Ithorium Primer better known as Ithorium is a catalyst-like crystal formed on certain planets in the galaxy. While Ithorium itself is delicate the process of which an Ithorium Node is made comes into fruition. Ithorium is used in just about everything in the galaxy ranging from Hyperspace Engines to Weapons to even power generation, Ithorium is used in just about everything. But the question remains, "What is Ithorium?" That question has been answered by the scholars at the Novalian Institute at Ice Crystal City (NIICC). Ithorium is a catalyst crystal formed from an Ithorium Heart this heart is made deep in the mantle of a planet through internal convection. Once the Heart is formed its shoots up into the crust where it begins to "cool down" by its definition of cooling down it sends out nodes that shoot through the crust. Once the node reaches the surface it sends down a signal to the heart it's reached the surface. This is where the wonderful process of harvesting comes into play. See if the node is exposed to pure sunlight or in this case outside a cave the node will become delicate and crumble. If the node reaches the surface inside a cave the node will remain the same durability as it came out. Its here the mining process of Ithorium comes into play.

According to Novalian scientists the node must be extracted at a delicate rate less damage to the node itself, its here Novalians found a perfect solution to harvesting the crystal. Using delicate tools such as a Flanning Hammer or a Gergenspanner the node will "chip" off from the node allowing perfect extraction of the crystal. This is where it gets to the good part. Due to Ithorium's catalyst state, once the exposed node is removed another one will grow in its place in almost a plant-like nature. According to Novalian scholars the Ithorium Node acts like a bud of a blooming flower, once its removed the plant reforms it back to it's state. This allowed easy mining of the Ithorium Crystal. Aslong the Node isn't mass harvested the endless amount of Ithorium Crystals is possible. However only a few worlds have been blessed with Ithorium Hearts and the Republic makes sure that these worlds are taken care when harvesting Ithorium Crystals. The most notable world Novalis where the first crystal node appeared in the Ithori Caves hence it's name is home to several operations of Ithorium Mines. Its here on Novalis where the galaxy get it's supply of Ithorium, Novalians are naturally skilled when it comes to harvesting the crystal.

Other notable worlds like Hallikoan and Jespen are run by Novalian Families for if it wasn't for the Novalians, Ithorium harvesting would've been disastrous. According to old Novalian Texts, Ithorium Harvesting back in the day resulted in the node's destruction rather than a safer more commonly used extraction used today. If it wasn't for the Solana Family; the predecessor to the Solanos Family; the Ithorium Harvesting would've been disastrous to the nodes itself.
So the question remains, "What is Ithorium?" Well that answer remains solved, its a Catalyst-plant like crystal formed in the mantle of specific worlds. While the node itself cannot be planted to make more Ithorium like a fruit seed would, the rarity of Ithorium and how it's impact on the galactic economy makes it a prized sought out material. Its because of Ithorium's rarity that the galactic economy treats it like gold. There is more to Ithorium than meets the eye, ranging from power plant fuel to hyperspace engine construction, Ithorium is used in a wide variety of things, making it extremely rare to come by the harvesting efforts on Ithorium Worlds can only produce so much before it comes to harming the node itself.

While Ithorium is a rare commodity, the galaxy has been finding ways to find alternatives to Ithorium to reduce the impact it has on the galaxy, so far only the Republic has made breakthroughs in these subjects while the rest of the galaxy has found ways to use Ithorium more instead of finding alternatives. According to some territories, Ithorium has become a regular basis to them finding alternatives would be disastrous to their economy and life style. The Galactic Senate have passed laws to reduce the Ithorium usage in the galaxy however other territories refuse to find alternatives in fear of their economy from collapsing. The only other territory that has found alternatives is the Aridian Territory, which has found Serpentorium another more common catalyst crystal to be their dependence on instead of Ithorium.

In the end, Ithorium has shaped Territories and economies, its dependence on the Galactic Economy remains the same, however there are still more worlds to be discovered and finding Ithorium Hearts on them remains the mystery, but either than that, the crystal itself remains as the galaxy's most needed material.