Sometime before 1565, an enormous deposit of graphite was discovered in Cumbria, England. The locals had been using the black powder to mark their sheep.
It was discovered that this #powder could be used as a refractory #materials to line molds for cannonballs, resulting in...1
It was discovered that this #powder could be used as a refractory #materials to line molds for cannonballs, resulting in...1
...rounder smoother balls that fired farther because of better aerodynamics. This was so valuable to the English Navy that the mine came under the strict control of Queen Elizabeth I. The poor locals and miners began to smuggle chunks of graphite out of the mine. The French...2
...among others, paid a good amount. So the locals carried this material in their pockets, making their hands and clothes black and dirty. Thus, the dark black graphite opened up a secret and illegal #market. Over time, this came to be called the 'Black Market' #ScienceTwitter
