¶ Ferrosilicate Core Fragments
![[IMG]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/432031707592654849/432064987213725696/CoreFragments.png)
Magnesium ferrosilicate, or as it's more commonly called, core fragments, are a magnesium iron silicate crystals found deep within the mantles of planets. This compound is described as a glowing red crystal found deep underground. It's existence is credited to the naturally occurring iron, silicon, and magnesium found within the mantles of most planets, combined with the high pressure and heat environment, allowing these crystal veins to form. What makes this crystal so useful is it's low specific heat and high heat retention, allowing it to be an excellent conductor of heat. It takes a lot less energy to raise it's temperature when compared to other substances, thus core fragments have found their uses in varying applications, from being used in internal combustion engines, heaters, and was even used as a fuel source for spaceships before the discovery of Erchius.
¶ Volatile Powder
Magnesium ferrosilicon has even more applications when crushed into a fine powder. The silicon is usually extracted, leaving a magnesium-iron alloy powder. This ratio of magnesium and iron can be altered to fit different uses. For instance, a ratio closer to 50/50 can make a compound capable of a thermite reaction, with all the uses that come with thermite (welding, explosives, etc.) A more magnesium-based formula has it's uses in fireworks and flares. A formula with more iron than magnesium is useful for casting metals. Caution is to be exercised when handling volatile powder, as exposing it to moisture can result in a rather explosive reaction. Likewise, it is not recommended to attempt to extinguish fires that result from volatile powder with water, as this presents even more dangers of it's own, such as spraying sparks and burning fragments.
¶ Excavation & Preparation
Mining core fragments is a rather easy process, however it is advisable to exercise caution all the same. Protective gear is necessary when mining core fragments, however it is not so much for the core fragments themselves as it is the environment of which it is found: a dense environment with temperatures ranging from 500 to 900 degrees Celsius (or 932 to 1,652 Fahrenheit). Thus, it's rather safe to assume that the core fragments themselves will be of high heat (if not higher) as well. This could explain the red glow associated with their appearance. It is not recommended to handle core fragments with your own hands without heavy protection, as it is safer to use an advanced mining set to excavate and store these fragments. When storing core fragments, it is advisable to keep them in a heat-resistant, low temperature environment to prevent them from overheating and melting through their containment.
To prepare Volatile Powder, you will need some form of pulverizing machinery to get the best results. The finer the powder, the higher the quality. After it has been ground up, a filtering setup is to be used to separate the silicon from the mix, and to achieve the desired ratio of magnesium and iron. There are machines that are built to specifically handle the conversion of core fragments to volatile powder that combine both of these processes, as well as usually having some form of interface that users can work with to input their desired form of volatile powder. To store volatile powder, no matter the variant, put it in an airless, vacuum sealed container. Make sure the container does not have any moisture inside, and that oxygen is not present before or after storage.