Phosphos (Foss-fs)

Phosphos is a crystalline material used to generate heat and light in the presence of electricity. Although higher purity crystals are used in the generation of electricity in both the Union and Ivory Empire, low-purity crystals are available to the public in commercial appliances.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Phosphos is a crystalline material. It has a hexagonal prismatic crystal habit, and there are rare instances of twinning occurring in phosphos crystals.
Phosphos crystals are a generally translucent dark purple or black color with a haze of rainbow colors in the center. Crystals with higher purity have clearer colors in their haze, while impure crystals may lack the nebula entirely. When a phosphos crystal is activated, the nebula becomes brighter.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Under ambient conditions, phosphos is a hard crystal with a somewhat colder than ambient temperature.
An activated crystal can become very bright and hot, though it retains its hardness and shape. Higher purity crystals release more light and heat than their less pure siblings.
Phosphos grows from itself, creating a potentially renewable resource. As long as some amount of crystal remains after mining, more phosphos of a similar quality will eventually grow, with the rate of regrowth increasing with more crystal bed remaining. Higher purity crystals grow more slowly than low-purity crystals.

Geology & Geography

Phosphos is most readily found in areas of high Ether concentrations, such as the Black Shore.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Low-purity crystals are available in commercial products such as lighting or heating appliances.

Industrial Use

Higher purity phosphos crystals are reserved for government use in the generation of electricity. With the high conversion rate, the relatively rare crystals can provide the entire needs of a city easily.

Hazards

Due to its occurrence in areas of high Ether, mining phosphos comes with a high risk of Ether poisoning. Mining expeditions tend to experience rapid turnover as people are forced to undergo treatment for Ether poisoning.

Type

Mineral

Color

Black or dark purple with a nebula in the center