Is Silver the Earth’s Unobtanium?

In 2009, James Cameron wrote and directed the film Avatar. It is a futuristic movie about humanity’s desperate quest to colonize the fictional moon Pandora, mine its vast supplies of unobtanium (uhn uhb TAY nee uhm) and solve the energy crisis on Earth.

Unobtanium Silver Proof Coin by Chris Duane

But, to gain access to the ore, the indigenous population of Pandora, the Na’vi, must be destroyed because most of the ore lies under their three most sacred sites, including their burial sites. The Na’vi have lived on Pandora for thousands of years, and one of their oldest laws forbids them from mining the ore. This forces them to defend their native land against the mining corporations. The film focuses on the battles that ensue between the Na’vi and humanoids called Avatars who were created to allow humans to function in Pandora’s poisonous atmosphere. This dispute divides the allegiance of many of the main characters from Earth.

Unobtanium exists underground; it is a superconductor and is used on Earth to manufacture computer hyperchips.

According to the storyline, once mined and transported to Earth, unobtanium mitigates the Earth’s critical energy crisis due to its unique properties. It allows for the production of electricity with zero resistance and on a massive scale, thus saving 20 billion humans from starvation. It powers Earth’s large cities and its sophisticated high-speed maglev train system. In addition, unobtanium’s industrial plants process and create energy waves that propel spaceships at unheard-of speeds, allowing for interstellar travel and commerce.

2025 Unobtanium Silver Proof Coin by Chris Duane — The first proof coin for 2025

So, although unobtanium doesn’t exist, except in the mind of James Cameron, it certainly sounds as though it was based on silver with its vast industrial uses. In fact, silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity and reflectivity of any metal on Earth. Astonishingly, it is antimicrobial and antibacterial as well. It is truly a miraculous element and should be worshiped just as the Na’vi worshiped unobtanium. And yet, it’s not. But why not?

The answer is inexplicable when you consider that Silver (Ag) is real; it’s here on Earth, it has 10,000 industrial uses, it’s easily mined, shipped, and processed, and yet, unlike unobtanium, which was valued in 2009 at 20 million dollars a kilo (2.2 lbs), a kilo of silver, in today’s dollars, is worth just $1,050. That just doesn’t make sense.