Charcoal is a lightweight, black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood (or other animal and plant materials) in minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. Charcoal is highly flammable and is a cheap and efficient source of heating in the Old World. It allows families to heat their homes and hovels affordably. The drawback is that charcoal does not burn cleanly, and clouds of black smoke often blot out the sun over the cities, towns and hamlets of Men during the winter. Middenheim is one of the biggest users of charcoal in the Empire of Man.[1a]
Charcoal is also an important ingredient in the blackpowder produced by the militaries of the Dwarfs, the Empire and Grand Cathay. To produce blackpowder, a skilled alchemist must have a supply of refined saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, which need to be mixed in the correct proportions. This process takes 8 hours to produce 6 pounds of blackpowder from 4 pounds of saltpetre, 1 pound of sulphur, and 1 pound of charcoal, assuming the alchemist has access to a proper laboratory or workbench.[2a][2b]