Posted by Lieutenant Commander Avik (XO) in Side Sim- Mining Colony of Feru III- The New Dawn Festival

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Avik (XO) in Side Sim- Mining Colony of Feru III- The New Dawn Festival

(snip)

Zorell nodded. “I don’t mind questions, ” she said , giving Jasper a small nod.

Entering, Vora wasn’t sure what to expect, but at least she had anticipated the narrowing. As the walls drew in closer, she had to steady her breath. She wasn’t claustrophobic, not in the traditional sense. Small spaces didn’t bother her. Being trapped inside a place did. There was a difference here and she had to fight to remind her mind that she was fine and there was a way out. “What sort of geological things are you interested in, Jasper? I have a Masters degree, so I know a fair bit. Though these days I’m studying stellar phenomenon.”

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

Jasper was a bit distracted and nearly missed Zora’s question. He felt the nudge from his mother, drawing his attention back to the conversation. With missing a beat, he smiled then proudly spoke.

“I like studying planets. Mainly the comparison of planet geographical landmarks and what’s happening in the crust. I also like gems and ores.” Behind him, his mother proudly beamed in silence.

The drippings on the rocks began to echo throughout the cavern as they went deeper. Crystal like forms began to crawl along the wall surface and add a glitter of shine within the darkness. Instinctively, Jasper reached out and brushed his hand along the beauty.

“What causes this?” He asked.

-Avik, XO

Vora smiled. She reached out and let her fingers caress the very tips of the formations, anticipating the way her memory would be triggered. This was a happy memory. Her first time exploring a cave and the moment she knew that geology was the right path for her just then. A way to explore a part of who she was still trying to understand amongst all the trauma she had experienced. There are two process at play here. The first is nucleation, which is where molecules suspended in a supersaturated liquid begin to clump together. Most commonly with crystalline formation in caves, it’s going to be calcium salts, but depending on where you are and the type of planet, it could be other things, like gallium or halite. But once they start clumping together, the way they do determines the formation, its structure. Crystal growth happens when these clumps grow together and it continues until ether supersaturation ends or the cave dries up. Does that make sense?” she asked.

There was something lovely about being able to share information like this. Vora would never say she was a natural teacher, but she had abundant enthusiasm for topics of interest and was never shy about sharing them. Well, most of the time.

~Vora Zorell, Sciences