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The New Notion Club Archives
Geology

Moria, only known deposit of Mithril

Mithril, also known as Adamant, Mistarille, and in slang True Silver, Grey Glitter and Moria Silver, was a most remarkable and precious natural metal, only recorded to be found in one place in Middle-Earth: Moria (though other lodes were reputed, most likely falsely, to be found in the Orocarni, Ered Harmal, and in Númenor). Of all the metals in the Middle-World, it was considered the most versatile and valuable, for it had many extraordinary values; it was, in natural ore form, as pure and bright as refined silver, but its beauty did not tarnish, grow dim, or wear with time, and it was far stronger (indeed, nearly indestructible, unless smelted), yet far lighter and more bearable, than common steelalloy.

The Dwarves were its chief miners and exporters, but all folk desired and purchased it, from wealthy local Nobles of foreign Easterling and Barangil peoples, to entire societies of Western Men and Elves. By the latter peoples, it was wielded in the making of several alloys; the Noldor forged it into Ithildin and Galvorn, while the Númenóreans forged it into Eog, Ithilnaur, and Mithrarian.

The most valuable of all metals was Mithril. As stated previously, its only recorded sources were lodes under the Caradhras in the Misty Mountains. The Men of Númenor and their descendants, from the Gondorians to the Black Númenóreans of Bellakar, demonstrated the use of Mithril in many of their works; the Helms of the Guard of the White Tree, for example, were forged entirely of Mithril, as were elements of the Crown of Gondor. Other Mithril trinkets and artifacts from Númenór itself were reportedly of Mithril, so it is possible that this metal was, in fact, discovered in the Isle of the Star itself, and mined when its people had become advanced.

By the time of the Fourth Age, Mithril had become nearly-mythical, and the Dwarves of Barakûl guarded its production and trade fiercely. This may have caused wars in this age which forced the Longbeards into isolation. In any case, by the Fifth Age, Mithril had already vanished from the economic market, and was revered by peoples as late as the Sixth Age as the legendary metal of Adamant. By the Seventh Age, however, it was regarded purely as a myth.


References[]

  • MERP:Northwestern Middle-Earth Campaign Atlas
  • MERP:Northwestern Middle-Earth Gazetteer
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