 They lost a few mandrakes in prying loose some of the sun material, and more in getting a small sphere of it shaped.
Fortunately, their mandrakes remained intact after prying for sun material.
mnli hypothesis: Fortunately, their mandrakes remained intact after prying for sun material. premise:  They lost a few mandrakes in prying loose some of the sun material, and more in getting a small sphere of it shaped.