Vol 2. Chapter 15: The Second Fortress and the Worm
The Second Fortress (name undecided) is currently undergoing foundational construction.
To support its major above-ground structure, pillar-like components are being embedded deep underground. These pillars reach a depth of 50 meters. Since the surface is covered by relatively brittle volcanic rock, it was necessary to construct supports down to the bedrock layer, located 40 to 50 meters below ground. Excavation is currently underway, with high-strength concrete being poured into the prepared spaces.
The unexpectedly deep foundations required more resources than anticipated, and the cement stored in <The Tree> may only suffice to complete the initial construction phase. However, geological surveys have revealed limestone deposits in the surrounding area. This discovery has paved the way for locally sourcing the cement needed for construction. Alongside the foundational work, excavation facilities are being built.
Incidentally, while rebar is typically used in concrete foundations, the current shortage of steel has led to the use of carbon nanotube fibers instead. Although the cost difference between steel and carbon nanotubes is astronomical, the lack of steel left no alternative. On the bright side, the reinforcement provided by carbon nanotubes has reduced the overall volume of concrete required, which is a small consolation.
"Developing specialized equipment to use carbon nanotubes as aggregates was necessary, but it won't go to waste, as we can continue using it in the future," Ringo remarked.
Ringo explained that ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ while rebar-based foundations could have been handled with existing universal manufacturing equipment, carbon nanotubes required entirely new concrete foundation-laying machinery. This specialized equipment is currently at work, building foundational pillars at the base of the excavated vertical shafts by ingesting supplied materials and steadily erecting the supports.
For the record, the addition of short carbon nanotube fibers to the concrete mixture has turned the material significantly darker—a trivial observation.
Resource Discovery and Mining
While foundational work proceeds, boreholes are being drilled for geological surveys in the surrounding area. Although limestone distribution has been confirmed, further excavation is being conducted to identify other resources.
This has led to the discovery of a large volcanic ore deposit a few kilometers inland. While its iron content is relatively low, the deposit contains potentially extractable resources such as nickel, copper, chromium, and platinum. It appears that a lava pool formed in a depression, with metallic resources settling at the bottom.
Additionally, the surrounding volcanic rock contains traces of iron oxide, suggesting a nearby iron ore deposit. Iron, being relatively light compared to other metals, likely precipitated in the upper layers and was displaced to another location due to tectonic pressure. Surveys are ongoing around the discovered ore deposit.
Plans are also being considered to introduce an element-accumulation system, which would process large volumes of volcanic rock to remove silica (silicon dioxide) and collect other elements. Such a facility would need to be substantial due to the processing scale, but it could extract aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, titanium, and other valuable elements. While the process generates large quantities of silica, solidifying it and returning it to its original location should resolve waste disposal issues.