Alumentum

Grenagese researchers discovered a new element, which they subsequently named Alumentum (often simply referred to as alum), within the Lousà mountan range in the year -10. Experimentation proved this new substance to be an extraordinary power source as, once refined and treated, (a process the Grenagese government guards carefully) it produces large amounts of heat and light when in contact with large (proportionally) quantities of water. Researchers then improved existing steam engines, allowing them to handle the rapid heating and cooling of Alum. This new method of power production launched Grenagem into an economic and technological revolution. During the formation of the Grenagese Empire -- in the year 0 -- Alum was integrated into nearly every aspect of its economic, navigational, and military technologies.
Alumentum in its pure form is a dark blueish/black chunk of rock with a texture similar to shale. In its treated form for use as a power source, it generally can be found as a small marble of light blue metal.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Balanced chemical equation for the reaction of treated Alum with water: 6AlCOH(s) + 2H₂o(l) = 2Al₃0₂H₃(aq) + H₂(g) + CO₂ + 3e^- +Heat.
In general, steam engines based on Alum work by placing a pellet of the treated element into a tank of water. The steam from the resulting reaction turns turbines which provide either mechanical work or electric potential,

Manufacturing process

HA! Nice try, the Grenagese Empire would never let the secret of refining Alumentum out by placing it on a wiki page!

Significance

The entirety of Grenagem's economic, militaristic, and political power depends on Alumentum and the energy it produces. The Empire controls every step of its extraction, refinement, and distribution.

Item type

Element, Chemical

Current Location

Grenagem

Subtype / Model

Alumentum

Used by

• Alumentum
• MK2 Alum Drive
• Alum Bomb

Rarity

Controlled resource, artificially made scarce.

Dimensions

Density 19.84 g/cm^-3