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Firestone was a phosphine-bearing rock found on Pern. Dragons and fire lizards could chew it to produce phosphorous gases which were ignited to burn Threadfall out of the sky.

Description[]

Firestone was found in certain mines across Pern. There were two known variations of firestone. The first (also known as "flamestone") was highly unstable and would explode on contact with water. It had yellow and gray crystals in it. It was also harder for dragons to hold onto than the less explosive type. Many dragons were killed by the gas that built up, leaving many dragonless men.

The other type of firestone was much more stable, but needed time to be digested by dragons before they could flame. This was the type that was originally found by the colonists and was used in all falls after its rediscovery prior to the Third Pass.

Before a fall, dragons would be given firestone from sacks carried by their riders. Sacks were often distributed by certain green riders. Dragons would then chew the firestone, which was then digested in a specialized organ that contained acid. The volatile gas created as a result of this process would ignite on contact with air, producing flame.

The chewed firestone had to be expelled from the body after it was used up - because the dragons couldn't digest it. This was done by regurgitation. The end product was a wet, smelly, sand-like substance. Presumably, fire-lizards simply waited until they felt the need to expel it. Dragons learned that they needed to do this after fighting Thread. A dragon that didn't know of this would later find that the need to expel the remains became more like an involuntary bodily function.

All dragons could chew firestone, except golden queens, who would simply belch up a steaming brown-grey puddle. Green dragons would be sterilized by chewing firestone - something thought to be a precaution added by Kitti Ping Yung to prevent Pern from becoming overwhelmed with dragons.

It was thought that, since the gold queens could not use firestone, they would be less likely to fight Thread directly, and would be less likely to be put in harm's way, being the only breeding females. It was also suspected that it may have been a result of Kitti Ping's traditional beliefs that the mother should not be allowed to fight.

History[]

In the Second Interval, the Shunned were allowed to work in the firestone mines.

T'mar recalled having to salt and roll the explosive type in grease before they could bag it. At Fort Weyr, it was stored in a first level room with a locked door.

Flamestone Mines[]

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