The Pillars (Structure)/IF-20.405

Liquid-Earth Pillar

ENTRY NAME :

The Liquid-Earth Pillar

SUBJECT TYPE :

Object / Landmark

KEYWORDS :

Pillar, Magma, Anomaly

LOCATION :

Located in the Haydrian Mass Foundries, approximately two-thirds towards the western cavern wall. It can be seen from all levels nearby, and can be easily reached from the Pillar Stations on both the Gamma Skylift loop and the Diamond Tram line.\

DESCRIPTION :

The Liquid-Earth Pillar appears to be an ever-flowing cylinder of orange-hot magma, approximately 3.4 meters in diameter, skewed at an angle of about 27 degrees from the vertical, towards the cavern wall. It maintains a constant shape, showing no undulations, waves, or other physical deviations. The coloration is noted, however, to not be consistent, showing an almost marbled pattern of yellows to reddish-oranges. These patterns move and change, indicating a downwards flow.

Most bizarre, however, are the facts that the exterior seems solid to the touch, and that both the surface and emitted heat are drastically below what would be required to melt the presumed material. The surface temperature hovers around the 60 to 75 degree centigrade mark, likened to that of a cooling stovetop, while the emitted radiation suggests a temperature closer to 80 degrees.

It was discovered when the massive magma chamber the Haydrian Mass Foundries would later occupy were drained, and immediately captured the hearts and minds of the Core. While little is fully understood about the Liquid-Earth Pillar as it continues to confound researchers, it has gone on to become one of the notable landmarks of the Mass Foundries, featuring as prominently as the Crucible Stacks or The Steel Cathedral on any associated iconography.

It is a cultural faux pas in the Mass Foundries to suggest powering something or otherwise harnessing the energy of the Liquid-Earth Pillar. Scientists and researchers point towards the uncertainty of if the Pillar could collapse or lose all its heat, while denizens of a more superstitious nature point towards the numerous failures that have beset past attempts, leading them to conclude the idea is "cursed".

Additional Names :

Many residents and workers in the Mass Foundries have taken to calling this Pillar "The Magma Tube" or "The Lava Tube" [sic], or sometimes even simply "The Tube". Others affectionately know it as "The Heater". Core denizens of a more mystical or spiritual inclination refer to it as "The Earth-Vein".