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A '''mineral''' was a naturally occurring substance that was solid, inorganic and had an ordered atomic structure. They were studied by [[mineralogist]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'') and were often the cause of colonisation ([[TV]]: ''[[Colony in Space (TV story)|Colony in Space]]'') or wars. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]],'' ''[[The Curse of Peladon (TV story)|The Curse of Peladon]]'' et al.) Mineral surveys were sent to detect the presence of minerals. ([[TV]]: ''[[Colony in Space (TV story)|Colony in Space]]'', ''[[Kill the Moon (TV story)|Kill the Moon]]'')


A '''mineral''' was a naturally occurring substance that was solid, inorganic and had an ordered atomic structure. It was different from a [[rock]], which could be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and did not have a specific chemical composition.
Some minerals, such as [[quartz]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') and [[duralinium]], were mined from naturally occurring veins of [[ore]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Colony in Space (TV story)|Colony in Space]]'') Others, such as [[zelanite]], [[keefan]], and [[lucanol]], had to be extracted using specialised equipment, such as [[Kaldor]] [[sandminer]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'')
 
[[Bernalium]] was used to power the [[X-ray]] laser on [[Space Station W3]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'') It was very rare in the [[Sol system]]. The hull of the [[Arkive]] was made of a bernalium alloy; when it formed the core of [[Mnemosyne (moon)|Mnemosyne]], the bernalium seeped into the moon. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel of Ice (novel)|The Wheel of Ice]]'')
 
[[Cerulium]] (found on [[Ceres]]) had the property of inhibiting free will. The native [[Cerulian]]s used it as the basis of their civilisation until they were destroyed by an [[asteroid]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Sirens of Ceres]]'')
 
[[Duralinium]] was used in the construction of buildings and other structures, such as the armoury doors on [[Peladon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Monster of Peladon (TV story)|The Monster of Peladon]]'') By the [[25th century]], [[Earth]] was desperate for it and needed it for the construction of residential complexes. Like most minerals, it was found in rock veins. It was highly abundant on the planet [[Uxarieus]], the biggest find in [[IMC]] history. ([[TV]]: ''[[Colony in Space]]'')
 
[[Genellium]] was a highly efficient power source and ideal for [[faster-than-light travel]]. It was very rare and highly sought after. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Invasion of E-Space]]'')
 
[[Jethrik]] was a blueish mineral that was a vital component for certain types of warp drive engines. Though harmless in its natural form, a handful of jethrik could power an entire [[starship]]. The scarcity of jethrik made it valuable: according to [[Garron]], it was the rarest and most powerful element in the universe. Unbeknownst to him, the jethrik he had was the first segment of the [[Key to Time]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'')


[[File:Psychic interference transmitter.jpg|thumb|Refined madranite one-five crystals (green) with [[voolium]] (blue) in a [[psychic interference transmitter]].]]
Minerals could be purposed in a variety of ways. Some functioned as power sources, such as [[bernalium]] or [[genellium]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Invasion of E-Space (audio story)|The Invasion of E-Space]]'')


[[Madranite one-five]] was abundant on the [[planet]] [[Calufrax]], which, according to the [[Fourth Doctor]], was the only place it was known to occur naturally. The vibrations of refined madranite one-five and [[voolium]] crystals could be used to power a [[psychic interference transmitter]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]'')
Some minerals, like [[duralinium]], were used in construction. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Monster of Peladon (TV story)|The Monster of Peladon]]'') They could be components, as [[jethrik]] was for certain types of warp drive engines, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation (TV story)|The Ribos Operation]]'') [[taranium]] was for some time travel devices, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'' et al) and [[zeiton]] crystals were for [[TARDIS]]es. ([[TV]]: ''[[Vengeance on Varos (TV story)|Vengeance on Varos]]'', ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'') Similarly, mineral nitrate was used to produce the [[insecticide]] [[DN6]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'') and the [[Fourth Doctor]] described automated systems as being made of "minerals and [[circuitry]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Armageddon Factor (TV story)|The Armageddon Factor]]'')


[[Oolion]] could be found almost exclusively on [[Bandraginus Five]] and [[Qualactin]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]'')
Several types of minerals affected [[psychic power]]s. [[Metebelis crystal]]s could break hypnotic spells, enhance intelligence and enhance psychic powers. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Green Death (TV story)|The Green Death]]'') The vibrations of refined [[voolium]] and [[madranite one-five]] crystals could be used to power a psychic interference transmitter to neutralise psychic powers. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'')


