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Alteran Rocks

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Faelin

The Court Jester
Retired Staff
Though by no means the most quaint or curious of the materials which play a role in Altera's composition, rocks are those which serve the most fundamental functions. Far more than just the ground beneath our feet, the world's rocks play into its architecture, its trades, and (most obviously) its landscapes. From dictating where rivers run and mountains form to providing the cobbles for a road or the flagstones for a chapel, these resources are vital, and they form the base of Alteran civilisation.

Here, you will find a short list of rocks found in Altera which are significant to discuss, either due to differences from their earthly equivalents, or other interesting properties. It is NOT a complete list of every rock found in Altera.


ROCKS

Andesite
Alteran Andesite is essentially the same as standard Earth Andesite. It is an extrusive igneous rock, formed by volcanic activity at the world's surface. As a result, it often found closer to the surface in mountainous regions, though elsewhere it can also be found in rich seams deeper underground. Though not the most common of rocks (much already having been mined from the Kingdoms), it is enough in evidence in other parts of Altera to increasingly see usage in building, and it may be polished for more decorative uses.

• Bedrock
Bedrock has no apparent Earth equivalent, but can be understood as an astoundingly dense, heavy rock representing a layer in Altera's crust which cannot possibly be breached by current technology. As such, it cannot be mined, manipulated, or used as a resource in any way.​
Coal
Alteran Coal is the same as standard Earth Coal, though it occurs slightly less and somewhat sparsely in Alteran geography. It is sedimentary (and sometimes metamorphic) rock formed over extensive periods of time from dead vegetative matter at buried at high temperatures and pressures under the ground. Primarily composed of carbon, though certainly not free of impurities, it is black to brown in colour, combustible, and varies in hardness. It is an important resource for maintaining fires, especially in the smithing trade, but it cannot hold enchantments.

• Diorite
Alteran Diorite is the same as standard Earth Diorite, an intrusive igneous rock characterised by its relatively large crystalline 'grains'. While it can be polished, the rock's hardness means that it is considerably more difficult to carve than most rocks, so it does not tend to be favoured for complex architectural designs such as statues or elaborate scrollwork. This quality does, however, lend itself quite well to inscription, as, though difficult, the finished inscription is unlikely to suffer much wear. For this reason, it is a popular (though not inexpensive) choice for tombstones and tablets.
• Granite
Alteran Granite is the same as standard Earth Granite, a type of intrusive igneous rock (formed from magma below the surface) comprised largely of lighter elements found in quartz and feldspar. Like Diorite, it always appears to contain countless crystalline grains, though its exact composition varies depending on the minerals and environment in which they solidified, resulting in huge variation in the colour and size of crystals. Very hard and highly impermeable, granite enjoys considerable use as a building material, and may be polished for more decorative use.
Prismarine
Prismarine is a form of intrusive igneous rock that has been formed of botallackite, cobalt, and several other miscellaneous minerals. Depending on the location of where the rock formed and how it's been treated it will be lighter or darker. There is a simple treatment process for the formation of a dark variant of prismarine, which involves staining the rock. It is most often found below the water having been used in construction of ancient ruins from lost civilizations. This stone stands up to weathering extremely well, and despite years of being underwater will only lose fractions of fractions of inches off their mass. It is most used as a building material.​
Sandstone (inc. Red)
Alteran Sandstone is the close equivalent of standard Earth Sandstone, both being a type of sedimentary rock composed of silicates and fragments of other rock forms. Depending on the sands from which it is formed (varying according to region and rock type), it can exist in a variety of colours, the most common hovering around pale yellows, golds, and orange-reds.

Stone
That which Alterans know simply as 'Stone' is actually a loose equivalent of standard Earth Basalt. Another extrusive igneous rock, it is by far the most common in Alteran geology, though its exact composition and appearance can vary depending on the conditions in which it is formed. This rock forms the basis for the vast majority of Altera's land formations.
Credits:
Cherry for research, information, and writing.
Baron for (willingly) having his brains picked.
Kamaoe for Prismarine
 
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