Real Kryptonite Found In Serbia Edit
Jadarite Matches Chemical Formula

Superman may be fictional, but the chemical that robs him of his powers is real.

Its chemical composition, anyway.

Discovered in a mine in Jadar, Serbia, a new-found mineral, called Jadarite, was found by Rio Tinto mines. According to BBC News, “They could not match it with anything known previously to science.

To the demise of Superman fans, the real thing doesn’t glow, it’s not green, and so far, hasn’t exhibited any notable powers. However, when it’s exposed to UV rays, it shows a pink and orange fluorescence.

Scientists, researchers and superhero fans were all equally excited when Dr. Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London’s Natural History Museum, discovered that though the mineral’s makeup had not been previously discovered in real life, it had been cited in 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 the same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns,” Stanley said.

Unfortunately, the mineral couldn’t be called “kryptonite” officially. International nomenclature rules have to be considered, so it was named Jadarite after the mine’s location. The mineral doesn’t contain any krypton anyway, which is a gas element.