It's a pair of industrially-vital minerals for the final match of the first round as tin ore Cassiterite is up against elemental carbon Graphite. Cassiterite from Bolivia. Credit: Carles Millan Cassiterite is a tin oxide with frequent twinning, named for the Greek for "tin" (κασσίτερος) used in classic epics like Homer's Iliad. Cassiterite has been mined since at least the 6th millennium BCE as one of the earliest ores used by humans, with pre-Greek etymology potentially tracing back to Babylonia or the Kassites. It remains an important ore today, although classified as a conflict mineral alongside gold and diamonds due to ongoing fighting over cassiterite deposits in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Graphite from New York, United States. Credit: Domenic Preite / M. Chinellato Elemental carbon graphite's very name is a tribute to its most distinctive characteristic of being soft enough to mark paper, its name coming from the Greek word "to write" (γράφειν ). Graphite is a polymorph of diamond, sharing an identical chemical composition but radically different crystal structure leading them to be on the extreme opposites for hardness and electrical conductivity. Graphite has been used since prehistoric times, including as a dye, grave gift, and with pottery, while modern use includes as a writing utensil, steelmaking, lubricants, and far more. Recycled graphite is used in brake linings and thermal insulation, while synthetic graphite is helping meet growing demand driven by batteries for electric vehicles. **Please vote only once per player.** Multiple players may vote using the same device. **Voting for each match starts and ends at 00:00 GMT.** Due to site limitations, the polls will continue to be visible, but only votes cast in the 24-hour period will be tallied. time remaining

Flowery pink Erythrite is against shiny silver and structurally-useful Skutterudite in this match of cobalt minerals. Will you pick the weathering product, or the mineral it comes from? Erythrite from Czech Republic. Credit: Harold Moritz Named for the Greek word for red eruthros, Erythrite is a hydrated arsenate with distinctive pink, purple, and deep red hues. Its nicknames are equally colourful in German, where it's also called "Flower of Cobalt" (Kobaltblüte) and "red hobgoblin" (rother Koboldt). While beautiful, it can be scratched by a finger nail (Mohs 1-2), making it far too soft to wear as jewellery. Skutterudite from Morocco. Credit: John Sobolewski Named for where it was discovered in Skutterud, Norway, Skutterudite is the most common metallic cobalt minerals, and is an important cobalt ore. Cobalt is mostly used for alloys to make electromagnets and high-speed cutting tools, while cobalt oxide is "cobalt blue" used in stained glass and pottery. Like previous contender (and mineralogical kin) Perovskite, Skutterudite is both a mineral and the namesake for a crystal structure that holds potential to make more efficient thermoelectric converters. Erythrite on Skutterudite from Morocco. Credit: John Sobolewski The two minerals are intrinsically linked, with skutterudite weathering into erythrite when exposed to oxygen. Air and water dissolve cobalt and arsenate ions from skutterudite into nearby fluids, which then precipitate to create a "cobalt bloom" crust of erythrite crystals. **Please vote only once per player.** Multiple players may vote using the same device. **Voting for each match starts and ends at 00:00 GMT.** Due to site limitations, the polls will continue to be visible, but only votes cast in the 24-hour period will be tallied. time remaining

The slang term “LARP” has evolved far beyond its original meaning, shifting from real-world role-playing games to a prevalent online insult used to call out fake or performative behavior. Here's how it originated and evolved online.