Manalith
Properties
Material Characteristics
Heavy, radiant ingots that emit high-frequency harmonized tones that pulse through the air, most harmonized when near unseen ley currents. Due to the rarity of Manalith, each tone and frequency is unique and seems to lead to a different ley current. Colors vary greatly depending on the material(s) it is alloyed with. Has a magical conductivity rating of 10 out of 10.
Geology & Geography
Mined and refined deep beneath the Aether Conflux of Mithrandel, Manalith forms within ley fissures where condensed magic solidifies into dense mineral lattices. Extraction often triggers spontaneous mana surges, requiring heavy warding enchantments and multiple layers of magic protection.
Origin & Source
Manalith is used as both the name for the raw mineral as well as any alloy containing Manalith. Due to the volatile reactions with mana, it is both harvested and refined or smelted underground near leylines to ensure it will survive the journey to the surface for further manufacturing and shipping.
History & Usage
Discovery
Manalith was first discovered in 8944 when evocationist surveyors cut deep into a ley fissure during the region's centennial seven-year storms. While the surveyors did not survive, their skeletons were later recovered and were found petrified with raw Manalith. Centuries later, careful commercial excavation and refinement operations installed the standards used today to process this mana-rich material.
Industrial Use
Manalith's volatility and latent magic potential make it perfect for city-wide applications such as city power cores, back-up grids, and capitol artifact batteries.
Refinement
All refinement and smelting occurs underground near leylines and consists of komanan-based materials such as geothermal crucibles and aetherforges. Before making the journey to the surface, raw and refined Manalith is quench in liquid aether and capped with pyrewax to reduce the likelihood of surface manastorms.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
Aether condensate is extracted from aether drenches and is sold for use commercial explosives, mining charges and avalanche control.
Environmental Impact
Improper preparations can cause Manalith to attract manastorms directly to the mineral. These are not only fatal to the carrier and wildlife but create small pockets of manabogs, poisoning the ecosystem indefinitely.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Manalith is only available for purchase from the Mithrandel Magic Authority, a government-controlled agency charged with the responsible extracting, transfer and sale of hazardous and magical materials.
Type
Ore
Value
140 gold per gram
Rarity
Very rare
Color
multicolored: pink, gray and blue, turquoise
Melting / Freezing Point
5000° T
Density
690 lb/ft³