Superman and his mythical powers will forever inhabit the world of comic books, movies and our imagination. But Kryptonite, the green mineral he so feared (stolen by Lex Luther) may have a more mundane origin and non-lethal characteristics. A newly discovered mineral mined in Serbia, after being subjected to chemical analysis was found to closely resemble the composition of Kryptonite as described in the movie Superman Returns. The chemical formula of the mineral – "sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide" is similar to that of the fictional Kryptonite in all respects, minus the fluorine. Also, it is white, not green and completely harmless to ordinary mortals. However, the mineral can not be named "Kryptonite" because it contains no krypton, a real element (inert gas) on the Periodic Table. Instead, it will be called Jadarite for Jadar, the name of the place in Serbia where the mine is located.
Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes. A new mineral matching its unique chemistry – as described in the film Superman Returns – has been identified in a mine in Serbia.
According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman’s powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals. The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London’s Natural History Museum.
"I’m afraid it’s not green and it doesn’t glow either – although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange," he told BBC News.
Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.
Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral’s chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in literature – albeit fictional literature.
"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.
"The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite."
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