Pop Ore
Properties
Material Characteristics
Distinguishable from the surrounding stone, pop ore has a brighter shade of grey than dark metamorphic rock. Pop ore is marked with skeins of swirling yellow sulfur and silver.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Explosive and volatile after processing. Chemical combustion occurs upon sudden impact or potentially induced by an electric current.
Geology & Geography
Found exclusively on Iothea Isle. Only one deposit, albeit quite large, has been discovered and that deposit has been extensively mined by the operations founded at Orbytos. Current studies are underway to locate additional deposits, and to find if the surface deposit previously found was an anomaly and more ore is located much deeper under the earth.
History & Usage
Discovery
In 509 ER, four years after the discovery of Iothea Isle, the first deposit of pop ore was uncovered by Orbas "Orby" Zanou and his expedition team.
Everyday use
Most pop ore mined is processed into pop powder to be used for controlled explosions. Pop powder is expensive and is typically reserved for use in expanding existing mines (non pop ore mines).
Some pop ore is used in the production of Impact Lances for the Nisean Capitol Bank. The Bank has exclusive rights to the production of weapons made from pop ore, although some impact weapons occasional appear in black market circles.
Refinement
To grind pop ore into pop ore requires a round, porous grinding stone with no extruding edges. The grinding stone must be carefully lowered onto the prepared ore and slowly rotated, allowing the pores to work away at the explosive material. One grinding stone can produce one pound of pop powder in three hours.
Smelting pop ore into weapons is a excruciating process that requires fine substance control mixing multiple substances and a little magic. Only the metallurgists embployed by Orby's Borers have been able to successfully smelt Impact Lances that are able to withstand their own blasts.
Type
Ore/Mineral
Odor
Sulfurous
Taste
Sour
Color
Grey, yellow and silver flecks
Melting / Freezing Point
2100°
Common State
Solid
Related Locations
Related Species
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