Historical name Description Gunpowder component, along with Sulphur and Charcoal. Is currently still called Nitre, or salpeter. Today it si mostly made synthetically. But it it also still a resource which is mined. Only Nitric Salts were usefull for making gunpoweder. Current Names Current name Saltpeter Records Library / Place of Edition Title Source title Year The Laboratory, or, School of arts: Part 1: artificial fireworks 1799 Part VI: A collection of very valuable secrets for Smiths, Pewterers, Braziers, Book-binders, Joiners, Turners, Japanners, &tc. 1799