Alric Kuhn
Handsome K'lor'slug
Image Source: Google
Intent: To Create a rock.
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: Theal
Model: Durrite
Affiliation: Theal
Modularity: Minor
Production: Production: Limited
Material: Durrite, Molecules
Description:
Durrite is a rock that is only found on the planet Theal.
Though not many know of its existence, Durrite is probably one of the most interesting, yet frustrating materials that exists in the galaxy.
To start, Durrite is only found on the planet Theal on the surface of the planets crusts in massive quarries(much like granite on the planet Earth) and is fairly obvious to those who pass it by. There are massive deposits on certain continents that stretch several miles, but patches of the planet where there are none at all. This was of course naturally occurring. The formation of Durrite itself was a combination of Theal's unique planetary formation as well as volcanic activity in early stages. Durrite is an igneous rock and was formed through the mixture of thousands of different minerals and rocks through the early stages of Thea's creation. The unique traces and signature of the rock mean that Theal is the only planet that contains Durrite.
The reason Durrite is so frustrating yet interesting is because it's perhaps one of the densest and strongest materials in the entire galaxy. The bindings within the stone make Durrite extremely durable and energy resistant. The Material, when properly cut and processed, is found to be incredibly energy resistant as well as capable of taking kinetic punishment. A solid chunk of Durrite measuring one meter by one meter is capable of taking a direct turbolaser strike without any significant sign of damage or wear on the stone itself. Similarly, striking the rock with a high powered kinetic weapon such as a railgun or mass driver will have equally little effect on the stone.
Of course, this high density and incredible kinetic resistance means that Durrite is also lightsaber resistant. With enough time, focus, and pressure a lightsaber would eventually be able to cut through the rock, but doing so would likely be rather silly.
These qualities would make anyone who heard them think that Durrite was both the best rock in the galaxy and also the most sought after, well, they're wrong.
The trouble with Durrite and it's incredibly density, as well as the materials tendency to stick together is the fact that this density makes Durrite incredibly heavy. A brick of Durrite will weigh nearly fifty times what a brick of Duracrete would. With the average Duracrete brick that's 76 mm high x 230 mm long x 110 mm wide, weighing about 1.3kg that means the average Durrite brick will weigh somewhere around 60kg. Needless to say, this is incredibly heavy. Even with modern repulse technology, moving any significant amount of bricks would take an incredible amount of time, money, force, and energy.
This is without mentioning the trouble in mining, cutting, and forming the stones into proper shape.
Due to the properties of Durrite all of these things are incredibly difficult, if not nearly impossible. Given its absorption of energy and its ability to take kinetic impact so well Durrite is simply impossible to cut with most modern technologies. Saw's find themselves blunted, lasers find their beams absorbed, and most other means are iffy at best. Due to this, for mining, Durrite has to be chipped away from its quarry site through naturally formed cracks within the quarries. These cracks have to be expanded and then the pieces broken away.
Once the pieces are broken away, generally in smaller sections, the bits and shapes have to be cut down via abrasives rather than other means. This means that shaping a single brick can take weeks, if not months depending on size.
Due to these negative properties, Durrite is simply not economical as development or structural material. The creation of buildings made out of Durrite would simply take years no matter how you shaped it and the use of it as armor plating or any such thing is simply impossible due to the natural density of the rock itself. It's weight also makes it difficult to transport and carry, thus meaning that the use of Durrite within the galaxy is simply not economical, practical, or even halfway intelligent.
Primary Source: N/A
