From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: frankperiodlogullo@comcast.net   
   Subject: Re: necessity is the mother of invention   
      
   On 9/12/2011 6:45 PM, RichD wrote:   
   > So I was watching an old Star Trek, Kirk is marooned   
   > in a desert (looks like New Mexico), battling a gnarly   
   > alien.  He jerry rigs a howitzer, then gathers up   
   > minerals, and mixes them to manufacture   
   > gunpowder.  Of course. he flattens the alien on   
   > his first shot, and the galaxy is saved.   
   >   
   > Anyhoo, is that plausible, could one make   
   > gunpowder in a survival situation like that?   
   > With no chem lab equipment?   
   >   
   > --   
   > Rich   
      
   Probably.   
   I think you can find sulfur in pure form.   
   Don't know if Chilean salt peter (sodium nitrate) is pure enough to use    
   without recrystallizing, but I suspect it is.   
   Charred, i.e. partially burnt, wood could serve as the charcoal source.   
   Crude mix would not make the best gun powder but it should work.   
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