Iridescium

A rare natural alloy of adamantine and gold, iridescium is found almost exclusively in the lower layers. Soft and malleable, iridescium has few known uses in industry but is highly sought after by artists.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Iridescium, befitting its name, is a shimmery metal that is never one solid color. Depending on the grain of the metal, the ambient lighting, and the angle at which it is viewed at, a single sample can display a spectrum of colors.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Iridescium is an incredibly soft and malleable metal, only barely harder than its component gold. It is easily workable into things like rings, clasps, plating, sculptures, and even ultra-thin leaf.
Although this has yet to be concretely proven, many believe iridescium to be aetherically sensitive and reactive, especially since scientists discovered adamantine to be one of its components. Some think it aids in channeling aether, and therefore use trinkets made of the metal in magic spells and rituals, while others use its rumored sensitivity as an aid in aetherometry.

Geology & Geography

Iridescium has only thus far been discovered in the lower reaches of the fourth level and throughout the fifth. It is found rarely in long veins in the heart of large stony islands down there, and thus is harvested primarily by Lumbrassi mining operations.

Origin & Source

Iridescium is contained in long veins of dark ore that only reveals its oil-on-water-like sheen in the presence of torch-light.

History & Usage

Discovery

There have been ancient records discovered recently that purportedly detail the discovery and use of iridescium by the ancients. Supposedly trinkets made of the metal were used by the aristocracy as a status symbol, and the discovery of rare statues made of solid iridescium seem to support this.
Meanwhile Lumbrassis claim to have discovered the metal in the dawn of their civilization, with conflicting accounts as to who exactly discovered it first: Ponterra's first ruler or an otherwise nondescript early Wistanno.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Refined iridescium and items made from it are held under a nigh-monopoly by Ponterran companies. The highest quality items are exported for prohibitively expensive prices only achievable by the most wealthy of upper-layer merchants and leaders. Lower quality items and refined but unused iridescium are still expensive luxury exports, but are purchasable by a slightly wider margin of merchants. Because of this, it is also a common--if exceptionally illegal--product on the black market and a common goal for pirates.

Type

Metal

Color

Highly reflective in a rainbow of sheens, depending on the angle of view and grain.

Common State

Solid

Related Species