Brandon has stated that the true nature of atium is misunderstood, and there are inconsistencies in how it fits with other metals e.g. its relationship to electrum. It has been previously theorized that what is thought of as atium is an electrum-atium alloy but that has been argued against. The second quote I have leads me to wonder what the true nature of atium is, besides being the physical incarnation of Ruin's power. I think the alloy idea is possible, but perhaps atium is pure and there is something else I am missing to figure it out. CHAOS (15 OCTOBER 2008)I really want to know what the last two metals are. I always thought the bead Elend ate was one of them, but perhaps they are just things of Preservation, not meant to be understood. BRANDON SANDERSON (15 OCTOBER 2008)
The metal chunk that Elend ate is intended to be something of a mystery. Much like atium, actually. Suffice it to say that atium isn't, and never was, what people thought it was.
I intended Allomancy to be much like a real science. People investigate and put things into boxes, trying to describe and understand the world around them. That doesn't mean they always get things right, however.
Let me say this, as I don't want to spoil too much. If that metal Elend ate were fused into specific alloys with certain metals, it could have instead created Mistings of each of the different Allomantic powers. Atium's abilities are not entirely explored yet either. CZANOS (17 OCTOBER 2008)Are Atium and the External Temporal Pulling metal really the same? BRANDON SANDERSON (17 OCTOBER 2008)You are on to something.
