This Saturday, May 4th, is dubbed Star Wars Day for the clever pun “May the Fourth be with you.” It’s become a day of celebration for sci-fi nerds and actual science nerds alike. Let’s take a look at how geology is represented in the franchise!

Geologically Iconic Planets

Despite the franchise being called Star Wars, a lot happens on some really neat planets and moons throughout the Galaxy.

Mustafar: The Lava Planet

• In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin journeys to the lava-dominated planet of Mustafar. Here, molten rock cascades like fiery waterfalls, forming rivers that lead to vast lava lakes, one of which Anakin falls into.

• Mustafar was a flourishing world that turned into a volcanic hellscape after a sudden shift in orbit. Influenced by neighboring gas giants, its core became superheated, triggering relentless hypervolcanism.

• The Empire later built a base on Mustafar and mined the lava for mirkanite, a valuable mineral used in constructing super lasers. I wonder why they did that …

Hoth: The Glacial Planet

• Hoth, home of the Rebel base in The Empire Strikes Back, is a frigid world with temperatures below -75°F. When Han Solo resorts to a Tauntaun carcass for warmth, it certainly gets this point across.

• Despite its snowy, glacier-covered landscape, the planet is geologically active, as is evidenced by crystalline geysers that erupt icy particles and water vapor.

• The scenery is so geologically realistic because Hoth was filmed on location in Finse, Norway—not in front of a green screen. The battlefield scenes were filmed on the nearby Hardangerjøkulen Glacier.

Utapau: The Sinkhole Planet

• Featured in Revenge of the Sith—where Obi-Wan faces off against General Grievous—Utapau is known for its large sinkholes dotting an otherwise uninhabitable surface.

• The sinkholes formed due to subterranean oceans eroding the underside of the crust. Cities built into the walls of these sinkholes are made possible by karst-like caves and tunnels.

• Mineral deposits found in the sinkholes are a valuable export. A lost episode of the Clone Wars TV show revealed the planet contained a massive kyber crystal.

   

  But hang on, what’s a kyber crystal?

Kyber Crystals: Minerals of Power

If you’re an old-school Star Wars fan, you might not have heard of these since they’re only mentioned in newer media, but Kyber crystals have been there all along.

What are they?

• Kyber crystals are rare gems whose unique connection to the Force allows them to focus and amplify energy. They are most notably used as the power sources of lightsabers for both Jedi and Sith.

• They can be found on several planets in the Galaxy, but they are traditionally collected on an ice planet called Ilum by Jedi younglings building their own lightsabers.

Are there different kinds?

• According to Wookiepedia, there are over twenty varieties, differing by inclusions, durability, and strength of the Force. It’s a lot like quartz, minus the magical powers.

• Lightsaber colors reflect the weilder’s bond with a kyber crystal and the Force. Sith lightsabers are red due to their dark Force connection, and a Jedi's lightsaber turns red if they join the Dark Side, indicating a corrupted kyber crystal.

How do they compare to real minerals?

• Kyber crystals grow from a “base mineral” called kyberite. Calling back to the quartz analogy, think of it like massive quartz (milky) versus crystal quartz (clear points).

• Their function in lightsabers is also similar to our use of quartz for timing in electronics. The piezoelectric properties of quartz, which produce an electrical charge under stress, resemble the responsive nature of kyber crystals to the Force.

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Star Wars in Geo-Communication

Cate Larsen, @rock_micronerd, Emily Zawacki

In addition to my own annual May the Fourth videos, many other nerdy geo-communicators like to use Star Wars to educate online!

Geologist in Star Wars

• Even in fiction, geologists play a key role in obtaining vital natural resources. In this video, I portray an Imperial geological consultant working on various planets while the Empire withholds their intentions for these materials…

• It’s a comical representation of what it’s like to work in exploration geology in a fictional realm, while hinting at the fact that such ethical issues exist in our world as well.

Darth Vader vs Meteorite

• Ever wanted to see a lightsaber cut through a rock? The person behind the creative @rock_micronerd page on Instagram gives us exactly that—well, with the help of some movie magic.

• In tune with his quirky style of videos, he dresses up as the Sith lord to “slice” a thin section of a chondritic meteorite with his lightsaber. He then displays and identifies the minerals under a microscope.

Geology at Galaxy’s Edge

• Disney resorts boast an immersive park called Galaxy’s Edge dedicated to all things Star Wars. Visitors feel transported to the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu.

• In her video, geology communicator Emily Zawacki visits the park to interpret the “geological origins” of the manmade props by drawing comparisons to real rock formations on Earth.

I must admit, I’m a latecomer to Star Wars fandom. I wasn’t introduced to the movies as a kid, and it took the 2020 Covid lockdown to get my family to sit down and watch them all.

A few weeks later, I marked my first Star Wars Day by practicing lightsaber tricks in my driveway with a beheaded mop stick. By the next year, I'd upgraded to a “real” lightsaber and was giddy to show off my improvement.

Although I missed out on seeing The Phantom Menace in theaters, I'll be catching a special 10th anniversary re-release on Saturday. It’s the perfect way to spend Star Wars Day 😄

Thanks for reading this week’s nerdy GeoLifestyle, and May the Fourth be with you!

Cate Larsen

Editor, GeoLifestyle

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