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[Dame de la Licorne]

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)

[Jake]

Graphite would probably be better utilised as a colourant in dye, and paint once that's implemented, or as a writing implement; its applications as a lubricant are relatively recent, and would be overkill for wind- and water-power applications anyway.

[ungulateman]

A lot of this stuff is already moddable. The stuff about Chert, Flint, Clay and Kaolinite is, at any rate, and the other stuff is feasible as well.

[Vattic]

New tags that make sure lodestone is only found near the surface would make them more realistic.

The handful of quartz' and many feldspars could be used alongside kaolinite and clay for ceramics. Not sure how you'd choose which varieties of each should be used as you might not want to use the more valuable ones.

A lot of this stuff is already moddable. The stuff about Chert, Flint, Clay and Kaolinite is, at any rate, and the other stuff is feasible as well.

I have clay for bricks and kaolinite for ceramics in my current fort. This topic is still a good idea as, though moddable, it's a bit of a bodge to get them working.

Not really the point of the topic but I've modded in anthracite. It works like bituminous coal but is found, all be it rarely, in metamorphic rock layers.

[GaxkangtheUnbound]

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.

Magnet trap that makes goblins get stuck on the magnets and starve?

[Knigel]

Magnet trap that makes goblins get stuck on the magnets and starve?

Unfortunately, those kinds of magnets aren't strong enough to really restrict movement, but there has to be some practical use for natural magnets besides compasses possible with 14th century technology. Like maybe to pick up small pieces of metal.

[thijser]

Well adding a few new unique uses for rocks and minerals is a good idea. But these things should not be dirrectly needed. That way new players won't get confused.

For example making salt add a (large) bonus to food value.

Pottery is a good idea that way we can have something an alternative to the glass industry

[Dame de la Licorne]

@ Jake:  Those are good points, I've made a few changes to the graphite suggestion.  However, considering some of the final items on the dev pages, lubrication of some kind might be required or provide a bonus in certain situations, though perhaps animal fat/grease would be better suited.

@ ungulateman: Some of it may be moddable, but since things like pottery, writing, and advanced mechanics are planned, some of the currently moddable uses would be useful or necessary in the vanilla game.

@ Vattic: Since none of the current quartz/feldspars (other than amethyst) are valuable in the current vanilla, I've added all of them to the first post for ceramics/pottery uses.  I also added a note about lodestone only occurring in the surface layers, and anthracite.

@ thijser: Added a bonus system to rock salt.

I also added in chalk as a possible writing tool.

[ungulateman]

Chalk wasn't and isn't used as a writing tool. Gypsum is.

[Knigel]

Chalk wasn't and isn't used as a writing tool. Gypsum is.

Which can also be called chalk.

In fact, it doesn't seem that the stone the game designates as "chalk" is specifically made of calcite like the chalk you're talking about.

[Jake]

Sticks of chalk wouldn't be ideal if it was necessary to keep long-term records, but perhaps the task of bookkeeping could be divided into two tasks, adding up and recording? A slate could be used as many times as required for totting up the number of +pig tail socks+ or whatever where a sheet of parchment would be wasted.
Chalk could also be used to improve engravings or buildings that require the building designer skill; engravers could chalk an outline onto the surface to be worked on beforehand to get a higher-quality result, and architects could draw a plan of what they wanted rather than trying to keep it in their heads.
And I need hardly add that if and when some sort of school system is implemented, chalk will have a part to play.

But I think writing implements deserve their own thread.

[FallingWhale]

It takes hours to make a chert dart, as apposed to minutes for obsidian or metal.
You can decorate with jet already, and jet in real life acts more like a rock then a gem anyway.
Why roof?
Graphite wasn't even discovered to mark intill 1500, and only on sheep.
Most of the things you're calling clay are additives or are rocks found in clay.

No, peat, baked and dried, will burn for 30 minutes to 3 hours, and it can get steel to a workable heat.

[Chocolatemilkgod]

There are many good ideas here. I would greatly enjoy some of them being implemented into the game.

[Dame de la Licorne]

Chalk wasn't and isn't used as a writing tool. Gypsum is.

"Although traditionally composed of natural chalk, modern blackboard chalk is generally made from the mineral gypsum (calcium sulfate), often supplied in sticks of compressed powder about 10 cm long." (Look up "chalk", sub-section "uses" in wikipedia.)

--Since gypsum has to be compressed to make "chalk", it might not be appropriate (especially since Toady has a target period of pre-1500ish, IIRC), though I will make a note about gypsum in the first post.

But I think writing implements deserve their own thread.

And there are several threads dealing with all sorts of writing systems and implications, the purpose of this one is to narrow done stone/mineral/etc. uses more generally.  Though I'm sure some discussion of other systems (i.e. writing, food flavorings, etc.) would probably help in suggesting those uses.

It takes hours to make a chert dart, as apposed to minutes for obsidian or metal.

Perhaps, but if you don't have access to obsidian or metal but do have access to chert, it would probably be better than nothing.

You can decorate with jet already, and jet in real life acts more like a rock then a gem anyway.

You can decorate with "stone", but you can't specifically decorate with jet unless you do something like burrows or turn off all other stone in the economic stone list, nor can you cut jet if you want a black gem for whatever reason (think mourning, or other serious occasions).

Why roof?

Because before modern shingles were developed, humans used slate primarily in roofs, blackboards and slates.  There are a lot of derelict slate quarries in Pennsylvania that went out of business when slate roofs were replaced by other, newly-cheapened building materials.

Graphite wasn't even discovered to mark intill 1500, and only on sheep.

Which is roughly the cut-off point Toady has stated that he would prefer to maintain (though things like casts, etc. are clearly much more modern).

Most of the things you're calling clay are additives or are rocks found in clay.

The only two things I refer to as "clay" are kaolinite, and clay soil layers.  Kaolinite is a powdery mineral of approximately the same hardness as natural chalk, and is considered to be a primary clay since it is not formed from weathered and eroded material.  Clay soil is composed of weathered and eroded material, and therefore is considered to be a secondary clay.  Both types of clay have maximum grain sizes of less than 2 μm (microns).  The other minerals that I refer to as being used to make pottery, are used in addition to the clay source (such as the feldspars in ceramics).  (Look up "clay" in wikipedia for a quick run-down).  I did clarify the appropriate bits of the first post, however.

No, peat, baked and dried, will burn for 30 minutes to 3 hours, and it can get steel to a workable heat.

Adjusted.

[Knigel]

^I think he meant the wikipedia page wasn't accurate about chalk. It doesn't provide a source for that particular claim, and the "blackboard chalk" article doesn't mention any materials being used for it before calcium sulfate.

Toady said he didn't want anything more recent than the 14th century, while 1500 is the beginning of the 16th century.