Alum

Alum was a type of salt that was widely used in the Realms.

Alum Deposits in the Realms

 * Mount Hotenow.

Varieties

 * Dark Alum: A less common variety of alum that was purple in color. It possessed none of the alchemical or culinary properties of the standard alum. It was primarily used for the purpose for tanning supple leathers that were popular among nobility. One of the known deposits of dark alum in the Realms was Vellosk.

Usages

 * Alum was widely used as an ingredient by alchemists. For instance, it could be distilled alongside nitre and oil of vitriol to create the substance aqua fortis.
 * A lump of alum was needed as a material component for casting the spell antipathy.
 * Many leatherworkers were known to soak hides or pelts in a solution of alum to turn them into leather, a process known as tawing. It was even used in turning the hides of some aberrations into leather.
 * Some people in the Realms were even known to use alum for the purpose of cooking.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter