Miniral Facts

ROCKS & METALS & GEMS found on Carsis

Igneous Rocks

They maybe split into two types, those formed deep underground and those of volcanic origin.

Granite –

It is one of the most common rocks in the world. A strong heavy stone, it has a medium course texture. It is usually salt-pepper in colour but may also be slightly pink. It is a favorite building material because of its strength and durability.

Diorite –

It is similar to granite, but with a larger mottled black-white pattern, it may also be slightly blue. It is actually harder than granite, so hard that it is very difficult to work with.    

Gabbro –

It is similar to granite, but with a large mottled black-white pattern, it may also be slightly green. It is heavier than granite but not as strong.

Peridotite –

They are a dense, course grained stone, either greenish or yellowish. Heavy but not very strong, they contain

a large amount of magnesium. 

Basalt –

It is a strong, lighter weight volcanic rock. It is dark in colour with a smooth texture.

Rhyolite –

It is a medium strength, light weight volcanic rock. It is light coloured with a fine texture.

Pumice –

It is a very light weight volcanic rock that crumbles easily. It is often used as “sandpaper”.

Obsidian –

It is a very strong, light weight, dark coloured volcanic-glass.

Sedimentary Rocks

They are made up of various particles, compressed over time.

Coal - actually has several forms.

Peat is young, unfossilised coal. Brown coal is not very old but has a better heat to weight ratio than peat. Black coal is old, hard and crumbles easily. It gives off a good amount of energy. Anthracite is the oldest, hardest and best type of coal. It is also the deepest down into the earth, not easily mined.

Clay –

It is made of very fine grain particles. It comes in a wide variety of colours and qualities. It is used for pottery and brick making. Terracotta is any sun dried clay product. Ceramic is any kiln dried clay object. Shale is highly compressed clay. Slate is the next stage, highly compressed shale.  Both of these stone types may be split into thin slabs.

 

Sandstone –

It is very common, and found in many varieties. Mostly comprised of quarts and felspar, the colour depends on the other minerals present. Usually it is soft and easy to work with, but deteriorates quite quickly when exposed to weather. Because of its texture, sandstone is excellent for sharpening blades. 

Arkose “pink-stone” is the best durable sandstone for building with.

Grayose “blue-stone” is the most beautiful sandstone, but it is uncommon.

Limestone –

It is the most common sedimentary type rock in the world. It is the remains of marine organisms and silt, laid down in layers over a very long time, and compressed. It has three basic forms.

Regular limestone – it may have various layers of hardness with in it. In general it is very susceptible to water erosion. Rivers cut caves and canyons deep into it. If used in construction it is usually dressed with an outer layer to protect it from the weather.

Marble – which is quite hard.

Chalk - which is very soft.

Base Metals

They oxidize, tarnish and eventually decay.

Copper –

It is a reddish-brown metal, that turns green after exposure. It is very common, and easy to work with. Usually it is alloyed with some other kind of metal.

Iron –

It is a gray-black metal, which turns red when exposed. It is the most common metal, and may be found in various grades. It is easy to work with although it lacks in rigidity in pure form.

Nickel –

It is a silver colour that grows more gray with exposure. It is quite common, and often mixed with other metals to add strength to them. Like iron, it may be magnetized.

Lead –

It is dull silver that turns black with exposure. It is heavy but soft, easy to work with. It is slightly toxic, so that long term use of lead containers or pipes is hazardous.

Zinc –

It is a blue-grey metal that turns black with exposure. It is similar to lead in many ways.

Noble Metals

They do not oxidize, tarnish or decay with exposure.

Tin –

It is a dull white-grey colour; it is surprisingly heavy and strong. It is a soft metal and easy to work with, often hammered into large flat sheets.

Gold –

It is the most highly valued metal, with a distinctive yellowish metallic shine. It is very soft and easy to work with. It is immune to acids that dissolve most other metals. 

Silver –

It has a brilliant metallic shine when polished, but looks a lot like tin when left alone.  It is used as the main form of currency in most places. 

Platinum –

It is a very rare metal that seems to combine the best qualities of silver and gold.

Alloys

They combine two or more pure metals to form a compound.

Brass –

It is a mix of zinc and copper, it has a light red to deep yellow colour. It is poor-man’s gold, often used decoratively, it does not rust. 

Bronze –

It is a mix of tin and copper, it has a dull yellow to orange colour. It is stronger than iron and does not rust, but it does not take or hold a sharp edge as well. It does oxidize slightly, turning green, but does not actually decay.

Steel –

It is a mix of iron and carbon, it is hard and durable, resisting rust, with a nice metallic shine. It is quite difficult to make because of the high temperatures involved in the smelting.

Pewter –

It is a mix of tin and lead, soft yet strong with a dull gray colour that may be buffed to a nice shine. It is poor-man’s silver, often used decoratively.

Coinage Note

Most nations mix some nickel with their copper, silver, gold to form coins that are more durable. This presents the possible debasement of the coin’s value; however 10% impurity is acceptable.

Anti magic metal

Aluminum - which has a wide range of useful properties, is most valued because it blocks magic. It is dull grey in colour, strong, malleable, light weight, and resistant to corrosion. However it is very difficult to extract it from the bauxite ore that it is found in.  Dwarves are the only ones to know the secrets of purifying aluminium into a workable metal. Humans tend to use raw bauxite as a building material to create rooms that are shielded from magic.

Ornamental Gems

Agate –

There are several types, all being opaque with a stripped pattern;

Banded - is brown with red or pink stripes. Blue Lace - is pale blue with frilly white stripes. Tiger Eye - is yellow with brown stripes and green spots. Leopard - is black with yellow and brown stripes. Sagenite - is purple with white bands.

Allanite - also called orthite.

It is a translucent black or dark violet. It glows slightly in the dark, although not enough to be of much use.  It is often used decoratively by the Dwarves.

Azurite - an opaque rich blue, running from light to dark. 

Borax - a clear crystal that may be found in very large blocks.

Hematite –

It is an opaque rock crystal that grows in rose like blades around a central knob. Its form is beautiful; its reddish colour is based on its iron content.

Lapis Lazuli –

It is a rock composed of a mix of minerals. It is translucent white with deep blue streaks and flecks of gold, although these are pyrite not real gold.

Semi-precious Gems

Malachite –

It is an opaque long crystal with alternating light and dark green bands.

Quartz –

There are several types all being dull translucent, including; Smoky grey, Aqua blue, Strawberry pink-red, Citrine yellow, Amethyst purple, and Phantom clear.

Jasper –

It is similar to quartz except that it is dull opaque, types include; Blood red, Sky blue, Burnt brown, and Lion yellow.

Turquoise –

It has a distinctive opaque blue green colour with a dull lustre. It fades when exposed to oils, including skin oil, so it must be used carefully in jewellery.

Precious Gems

Opal –

There are several types, always opaque and shiny, including; Fire red-yellow, Water blue- green, Earth brown-yellow, and Sky blue-white.

Garnet –

There are several types, always short translucent crystals, including; Almanidine red, Rhodolite pink, Demantoid green, and Melanite blue. 

Topaz –

It is a transparent yellow gold crystal, when heated it becomes reddish pink.

Jade –

It ranges from pale to dark green and from opaque to translucent.

Exquisite Gems

Beryl - 

There are several types, always long transparent crystals, including; Heliodor yellow, Aquamarine blue-green, Emerald green, Morganite pink.

Corundum –

They are very hard and beautiful sparkling transparent crystals; Sapphire blue, Rubies red.

Diamond –

The hardest known substance, it comes in many pale transparent colours.