is accelerated through the use of 'nitre beds' - the waste and plant ashes are amassed together, exposed to the air, and periodically watered. Ultimately, after the piles have been turned numerous times, this manure generates saltpeter.