Desereti Ocean Marble

Desereti Ocean Marble is a hard marble variant found on the planet Deseret renowned for its remarkable hardness, rich blue color, and streaks of gold.

Properties

Geology & Geography

Commonly found in mountainous regions near equatorial coasts.

History & Usage

Discovery

Desereti Ocean Marble was discovered by Geologist Team 3 led by Jay Christensen in 4 DE, shortly after the arrival of colonists to Deseret. It was found in the rocky crags that surround Ocean Forest. It immediately seized the public imagination for matching the colors of the Deseret Flag.

Everyday use

While the deep blue and shining gold swirls of Desereti Ocean Marble make it an appealing choice aesthetically, its hardness and durability has made it highly prized in construction projects. It is commonly used in government and religious buildings because of the high price set by the Federal Government but can be found as a decorative element in the homes of the wealthy.

Cultural Significance and Usage

If Congress passes this bill, our country is doomed to destruction by Joanna Greene and her ilk. Letting these foreigners in is just the beginning! This planet was settled by the Saints for the Saints. Most of these people are never going home, if this passes they are here to stay. Do you want to see pagan judges? Pagan mayors and police officers, pagans teaching your kids at school? Where does it end? Will you be happy when you see a pagan temple built in blue marble?

— Rosalie Pasquier, protesting the Bhramaputra Refugee Bill

Deseretis take immense pride in Ocean Marble. Many of the most important buildings on Deseret are built with the stone such as the Zarahemla temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (LDS) or feature it predominately in decoration such as the indoor halls and pillars of the House of Congress.
When Deseret opened itself up to immigration following the introduction of the gravity-drive and the influx of refugees from Bhramaputra Prime there was much controversy and debate, with many traditionalists predicting the end of Desereti culture. One of the areas where these fears came most strongly into play was over whether the Federal Government would permit Desereti Ocean Marble to be used in the construction of Buddhist and Hindu religious buildings.
Protesters marched on the President's Residence in Zarahemla, demanding President Gideon Caldwell not permit the sale of Ocean Marble to non-christian groups. The protesters were not mollified when the President released a statement explaining his willingness to permit the refugees to purchase Ocean Marble but that no request had yet been made. Protests were then held in front of LDS Headquarters where the demand was made for the church president to use his influence to prevent any future sales. When the president of the church Jata T. Packer not only refused to comply but revealed the church was cooperating with Bhramaputran religious leaders to build their own temples the protesters turned riotous. Only Packer's presence on the stairs of church headquarters prevented violence from turning violent.

These people, your brothers and sisters and equal sons and daughters of God, have come to you in their time of need. Now they are here, hoping to create a new home for themselves and their families. Surely, we of all people can understand that desire?
I hear accusations that the church is abandoning its purpose in defending and spreading the gospel of Christ. I am here to tell you no, we are not. We are defending a principle vital to the spread of the gospel, that all are free to worship God as their conscience dictates. How we act now will have ripples in the future that none here will live to see.

— LDS Church President Jata T Packer, addressing the Marble Protest

Shortly after the end of the protests the Bhramaputran Refugee bill was signed into law, devoting funds to drastically speed up the immigration processing of refugees. The LDS church helped the Hindu Churches of Deseret and the Buddhist Desereti Foundation, find suitable spots for their temples and shrines. Requests for the purchase of Desereti Ocean Marble were submitted to the Federal Government which President Gideon Caldwell signed a few days later. No protests have been held on this topic since.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

The Congress of Deseret passed the Marble Act in 22 DE, giving possession of all Desereti Ocean Marble found on the planet to the Federal Government. The Federal Government therefore maintains a monopoly on the stone, setting the prices and choosing who to sell to. This form of government control historically has limited the use of Desereti Ocean Marble to only culturally and religiously important buildings.

Type

Stone

Rarity

Uncommon

Color

Deep vibrant blue with bright swirls

In recent years the illegal mining and shipment of Desereti Ocean Marble has become a concern, most commonly being shipped to Ulvastea and Nouveau Dakar. Requests for the stone from these countries are denied automatically, part of ongoing sanctions over human rights violations.

Sanctions? What good would that do? We've just met! If you want to punish someone by cutting off trade it's usually a good idea to have some trade to cut off in the first place. All they've done is give me and my colleagues a great way to make some money. Lots of folks will pay hefty sum to get this stuff, federal monopoly and sanctions be damned.

— Abdul Haleem al-Saab, Dakarese smuggler

Most illegal shipments of Desereti Ocean Marble are relatively small, enough for furniture like tables or desks or for use in sculpture. The amounts necessary for construction, and the surveillance the Federal Government maintains on all known locations, make transporting large amounts extremely difficult and easy to spot. 
 Considering the large fines for smuggling even small amounts, it is no wonder that shipments are kept as small and discreet as possible. But there are always individuals and groups willing to pay kingly sums to any smuggler willing to take on the risk.