Zenostium

Zenostium (Qers'nok: Nilatite ) is a commercial name for a particular type of exotic matter used in the construction of paragravity and contragravity plates.

Acquisition
Rare and difficult to acquire, zenostium is virtually only found in an energetic state in flux tubes. In its raw plasma form, zenostium quickly breaks down at room temperature and pressure. It can only be harvested using machinery that generate immense magnetic fields, where it is then isolated and refined into a solid-state metamaterial with exotic properties. This process is extremely power-intensive and requires significant industrial infrastructure, and is so costly that the UNSC has pursued research in alternative materials, such as Tyrkal, which is a naturally-occurring solid yet stable form of zenostium. While it is possible to synthesize zenostium, this is even more expensive and energy-intensive than its harvesting.

Zenostium was initially only found in the flux tube between Sol's Jupiter and moon of Io. Since then, colonies such as Nephis now act as major exporters for the material.

Usage
Discovered in the twenty-third century, zenostium initially only had fringe industrial and scientific applications until its gravitogenic properties were discovered in the late twenty-fourth century. Since then, it has become the primary material needed to produce economical paragravity plates as well as contragravity engines used for establishing artificial gravity and antigravity, respectively. Since the 2530s, even small warships such as certain classes of frigates and logistical craft have been equipped with such systems enabling them to keep themselves airborne when operating in a planet's atmosphere, a considerable improvement over prohibitively fuel-hungry rocket boosters. By the mid-to-late 26th century, the zenostium industry was booming as gravitic technology became increasingly common throughout the UNSC and the civilian world alike, with the supply not always able to keep up with the demand.