Ghyll:Azura Mines
The Azura Mines are a series of interconnected mines located about 1 lele southwest of Iganefta, the primary product of which is oooite. The mines were discovered in -45 EC by a young couple (whose names have been eradicated from the history books by concerned parental units) who attempted to elope to Folktown. Unfortunately, they were more than mildly directionly challenged, and somehow managed to become very lost. In the midst of their haphazard stumbling about the wilderness, they happened across a nice, dry cave in which to spend the night and hoped that they'd be better oriented in the morning light. Unfortunately, morning not only brought light, but also two rather irate parents who had easily tracked the couple through the underbrush. However, upon sight of the interior of the cave, glistening with oooite, both parents forgot about their unruly offspring, who then slipped quietly out. Later reports indicate that they reside happily in Egron.
The parents, on the other hand, quickly recovered from their jaw-gaping shock and, after cursing themselves for the escape of their children, took several samples of the ore back to Iganefta. There, discrete testing showed that the samples contained the purest oooite ever found. A mining company was quickly set up for exploration, but once the parents discovered just how much hassle there was in running a company, they quickly sold out to DasMineGold.
Currently, the Azura Mines provide 71% of Ghyll's supply of oooite. It has three open pit mining areas, along with an astonishing 213 lele of tunneling. The mines, still under the control of DasMineGold and Baron James Horkmanifester, currently employ about six Ghyllians and 3,017 EctoMechanauts in the extraction of 400,000 lugyup of oooite ore daily. One of Ghyll's more prestigious research stations, the DasMineGold Center for Azurian Inquiry, which claims to be an outpost of the Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy, operates in association with the mines in investigating the economic and sculptural possiblities of the ore. Current projects include various types of dwellings, an economical aelfant shoe, and the NeoPostAncientism mobiles, now on display at the Zaprosingfrink Gallery.
Citations: DasMineGold, Iganefta, NeoPostAncientism.
--Lady Aleksandra 12:05, 20 May 2005 (EDT)
I think it's fairly safe to say that the fine Lady is a shill for Iganeftan diplomats. Oooite this, oooite that. Boring stats here, economic possibilities there. Bah! We all know there's a lake of gel somewhere below used in the production of Altoxian Bulbs - stop your mindless prattling of oooite mining, which has got to be the least interesting thing in the world (probably why the mines are so easily ignored as anything BUT for oooite production), and give us the extracted dirt on the gel! --Morbus Iff 20:10, 23 May 2005 (EDT)
- Oooite is a very valuable commodity at certain times. It is easily the most recognizable substance on the planet. If someone tries to sell you fake Oooite, you know it right away. Sure, the gel is worth finding out about, but Oooite ... Oooite. See how it just rolls off the tongue? Oooite. Did I mention that I just had my daily helping of Oooite? It calms the bearings and helps you to find your nerves. Or something like that. --Trousle Undrhil 02:04, 24 May 2005 (EDT)
My dear sir: I am deeply offended by your insinuations of potential scholarly bias on my part. This is, after all, an encyclopedia, to which less forunate Ghyllians than us (with real work to do) must inevitably turn for reference on just such "boring stats" and "economic possibilities." If, my dear Morbus, you happen to have the evidence to back up your claims, I would happily include reference to such lake of gel in future revisions of my work; however, if you have nothing more that idle speculations, allow me to suggest you instead publish in Quester and Phorrus. --Lady Aleksandra 15:10, 27 May 2005 (EDT)
- Quester and Phorrus is one of the most outstanding publications that Ghyll has to offer; and whilst I can cope with people disliking it to the point of not expanding their minds by reading it, calling it a publication of mere idle speculation is an insult bordering on the slanderous. I assume you'll be wanting to retract it forthwith. --Sean B. Palmer 15:25, 27 May 2005 (EDT)
- I do apologize for my hasty insult of the good journal. By suggesting that the good Morbus attempt to publish his "idle speculations" the preeminent journal, I did not mean to imply that such journal was in any way a bastion of speculations. Rather, I was entrusting the verification of his claims to their infallible system of peer review. Of course, I have many reservations as to the likelihood of any lake of gel nonsense getting the okay from our peerless colleagues, I merely intended to invite him to try. Once again, my grief is not against the journal per se, and I regret that in my haste I tarnished its brilliant name and shining reputation. Although I must say, that late edition's editorial was quite simply tommyrot. --Lady Aleksandra 15:54, 27 May 2005 (EDT)
- No problem, I quite understand really: especially since the outburst that Morbus directed at me on Encyclopedants Progress Report 26. I think his idle speculations at times are verging on the downright bizarre. What are we, for example, to make of the parenthetical remarks in Zyrgian Asylum? Anyway, many thanks for your kind retraction, Lady Q., and yeah, the latest edition's editorial wasn't exactly its shining moment... --Sean B. Palmer 17:10, 11 Jun 2005 (EDT)
