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I'm writing a book about a post-apocalyptic world where conductive metals have become exceedingly rare, preventing a return to modern technology. The problem with that, however, is that iron is conductive. If there's very little iron, I need another material to make swords out of. I read about a sword made of plant fibers and resin/epoxy, but the problem with that is it would disrupt my world's blacksmith economy. I need magnetic metals that aren't conductive, and still able to be mined fairly easily with iron age technology.
I've come up with two alloys that could work, Nichrome and Cobalt-Chromium. However, both Nickel and Cobalt are only found in the crust's surface as compounds. Does anyone know of other compounds that could be used to make weapons, or a way for iron age technology to mine Nickel or Cobalt?
Edit: to clarify, some sort of electromagnetic cataclysm occurred that sent most living things, including humans, to the brink of extinction. Technology has been completely wiped out, sending humanity back to the stone age, though some knowledge has remained (swordsmithing, electricity, military tactics, etc) and humanity is working on bringing those technologies back. Over a few thousand years, the earth has begun to recover, but much of it is still covered in wasteland. Metallic minerals are in short supply, but crystalline minerals are not. Somehow, the cataclysm altered human DNA, causing humans to be able to manipulate the elements. Humans who manipulate metallic minerals are somewhat rare, since the minerals they work with are also rare, and the science behind their power is magnetism. That's why I needed a magnetic element. Their control over elements and lack of superconductive metals (copper, gold, silver, iron) means returning to the type of technology we have today isn't possible.
Thanks in advance!
I've come up with two alloys that could work, Nichrome and Cobalt-Chromium. However, both Nickel and Cobalt are only found in the crust's surface as compounds. Does anyone know of other compounds that could be used to make weapons, or a way for iron age technology to mine Nickel or Cobalt?
Edit: to clarify, some sort of electromagnetic cataclysm occurred that sent most living things, including humans, to the brink of extinction. Technology has been completely wiped out, sending humanity back to the stone age, though some knowledge has remained (swordsmithing, electricity, military tactics, etc) and humanity is working on bringing those technologies back. Over a few thousand years, the earth has begun to recover, but much of it is still covered in wasteland. Metallic minerals are in short supply, but crystalline minerals are not. Somehow, the cataclysm altered human DNA, causing humans to be able to manipulate the elements. Humans who manipulate metallic minerals are somewhat rare, since the minerals they work with are also rare, and the science behind their power is magnetism. That's why I needed a magnetic element. Their control over elements and lack of superconductive metals (copper, gold, silver, iron) means returning to the type of technology we have today isn't possible.
Thanks in advance!
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