Spodumene

Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl(SiO₃)₂, and is a source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size. Single crystals of 14.3 m (47 ft) in size are reported from the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States.

The normal low-temperature form α-spodumene is in the monoclinic system whereas the high-temperature β-spodumene crystallizes in the tetragonal system. The normal α-spodumene converts to β-spodumene at temperatures above 900 °C. Crystals are typically heavily striated parallel to the principal axis. Crystal faces are often etched and pitted with triangular markings.

Discovery and occurrence

Spodumene was first described in 1800 for an occurrence in the type locality in Utö, Södermanland, Sweden. It was discovered by Brazilian naturalist Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva. The name is derived from the Greek spodumenos (σποδυμενος), meaning "burnt to ashes," owing to the opaque, ash-grey appearance of material refined for use in industry.

Dark Kingdom

The Dark Kingdom (ダーク・キングダム, Dāku Kingudamu) is a group of fictional characters who serve as antagonists in the Sailor Moon manga series by Naoko Takeuchi. They are the primary antagonists of the first story arc in every version of the series. They are first introduced in chapter #1 of the manga, "Usagi – Sailor Moon", originally published in Japan's Nakayoshi on December 28, 1991. In some English adaptations of the anime, the Dark Kingdom's name is change to "Negaverse".

Before the events of the series, the Dark Kingdom comes into being in the 20th century when the servants of those who had served the evil Queen Metaria millennia before (in the battle that destroyed the civilization on the Moon) were reawakened. However, in some of the English adaptations, the word "reborn" is used rather than "reincarnation" — it is implied that Queen Beryl and her cohorts were active the whole time even if they did not accelerate activities until the arrival of Sailor Moon. The group is led by Queen Beryl and the Four Kings of Heaven, who attempt to gather human energy with which to reawaken Metaria.