Vibranium found in Congo? Here’s all you need to know about viral ‘electrically charged rocks’

Over the weekend, a short clip took the internet by storm after it was initially posted by the Twitter handle ‘Africa Archives’. It showed two men demonstrating ‘electrically-charged rocks’ which can be seen sparking when rubbed against each other. Another clip showed a small piece of the rock lighting up a small bulb. The video was claimed to be from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But what is it?

As per reports, just a gram of these electrically charged rocks, which are claimed to be Vibranium, can help in lighting up a bulb for over 72 hours. Moreover, a kilogram of the same rock can be used to supply power to a house of two bedrooms for at least two months.

These electric rocks are reportedly created by the fusion of magnetic and quartz and their electrical properties are due to the combination of both materials.



Where was Vibranium found?

As opposed to the popular opinion, Vibranium was not discovered in Congo. Remarkably, there is no such thing as Vibranium as it is a fictional element and it has been mentioned in several Marvel Universe comics such as ‘Black Panther’. In the movies, Vibranium is shown as possessing superhuman abilities such as the capacity to absorb and store energy. However, it is not real.

While the source of these stones producing electricity is still undetermined, Congo is known for the minerals found in the country such as Coltan, Cobalt, copper, gold, and tin among several others. Coltan and Cobalt do not have the capacity to be electrically charged. But both these elements can be used in making electronic gadgets and have all properties of conducting electricity.

Amid the virality of the videos, researchers across the globe have been trying to figure out a way to use stones to produce electricity. Nairobi News has reported that Vibranium is found in the Katanga region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While Vibranium is widely claimed as fictional, the actual composition and name of the ‘electrically-charged rocks’ shown in the viral videos are yet unknown.

FAQs:

1. What is Vibranium?
   Vibranium is a fictional metal said to have superhuman abilities in comics.
2. Can rocks produce electricity?
   No.