Scientists find Serbian mineral almost identical to Superman's kryptonite

Findings showed that the chemical composition closely matched Superman's fictional Kryptonite (Photo: Scene from Superman Returns, IMDB)A mineral found in Serbia has an unusual connection to Superman's fictional Kryptonite. Known as Jadarite, the white mineral has almost the same chemical composition as the substance that weakens the superhero in comics and films. First discovered in 2004, it attracted international attention in 2007 when scientists identified its similarity to Kryptonite. Nearly two decades later, researchers at London's Natural History Museum have found that the mineral could also become an important source of lithium for electric vehicles in Europe.Unlike the glowing green Kryptonite shown in Superman stories, Jadarite is white, powdery and not radioactive. Its resemblance to the fictional substance is limited to its chemical composition. However, scientists are now more interested in the mineral's potential use in batteries than its connection to the superhero.A study discussed by the Natural History Museum last year examined the conditions under which SJadarite formed and why it has so far been found in only one part of Serbia. The researchers believe that understanding these conditions could help scientists identify other locations where the mineral might exist.The findings also raise questions about whether Jadarite should be mined. Although the Serbian deposit contains a large quantity of lithium, local opposition has prevented mining operations from going ahead.Jadarite's connection to KryptoniteThe connection between Jadarite and Kryptonite emerged when mining company Rio Tinto submitted a drill-core sample from Serbia to Chris Stanley, a mineral expert at London's Natural History Museum.Stanley examined the mineral and searched online for its chemical formula, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide. According to an Associated Press report published by CBS News, the search produced an unexpected result. The same scientific name appeared in the 2006 film Superman Returns.In the film, Superman's enemy Lex Luthor steals a piece of Kryptonite from a museum. The rock is displayed with a description that closely matches the chemical composition of the mineral found in Serbia.Speaking in 2007, Stanley explained how he made the connection. "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 Luthor from a museum in the film 'Superman Returns,'" Stanley said.The discovery attracted attention because of the similarity, although the real mineral does not possess the fictional properties of Kryptonite.The mineral was subsequently named Jadarite, after the Serbian region where it was discovered. At the time, the Natural History Museum said scientists typically identified around 30 to 40 new minerals each year, many occurring only as tiny grains visible under a microscope.Why Jadarite has been found only in SerbiaScientists have since tried to understand why Jadarite is so rare. Research led by Francesco Putzolu and colleagues at the Natural History Museum examined the geological conditions responsible for its formation.Their findings, published in Nature Geoscience, suggest that Jadarite developed through an unusual combination of volcanic activity and highly alkaline soda lakes that existed in the region up to 16 million years ago.These conditions had to occur together for the mineral to form. Researchers believe this explains why Jadarite has not been identified elsewhere, despite other locations having similar chemical environments.“We’ve likened it to baking a cake,” explained Professor Richard Herrington, a co-author of the research. “We need just the right ingredients and the just the right conditions and suddenly this mineral forms,” he added.Herrington said the combination of geological conditions appeared to have occurred by chance. Understanding this process could help researchers search for Jadarite deposits in other regions. For now, however, the mineral has only been found in Serbia's Jadar Valley.Use in Europe's electric vehicle industryBeyond its connection to Superman, Jadarite has attracted scientific and commercial interest because it contains lithium, an important material used in electric vehicle batteries.According to the Natural History Museum, Jadarite contains lithium in quantities comparable to spodumene, a mineral commonly mined for lithium. It also contains commercially valuable concentrations of boron.Researchers believe the Serbian deposit could become a major source of lithium because of its size and the relative ease with which the mineral can be processed.“There’s nearly a hundred million tonnes of Jadarite in the deposit,” Herrington said. “If mining is given the go-ahead this could be nine tenths of all the lithium Europe needs for its electric vehicles, so it’s pretty substantial.”However, the possibility of extracting the mineral has faced strong opposition from local communities. Plans to develop a mine and processing facility have remained controversial, preventing the deposit from being exploited.Scientists say this reflects a wider challenge in obtaining the raw materials needed for cleaner energy technologies while addressing concerns surrounding mining.The researchers hope that a better understanding of Jadarite's formation will help locate other deposits and contribute to discussions about its possible future use.