[[Quartz]] or [[PJX1-8]] was abundant on the [[planet]] [[Earth]] but rarer elsewhere. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]'') The [[Tenth Doctor]] explained that its name was derived from the [[German language|German]] word "quarz," which originated from the Slavic meaning for "hard." ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Bog Warrior (short story)|The Bog Warrior]]'') The first [[Dalek Emperor]], upon taking the title, ordered the gathering of quartz for the creation of his special casing. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Genesis of Evil]]'')
Some minerals were hazardous, such as [[vastial]], which would become unstable and combust at temperatures above ten degrees, ([[TV]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]'') or [[vionesium]], which reacted rapidly and violently with oxygen. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)|Terror of the Vervoids]]'') Others were protective in nature; the [[fluon radiation]] produced by [[Metebelis crystal]]s ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Return of the Spiders (short story)|Return of the Spiders]]'') could be blocked by minerals also found on [[Metebelis III]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Spiders (TV story)|Planet of the Spiders]]'')  


[[Taranium]] was the rarest mineral in the [[universe]]. It was very unstable and capable of storing vast amounts of energy. It was used in [[time travel]] and could send whole areas back in time. Over a billion tonnes of ore had to be processed to collect a milligram. One of the few [[planet]]s it was found on was [[Uranus]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel of Ice (novel)|The Wheel of Ice]]'') It could also be found in [[Pazithi Gallifreya]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'') In the [[21st century]], the [[Second Doctor]] planned to help [[Arkive]] send a message back in time by having [[MMAC]] collect taranium from Uranus. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel of Ice (novel)|The Wheel of Ice]]'') The [[Dalek]]s used taranium to power [[Dalek time machine|their time machines]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Chase (novelisation)|The Chase]]'', ''[[Mission to the Unknown (novelisation)|Mission to the Unknown]]''/''[[The Mutation of Time (novelisation)|The Mutation of Time]]'') as well as to power their ultimate weapon, the [[Time Destructor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') Taranium was also used to construct temporal weapons on [[Gallifrey]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Panacea (audio story)|Panacea]]'')
Still others had stranger effects. [[Cerulium]] (found on [[Ceres]]) had the property of inhibiting free will, ([[TV]]: ''[[Sirens of Ceres (TV story)|Sirens of Ceres]]'') and radioactive [[thaesium]] was used by [[Solonian]]s to cause the "[[mutation]]s" that were part of their life cycle. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'')


Radioactive [[thaesium]] was used by [[Solonian]]s to cause the "[[mutation]]s" that were part of their life cycle. It was also used as fuel by [[human]]s during the time of the [[Earth Empire]]. [[Solos]] was rich in thaesium, and the planet was mined by the Empire until the deposits were nearly exhausted. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mutants (TV story)|The Mutants]]'')
Human [[bone]]s contained [[calcium]] minerals, which could be used as [[fertiliser]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Smile (TV story)|Smile]]'')


[[Tinclavic]] was a malleable mineral mined on the planet [[Raaga]]. It was primarily used by the [[Hakolian|Hakolians]] who used [[Terileptil]] prisoners to mine the mineral. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Visitation]]'') Tinclavic was also used in the construction of several spacecraft including the [[I]]'s spacecraft and the [[Time Lord]]s' [[Time Station]] (in which triple-bonded [[Polysium]] was also used). ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Seeing I]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Neverland]]'')
Other minerals included [[galdrium]] and assetenite four-five-five. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'')


[[Trisilicate]] was "the hardest form of [[salt]] in [[Mutter's Spiral|the galaxy]]". ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Bride of Peladon (audio story)|The Bride of Peladon]]'') It was found in quantity on Peladon. Much of the technology of the [[Galactic Federation]] was based on it. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Monster of Peladon (TV story)|The Monster of Peladon]]'') The negatively-charged [[anion]]s of trisilicate sapped the energy of the [[Osirian]], [[Sekhmet]]. She was entombed in a trisilicate spaceship which later crashlanded on Peladon. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Bride of Peladon (audio story)|The Bride of Peladon]]'') When the Federation went to war with [[Galaxy 5]], the use and control of the trisilicate supply became vital to their war effort. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Monster of Peladon]]'') By [[3985]] the trisilicate deposits were almost totally mined out. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Legacy (novel)|Legacy]]'')
[[Dark planet]]s could support life, despite the lack of adequate light, as [[radioactive]] minerals were present. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dark Planet (short story)|The Dark Planet]]'')


[[File:Vionesium.jpg|right|thumb|A device designed to facilitate the reaction of vionesium. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)|Terror of the Vervoids]]'')]]
[[Proamonium]], only found on [[Proamon]], was the rarest mineral in [[N-Space]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Night of the Humans (novel)|Night of the Humans]]'') although another account suggested that the rarest mineral in the [[universe]] was [[taranium]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]'') [[Argonite]] was the most expensive mineral in [[Mutter's Spiral|Earth's galaxy]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Space Pirates (TV story)|The Space Pirates]]'')


