Aldar Crystals

Aldar Crystals are a type of naturally-occurring crystal, notable for their explosive reactions when struck. When viewed in the visible spectrum, aldar crystals appear to be a whitish-pink colour. When examined casually, aldar crystals do not exhibit many unusual qualities. However, when parts are chipped away, those splinters very rapidly expand and harden. This has led to the crystals primarily being used in explosive ammunition, as expensive but powerful shrapnel that can penetrate armour. However, due to this limited usage, it is generally considered to be the least valuable of the "rare crystals".

Due to the propensity of aldar crystals to explode when their lattices are violently disrupted, such as chipping, extraction can be difficult. It is typically found laced within more common ores, so extraction without damaging machinery or operators is even more difficult. Lasers are used to slowly heat the surrounding ore, as micro-cutting machinery slowly cuts the aldar crystals out without setting off a chain reaction. Aldar crystals tend to be found on colder planets, such as uninhabitable frozen worlds or habitable arctic worlds, buried underground in ore deposits.

Type

Mineral

Color

White-Pink

Common State

Crystal