Anyone who has played any of the 3D updates of DF has probably had a moment (or several) where they discover a new type of stone, go to see what it's used for and...find out that it's just another rock (or gem, or...). It might be a unique or cool (to that player) color, but in the end, it's just another rock. Having lately decided to take an introductory geology class, I've discovered that there are several rocks/minerals with potentially unique uses that are not modeled in DF.
So the suggestion/request is as follows: add unique rock/mineral uses as appropriate. This would help to ease the tedium (slightly) of constantly discovering "new" rocks/minerals that are used for the same purposes as the majority of the other rocks/minerals. In addition, once ToadyOne adds more depth to the other races (as well as modded races) so that playing them is actually different from playing with dwarfs (who can make anything out of anything), these different rock uses might contribute to making the other races different.
So, below I've put together a short list of suggestions I have come up with, and I welcome any input from the community (especially since I'm not a geologist and don't really know anything about rocks, other than what was covered in the single class I took). If someone would like to make a suggestion, please
try to provide a link (or reference, in the case of a book/non-Internet source) to a supporting source for Toady to look at. I will update this first post with any appropriate suggestions made or linked to in this thread. Sections that are in
green are suggested applications.
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Rocks- Chalk - Chalk was historically used as a writing utensil, primarily on slate surfaces (i.e. blackboards). It is also used in farming to raise soil pH of highly acidic soils. When writing is implemented, make chalk useable in/as a writing tool. It might also be used in farming (Note: Chalk use in farming may be outside the target period.) (source 1, source 2)
- Chert - Chert (& flint) were used by primitive peoples to make arrowheads and other stone tools requiring sharp edges (similarly to obsidian), as well as to start fires. Allow chert (& flint, if added to the game) to be used for simple sharp-edged tools such as arrowheads and daggers. This could give adventurers an opportunity to make a weapon (although perhaps not a very good one), if they have the bad luck to lose theirs somehow (or if they only have a metal weapon but need a stone one to deal with some of the night creatures, or for other things). (source 1, source 2)
- Jet - Jet has historically been used as a gemstone, rather than a rock. Allow (or change jet's classification) such that it can be treated the same way as other gemstones. In addition, jet is very difficult to detail while being easy to carve, so perhaps some of it's decoration potential could be limited to more experienced jewelers (and this could potentially extend to other gemstones as well). (source)
- Slate - Slate has been used as roofing material (slate shingles) and as blackboards and writing slates. When writing/written works are added to the game (beyond the engravings which currently exist), make slate one of the more common writing tablet sources. In addition, maybe humans could roof their buildings with slate, though perhaps limit it to important buildings such as temples and the homes of important/rich people. (source)
Minerals- Anhydrite - When anhydrite mixes with groundwater, it becomes hydrated and forms the mineral gypsum. Create a reaction that mixes anhydrite with water to form gypsum, that can then be used to make plaster powder. (source)
- Graphite - Graphite is commonly used as a lubricant of things that might be damaged by an oil- or grease-based lubricant. Allow graphite to be used as a lubricant of machinery and/or traps. Such use would either increase the efficiency of the machinery (maybe less power needed per component when lubricated) and decrease the possibility of lubricated traps jamming (perhaps increasing the chance that lubricated traps would mis-fire if incorrectly lubricated). In addition, graphite is used in pencil "lead", and the Chinese historically ground graphite with water for use as ink. So when writing is implemented, use graphite as a writing tool either independently or mixed to form ink. (Note: The use of graphite as a lubricant may be outside the target period.) (source 1, source 2)
- Kaolinite - Kaolinite is historically a source of clay for use in pottery and ceramics, particularly those classified as porcelain. When pottery is added to the game (possibly at the kiln), use kaolinite as a clay source. Since it has to be mined, perhaps access to it should probably be limited to civs with access to the underground (dwarves, underground civs, etc.). (source 1, source 2)
- Magnetite - Permanently magnetized pieces of magnetite (lodestones) were used in early compasses. Allow magnetite (or add lodestone) to be used in compasses. Perhaps allow a possibility for certain pieces of magnetite to be used as magnets. Additionally, perhaps "lodestone" forms should be limited to near-surface layers. (source 1, source 2)
- Mica - Mica forms very thin sheets and because of this was used in windows in ancient cities, as well as for early telescope and microscope lenses (when they didn't have the technology to grind glass thinly enough). Let mica be used to make windows. (source 1, source 2)
- Microcline - As a feldspar, microcline is used to make earthenware ceramics when mixed with clay. Allow microcline to be used to make pottery, along with clay. (source)
- Orthoclase - As a feldspar, orthoclase is used to make earthenware ceramics when mixed with clay. Allow orthoclase to be used to make pottery, along with clay. (source)
- Rock salt - Rock salt (also known as halite) is mined to make table salt. Historically, it has also been used to preserve meat and fish, as an alternative to smoked equivalents. Grind up rock salt (either at a kiln or the kitchen) and use it as a flavoring, which would grant either a bonus to the meal value, increased happiness or a happy thought (i.e. "had a flavorful meal lately") or perhaps both. Should other flavoring methods also be added, the same system could be used for those. Should food preservation be implemented, have salt be used at a kitchen to preserve butchered edible animal products, similarly to the rendering of fat, perhaps with the addition that preserved food needs to be stored in a barrel. Since it has to be mined, perhaps access to it should probably be limited to civs with access to the underground (dwarves, underground civs, etc.). (source 1, source 2)
- Talc - Talc is a common ingredient in ceramics and ceramic glazes. When pottery is added, mix talc with clay sources to produce a slightly higher grade of pottery, and make talc a major ingredient of pottery/ceramic glazes. Since it has to be mined, perhaps access to it should probably be limited to civs with access to the underground (dwarves, underground civs, etc.). (source)
Gems- Quartz (milk, rose, smoky) - Quartz (when ground up into a powder) is used in earthenware ceramics. Allow pottery to be made from quartz, as well as from clay. (source)
Other- Gypsum Plaster - Since this is not a rock, maybe find a different designation for it that will take off the stone list, such a designation could also be applied to clay for pottery. Maybe it would also help to fix the bug where doctors are stuck at wells with the "Apply Cast" job.
- Clay (pure, surface soil layer) - Could possibly be used as another source of clay for pottery/ceramics when those are implemented. Since clay is a surface soil layer, civs restricted to the caverns (such as antmen, etc.) should not have access to it. Humans (primarily) and possibly elves (depending on how Toady treats them) should make most (if not all) of their pottery out of surface clay.
- Peat - When dried, peat has been used as a fuel source, and burns fairly well, although it produces a lot of smoke. Allow peat layers to be a source of fuel, for things like kitchen fires and warming fires, but perhaps it should not burn hotly enough for advanced metalworking (for metals such as adamantine). In addition, if pollution is implemented, peat should be the most polluting fuel source, along with wood. (source)
- Anthracite Coal - Anthracite coal is the metamorphic form of bituminous coal and is the most efficient fuel in terms of energy/weight, as well as producing very little soot (the cleanest-burning form of coal). Add anthracite veins (similar to lignite and bituminous coal) to metamorphic layers and allow its use as another fuel alternative. If pollution is implemented, anthracite fuel would not create pollution, while other fuel sources might. (source)
