Ardanium was a mineral that grew stronger in the presence of radiation, making it incredibly useful in the construction of fuel cells for large starships. Ardanium also had medical applications, but the material's primary use in fuel cells made it highly valuable. The discovery of an ardanium reserve on the planet Questal around 3 BBY led to the Ardanium Rush, an event in which thousands of entrepreneurs and miners traveled to Questal in search of ardanium.

DescriptionEdit

Ardanium was a type of mineral that, when refined, had the unique property of growing stronger in the presence of radiation. This made ardanium especially useful in the construction of fuel cells, as a millimeter-thin coating of ardanium allowed the Galactic Empire to fashion fuel cells and engines that could be used in the construction of Super Star Destroyers.^[1] Ardanium also had medical applications, as the xenopathologist Archiban Kimble used it in conjuction with accellerite and cyanogen silicate in order to develop a cure for a rare flesh-eating disease.^[2] Ardanium II was a material with similar properties to ardanium, though it was used only on smaller fuel cells.^[3]

HistoryEdit

Ardanium was known to the galaxy by the time of the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, as Kimble was able to acquire a supply of ardanium for his research.^[2] Around 3 BBY, an agri-droid on the planet Questal turned over a rock that was embedded with ardanium. Upon learning of this, Emperor Palpatine of the Galactic Empire realized that he could double the size of his fleet with the reserves on Questal, and entrepreneurs and miners began to arrive by the thousands in search of their fortunes. Prospectors in the capital of Grallleenya ravaged the countryside around the settlement, leaving behind the Waste—a lifeless territory scarred by empty pits and mines. The Ardanium Rush, as it came to be called, also drew criminal elements that established footholds on the planet, and Emperor Palpatine was forced to send Moff Bandor in order to restore order. Bandor halted the chaos with the support of the Imperial Military, though conflicts continued to break out as Questal's ardanium deposits were depleted over the next three years. When Bandor was defeated by agents of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, the Empire chose to abandon Questal, as very little ardanium remained.^[1]

Behind the scenesEdit

Ardanium was first mentioned in the 1990 role-playing scenario The Game Chambers of Questal, which was reprinted in 1998 within Classic Adventures: Volume Five, and the material received another mention in the 2011 video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars: The Old Republic (Mentioned only)
•  The Game Chambers of Questal

SourcesEdit

• Classic Adventures: Volume Five

Notes and referencesEdit