Prima materia, or first matter, is the ubiquitous starting material required for the alchemical magnum opus and the creation of the philosopher's stone. It is the primitive base of all matter similar to chaos, the quintessence, or aether.

 

chaos and raw material out of which the refined substance is produced. To the alchemists, there was a spirit hidden in the darkness of the prima materia, a divine spark buried in the darkness of matter.