Terrigen crystal

Terrigen crystal is a mineral of alien origin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is not clear whether it is natural or artificial, but it originates from Kree territory.

Properties

Terrigen is a purplish crystal found in spikes about 10-20cm in length. A terrigen crystal is fragile, and upon significant impact it will explode into a cloud of terrigen gas. Terrigen will also dissolve in water.

Terrigen crystal and terrigen gas are harmful to humans. Contact with either will cause flesh to transform into a brittle mineral. This transformation is permanent and lethal. Exposure to terrigen dissolved in water appears to be harmless to humans. It is not clear whether the crystal or gas would affect animals, but dissolved terrigen does not seem to affect them.

Terrigen has a substantially different effect on Inhumans, causing a metamorphosis that grants superhuman attributes. Contact with terrigen gas will encase the Inhuman in a mineral cocoon, but the cocoon will break open in a few minutes, and the Inhuman's new abilities will manifest. Ingestion of dissolved terrigen will also cause the manifestation of superhuman abilities, but the process takes much longer. Handling an intact terrigen crystal seems to have no effect on Inhumans.