Mineral

An example of trellium-D

Minerals are natural, inorganic, solid compounds with a regularly ordered crystalline structure. (TNG: "Silicon Avatar") Rock is a naturally occurring solid substance composed of minerals. (TNG: "Thine Own Self") All mineral names, with only a few exceptions, end with the suffix -ite or -ine. Mining is the process of extracting minerals from objects like planets and asteroids. (DS9: "Chimera") Furthermore, several planets are sources of minerals in the Federation including Earth, Janus VI, Ardana, Capella IV, Coridan, and Elas. (TOS: "Journey to Babel", "Elaan of Troyius")

Notable minerals

• The benamite crystals could be use to construct an advanced quantum slipstream drive. (VOY: "Timeless")

• Boronite is a rare mineral ore which was used in the synthesis of Omega molecules. (VOY: "The Omega Directive")

• Gallicite can produce strong electrical currents when metal objects are held nearby. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")

• The key component of the Xindi superweapon was the mineral kemocite. (ENT: "The Shipment")

• Janus VI was an important Federation source of pergium used to generate energy. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")

• The only known cure for Rigelian fever was the rare mineral ryetalyn. (TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah")

• Capella IV was a rich source of the rare mineral topaline. (TOS: "Friday's Child")

• Trellium is a mineral that was used as insulation against anomalies by ships in the Delphic Expanse. (ENT: "Damage")

• Uridium is an unstable mineral that was used in Cardassian ship construction. (DS9: "Indiscretion")

• In 2269, the only known source of the mineral zenite was the planet Ardana. (TOS: "The Cloud Minders")

Mineral life

Some lifeforms were mineral-based, such as the Crystalline Entity, the Excalbians, the Horta, the microbrain, the silicon-based lifeform, and the Tholians.

See also

• Crystal
• Materials and substances

External link

• Mineral at Wikipedia
• The Mineralogy of Startrek at http://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/STAR%20TREK%20Article.pdf