Mithril is the fictional metal mined in Moria in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Mithril is described as a valuable, light, strong, and lustrous metal. The Dwarves mined it beneath Khazad-dûm, the underground realm later known as Moria. Their mining eventually awakened or uncovered the Balrog, contributing to the abandonment of the great Dwarven city.
The Fellowship passes through Moria during its journey from Rivendell. There, Gandalf falls while fighting the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. The mine’s history combines Dwarven craftsmanship, geological wealth, and the danger of digging too deeply.
Bilbo’s coat of mail is made of mithril and later comes into Frodo’s possession. Tolkien’s spelling is “mithril,” and the word has entered modern fantasy vocabulary. It should not be confused with Tolkien’s other metals, such as galvorn or the fictional substances associated with Númenórean craftsmanship.