It was a powerful explosive substance. It was used in proton torpedo warheads, and also in a variety of demolition charges. The mineral was mined and was highly unstable in its raw form. Significant physical or energy interaction with the raw mineral would detonate it. Refining added some stability, at minor cost to explosive performance. While not as powerful as baradium, used in thermal detonators, Nergon-14 was more stable and therefore better suited to massive shipboard armament requirements. When inert, its color was blue, then changing to red and white before exploding.