Superman fans will be familiar with the mineral kryptonite. Typically described in films and comic books as a green, radioactive substance originating from planet Krypton, it is supposed to strip Superman of his powers if he comes into contact with it. Until recently, it was the stuff of fiction. But mineralogists have discovered a new mineral with the chemical formula sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide, which is identical to what was written on a case of kryptonite in the film Superman Returns.

Credit: Natural History Museum

 

The real kryptonite: this new mineral was recently discovered and it has the same chemical formula as the substance in Superman comics.

But the real kryptonite is quite different in appearance to its fictional counterpart. Rather than being a psychedelic colour, it is white, appearing pinkish under ultraviolet light. It is made up of tiny crystals less than 5 microns in diameter and is quite hard in texture. Compared to the substance in Superman comics, it doesn't contain fluorine and isn't thought to have any supernatural effects.

The new mineral was discovered in Serbia by a mining group. It didn't resemble any known mineral, so Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at the Natural History Museum in London, was contacted for help. He was able to identify the chemical make-up of the rock, but further work needed to be done to determine its crystal structure.

A sample of the mineral was sent to Canada's National Research Council for analysis. By looking at the chemical and physical properties of the mineral - such as its elasticity - scientists would be able to confirm if it was truly unique. But there is also an international body - the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the International Mineralogical Association (CNMMN) - that compares new mineral claims with a huge database containing all known minerals.