Wolframite
Relation to Norton
Black leather -> wolframite is typically dark brown or black
The yellow on his arm -> likely pyrite aka fool’s gold
Description: “Like courage and dreams, the more it shines, the easier it collects dust.” -> Meaning: As something gains prominence, it becomes more susceptible to accumulating “dust”. “Dust” can refer to things like obstacles, criticisms, setbacks, or other negative influences that might tarnish its “shine”. More visibility or success means a higher likelihood of encountering challenges or distractions. It’s a reminder to be prepared for difficulties while maintaining focus and determination in the face of obstacles, while also acknowledging the inherent vulnerability that comes with standing out. This is fitting for Norton considering he did have big dreams (to escape poverty) but has continued to run into obstacles and other challenges along the way. We also know Norton is a stubborn person who is incredibly determined to achieve his goal.
Notes
Wolframite is a mineral that is the main source of tungsten (an element), a valuable but rare metal, one of the strongest on the planet (especially in its harder alloy form Tungsten Carbide) due to having the highest melting point and tensile strength (aka, the resistance of a material to breaking under tension) of any pure metal on the planet (though it is brittle and known to shatter on impact) and a high score on the Mohs hardness scale.
Tungsten is used in the production of ballistic missiles and drills, electrical filaments, armor piercing ammunition, radiation shielding, etc…
It is a mineral series that includes ferberite (iron-rich) and hübnerite (manganese-rich). Wolframite sits closer to the middle of the series, as its manganese and iron content are generally more equal.
The name "wolframite" is derived from German "wolf rahm" ("wolf soot" or "wolf cream"), the name given to tungsten by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747. This, in turn, derives from Latin "lupi spuma", the name Georg Agricola used for the element in 1546, which translates into English as "wolf's froth" and is a reference to the large amounts of tin consumed by the mineral during its extraction. This was because when miners found wolframite with tin and smelters attempted to melt the ore to get the tin, they couldn’t get the tin because the wolframite formed a “foamy slag” when it reacted with the tin.
“Wolf” because it devoured the tin
“Rahm” because it looked creamy/foamy
