Parrinium was a rare element found in large quantities on theplanetExxilon. Only traces existed onEarth which made it very rare and priceless. After aspace plague swept the outer colonies of thegalaxy, it was proven that parrinium was the cure for it. Parrinium not only cured the plague, but it gave immunity and they needed it in quantity.

Ahuman taskforce was sent to Exxilon to mine parrinium and bring it back to cure the millions of sufferers. ADalek taskforce also went to Exxilon to obtain the ore, but only so that they couldblackmail the galaxy into submission. The Daleks enslaved the nativeExxilons and forced them to mine the parrinium for them. TheThird Doctor,Sarah Jane Smith, and the human expedition tricked the Daleks by loading their ship with sand instead of parrinium. The Exxilons used parrinium as a condiment. (TV:Death to the Daleks)

When a second wave of the space plague spread across the galaxy, the humans sent another mining operation to Exxilon. When they departed back for human territory, two years overdue, they were intercepted by theDalek Fleet, this time needing the parrinium for medicinal purposes. Having implemented theDalek Protocol intoMark Seven, the Daleks attempted to use him to claim the parrinium, later trying to destroy the human fleet, only to be defeated by theFourth Doctor. (AUDIO:The Dalek Protocol)

Parrinium could also be used to form part of acold fusion generator. (PROSE:Lucifer Rising)