[[Vionesium]] was a rare mineral that reacted with [[oxygen]] to produce light and [[carbon dioxide]] in large quantities. The [[Sixth Doctor]] compared it to [[magnesium]]. Because the [[atmosphere]] of [[Mogar]] contained no oxygen, it was ideal for mining it. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)|Terror of the Vervoids]]'')
''[[Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?]]'' was a successful [[panel game]] for [[archaeology]] [[expert]]s that ran on [[British]] [[television]] from [[1952]] to [[1959]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)|The Time Traveller's Almanac]]'')


[[Zeiton-7]] was used by [[TARDIS]]es to generate [[orbital energy]], allowing them to move. It could be also used for fuel by other [[space-time vessel]]s. It was generally found on [[Varos]], though [[Galatron Mining Corporation]] had also found traces of Zeiton-7 on an [[asteroid]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Vengeance on Varos]]'') The [[Eighth Doctor]] once suggested that it could be synthesised, perhaps using compressed [[nitrogen]] as a base but the exact formula eluded him. Zeiton-7 did not exist in the [[Divergent Universe]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Creed of the Kromon]]'') Zeiton-7 could also be used to form part of a [[cold fusion]] generator. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lucifer Rising]]'')
[[Category:Geology from the real world]]
[[Category:Minerals]]
[[Category:Mineralogy]]

Latest revision as of 16:11, 9 March 2023

Mineral

A mineral was a naturally occurring substance that was solid, inorganic and had an ordered atomic structure. They were studied by mineralogists, (TV: The Sensorites) and were often the cause of colonisation (TV: Colony in Space) or wars. (TV: The Daleks' Master Plan, The Curse of Peladon et al.) Mineral surveys were sent to detect the presence of minerals. (TV: Colony in Space, Kill the Moon)

Some minerals, such as quartz (TV: Marco Polo) and duralinium, were mined from naturally occurring veins of ore. (TV: Colony in Space) Others, such as zelanite, keefan, and lucanol, had to be extracted using specialised equipment, such as Kaldor sandminers. (TV: The Robots of Death)

Minerals could be purposed in a variety of ways. Some functioned as power sources, such as bernalium or genellium. (TV: The Wheel in Space, AUDIO: The Invasion of E-Space)

Some minerals, like duralinium, were used in construction. (TV: The Monster of Peladon) They could be components, as jethrik was for certain types of warp drive engines, (TV: The Ribos Operation) taranium was for some time travel devices, (TV: The Daleks' Master Plan et al) and zeiton crystals were for TARDISes. (TV: Vengeance on Varos, Time Crash) Similarly, mineral nitrate was used to produce the insecticide DN6, (TV: Planet of Giants) and the Fourth Doctor described automated systems as being made of "minerals and circuitry". (TV: The Armageddon Factor)

Several types of minerals affected psychic powers. Metebelis crystals could break hypnotic spells, enhance intelligence and enhance psychic powers. (TV: The Green Death) The vibrations of refined voolium and madranite one-five crystals could be used to power a psychic interference transmitter to neutralise psychic powers. (TV: The Pirate Planet)

Some minerals were hazardous, such as vastial, which would become unstable and combust at temperatures above ten degrees, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen) or vionesium, which reacted rapidly and violently with oxygen. (TV: Terror of the Vervoids) Others were protective in nature; the fluon radiation produced by Metebelis crystals (PROSE: Return of the Spiders) could be blocked by minerals also found on Metebelis III. (TV: Planet of the Spiders)

Still others had stranger effects. Cerulium (found on Ceres) had the property of inhibiting free will, (TV: Sirens of Ceres) and radioactive thaesium was used by Solonians to cause the "mutations" that were part of their life cycle. (TV: The Mutants)

Human bones contained calcium minerals, which could be used as fertiliser. (TV: Smile)

Other minerals included galdrium and assetenite four-five-five. (TV: The Pirate Planet)

Dark planets could support life, despite the lack of adequate light, as radioactive minerals were present. (PROSE: The Dark Planet)

Proamonium, only found on Proamon, was the rarest mineral in N-Space, (PROSE: Night of the Humans) although another account suggested that the rarest mineral in the universe was taranium. (TV: The Daleks' Master Plan) Argonite was the most expensive mineral in Earth's galaxy. (TV: The Space Pirates)

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral? was a successful panel game for archaeology experts that ran on British television from 1952 to 1959. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac)

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