The sub gets away. When Speed gets back to Deep Twelve, they reason that the mining operation is what is causing the earthquakes. Dr. Seacort has also disappeared. Wexler uses the spectral analyzer on the sample Speed brought back. The mineral is lividium, a rare but worthless substance.
Speed relays the information to Pops.
Just then, the main power generator fails. The auxiliary power comes on, but it will only last a short time. The hour is up and Spritle threatens to help Pops, who has just put his sample of lividium on the testing table. While Pops is in the other room, Spritle subjects the sample to a heat test. It gets too hot and bursts into pieces.