Scientists have made some discoveries regarding a rare mineral known as jadarite – a mineral that has drawn comparisons to kryptonite, the fictional bane of Superman.
The mineral is a sodium lithium borosilicate hydroxide compound, first discovered – and so far, only discovered – in the Jadar Basin in Serbia.
Jadarite’s chemical composition happens to be extremely similar to the composition of kryptonite as described in the film “Superman Returns.”
Unlike kryptonite, jadarite is white rather than a sinister glowing green color – and as it’s found on Earth, it’s presumably harmless against Superman.
It’s the lithium that makes jadarite so desirable: lithium is a hot commodity, particularly when it comes to energy. It’s currently used in rechargeable batteries, and there are plans for hypothetical fusion reactions based around the element.
And jadarite contains lithium in a form that’s easy to refine for commercial use. So if more could be discovered, it may be a great boon to green energy projects.
In a new study published through Nature Geoscience, scientists have examined why jadarite is so rare, as well as examining it’s utility.
“Similar to baking a cake, everything needs to be measured and exact for this rare mineral to form,” said paper co-author Dr. Francesco Putzolu in a press release.
Through their efforts, Putzolu said, they may come closer to “identifying other possible deposits by unravelling the formation conditions in the lab.”
“As the demand for lithium continues in the race toward renewable energy, if mined, jadarite can offer huge potential,” said co-author Dr. Robin Armstrong. “This process brings us closer to identifying other possible deposits by unravelling the formation conditions in the lab.”
(Also, it’s worth noting that neither jadarite or kryptonite has much in common with the real-world element krypton, which is a chemically inert noble gas – odorless, colorless and generally non-reactive.)
To read the full press release from London’s Natural History Museum, click here.