Alexandrium

Alexandrium is a mysterious crystalline substance native to Zatvor that can be found in all types of environments and concentrated into fields and clusters at random locations. It is a well-known and old material, in relation to Zatvor's inhabitants, but has only recently become safely handleable and processable into useful materials and/or energies. It is a very strange resource because it appears to be a crystallized version of many other common and uncommon ores and minerals that are already well known, such as iron, copper, sulfur, silver, phosphor and more. On top of that the crystals often contain a significant amount of magical energy that can be of use to Artificers, Sorcerers, Wizards, Warlocks, and other spellcasters and crafters of magical items.
The exact composition and concentration of minerals and energies within Alexandrium varies wildly based on the location it is harvested from. The reason for this is currently unknown, but it is speculated that the substance is absorbing the minerals within the ground before sprouting to the surface, thus Alexandrium found near a silver mine would be rich in silver itself. The substance occurs naturally in a few different colors, which seems to be influenced by its mineral composition. Purple is the most common color found, but there have been reports of crystals of all colors of the rainbow.
The one major drawback to Alexandrium, and the reason it has only recently been recently become handleable and processable, is that the substance itself is highly toxic to most forms of life. There are well-documented and well-observed scenarios of mining teams who have harvested Alexandrium in a similar fashion to other mining operations only for the miners to suffer severe illness, both physical and mental, within days of exposure. Similarly, even when the crystals are successfully harvested, several craftsmen and spellcasters who attempted to work with the substance suffered similarly. It wasn't until a recent discovery by the Trelane Tunneling Troupe company that Alexandrium harvesting became safe. The exact methods for safe harvesting and transport are, currently, a trade secret.
As for the processing and handling of the crystals once harvested, it is widely known that the toxic properties of Alexandrium are nullified once they are exposed to enough heat to melt them down into their component minerals or when they are exposed to sufficient amounts of advanced Force magic that effectively create a permanent barrier that contains and partially stabilizes the chaotic energies within. For now the main use of Alexandrium involves either breaking it down into its components and using those as base materials or making them effective batteries of magical energy, but there are a rare few who are working on crafting unique items out of the crystalline substance that both take advantage of its unique properties and minimize the risks to their users.

Type

Ore/Mineral

Value

Depends on composition

Color

Mostly purple, but can occur in all colors.

Common State

Solid crystal