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The '''Polestones''' are the ten varieties of gemstone that naturally hold [[Stormlight]]. They also serve as the basis of [[spheres]], the basic Rosharan money system.{{book ref|sa1|3}} In addition to the ability to hold Stormlight, polestones are able to trap [[spren]]. The type of spren that can be trapped depends on the polestone used and its cut. This quality serves as the basis for [[fabrial]]s.{{ref|name=Navani1}}
== Attributes ==
Some polestones are the same type of crystal but with different color and chemical signatures. Sapphire and ruby are both types of corundum. Smokestone and amethyst are both types of quartz. Emerald and heliodor are both types of beryl. Much like how [[iron]] and [[steel]], despite being very similar chemically, are different metals in the [[Metallic Arts]], the exact color and chemical signatures are enough to differentiate the polestones. As a result, an off-color polestone acts much like an impure alloy in [[Allomancy]].{{wob ref|4080}} If a polestone was drained of its color by an [[Awakener]], it would still hold Stormlight but would have the properties of a dusty or cloudy quartz.{{wob ref|3203}}{{wob ref|295}} If a spren was trapped inside, the would be released.{{wob ref|292}}
Although the type of polestone Stormlight is stored in is irrelevant for most [[Surgebinding]], polestones do have an important impact on Soulcasting. Namely, they determine what kind of substances a Soulcaster can transmute objects into.{{wob ref|2784}} It is believed to be impossible to create polestones via Soulcasting.{{book ref|sa1|33}}
If a polestone is set in the pommel of a deceased [[Shardblade]] it allows the blade to be bonded, whereby it can be summoned and dismissed.{{book ref|sa2|67}} Synthetic versions of the polestones could also be used in fabrials.{{wob ref|2702}}▼
While polestones are produced via mining, a significant source of them on Roshar is the harvesting of the [[gemheart]]s that grow inside [[greatshell]]s. Larger species of greathshell, like [[chasmfiend]]s, produce gemhearts of great size, which are incredibly useful in Soulcasting as a larger stone is less likely to break from the strain.{{book ref|sa1|13}} This trait however has led to many species of greatshells, such as the [[lanceryn]], to go extinct.{{book ref|sa1|36}} The exact method by which gemhearts are grown is not understood, though it is known to be caused by a leak from the [[Spiritual Realm]] into the [[Physical Realm|Physical]], and is analogous, though not identical, to the production of [[atium]] in the [[Pits of Hathsin]] on [[Scadrial]].{{wob ref|4678}} Although they may have flaws, gemheart polestones have virtually no impurities, unlike their conventionally mined counterparts.{{wob ref|6625}}▼
▲If a polestone is set in the pommel of a deceased [[Shardblade]] it allows the blade to be bonded, whereby it can be summoned and dismissed.{{book ref|sa2|67}}
== The Ten Polestones ==
It is associated with the [[Order_of_Bondsmiths|Order of Bondsmiths]]
== Obtaining ==
▲While polestones are produced via mining, a significant source of them on Roshar is the harvesting of the [[gemheart]]s that grow inside [[greatshell]]s. Larger species of greathshell, like [[chasmfiend]]s, produce gemhearts of great size, which are incredibly useful in Soulcasting as a larger stone is less likely to break from the strain.{{book ref|sa1|13}} This trait however has led to many species of greatshells, such as the [[lanceryn]], to go extinct.{{book ref|sa1|36}} The exact method by which gemhearts are grown is not understood, though it is known to be caused by a leak from the [[Spiritual Realm]] into the [[Physical Realm|Physical]], and is analogous, though not identical, to the production of [[atium]] in the [[Pits of Hathsin]] on [[Scadrial]].{{wob ref|4678}} Although they may have flaws, gemheart polestones have virtually no impurities, unlike their conventionally mined counterparts.{{wob ref|6625}}
== Perfect Gemstones ==
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