'Kryptonite' discovered in mine

Post by **fac51** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:29 am

Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes.

A new mineral matching its unique chemistry - as described in the film Superman Returns - has been identified in a mine in Serbia.

According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman's powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals.

The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum.

"I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either - although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange," he told BBC News.

Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.

Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral's chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in literature - albeit fictional literature.

"Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide - and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns.

source

Post by **117** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:38 am

wikkid, they've discovered a mineral with the same makeup as that of a fictionally-created mineral, that other than it's composition is completely different to the fictional one.... excuse me if I don't get overly excited about this

Oh, and the film was crap anyway

vinnieza · Post by **vinnieza** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:08 pm

WTF matching something to a fictional thing?

I thought krypton was an element in the periodic table anyway?

Post by **117** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:44 pm

'krypton' is an element, 'kryptonite' is a fictional thing

vinnieza · Post by **vinnieza** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:56 pm

Ha ha if they name this compound kryptonite it'll cause some confusion then

Edit: Ah ok

The mineral cannot be called kryptonite under international nomenclature rules because it has nothing to do with krypton - a real element in the Periodic Table that takes the form of a gas.

LOL:

So far the effects of Jadarite on superheroes have not been noted by researchers.