When PCs find magic items, particularly weapons and armour, they are immediately interested in how powerful it is and what special powers it has. Appearance and background of new treasures are a secondary consideration if even that. However, should a PC want to know what his new Sword +2 looks like, there are a quite a few options for making it interesting. This list of suggestions is by no means exhaustive and I am sure there are other weird and wonderful substances that can be used - nonetheless here are some materials used across my version of Mystara that can be used in the creation of magic items.
Adamantite is the strongest metal known to mortals and is exceptionally rare. Some say it cannot be found in nature and is only given as gifts by immortals who alone have the power to craft it. It is similar to mithril but has a slight bluish hue to it. Any weapon or armour made from adamantite is at least +3 in enchantment though it may be even better. It is the metal that legendary blades are made of, and is sometimes found as a Sword of Sharpness or Vorpal Blade. Adamantite cannot be broken by simple physical strength - any armour made from it cannot be pierced through the actual metal, only gaps or weak points between the adamantite. However it can be corroded or rusted and is still vulnerable to rust monster attacks (Adamantite is mentioned but not really described in 1st Ed AD&D DMG)
Cinnabryl is a strange substance found in the Savage Coast, west of Hule. It is similar to steel but is reddish in colour and importantly for those on the Savage Coast, it wards off the effects of the Red Curse that affects those in the region. The exact details, powers and effects of Cinnabryl and its derivative, Red Steel, are best explained in other, official resources. It is rare and highly valued, especially in the Savage Coast because of its protective properties, and as such is hardly ever found in Karameikos or surrounding nations. Although I do not expect it to be used much in this campaign, it does exist. (Regular Mystara fans know of Cinnabryl from both the Voyages of the Princess Ark and the Savage Coast campaign setting).
Crocodile Hide is found as a common form of armour in Yavdlom on Thanegia Island. The belly of crocodiles can be tanned and cured to make leather armour, while the knobbly back with its bony scutes is as effective as scale mail. Although entirely organic and non-metallic (thus usable by druids), crocodile scute armour is stiff and inflexible, not suitable for thieves. It is the hide from giant crocodiles (specimens over 20' long) that make the best magical scale mail, including Armour of Swimming(Scale Mail +2 that allows the wearer to swim at 120' per round).
Ent-heart Wood is prized by druids for it combines the properties of wood and metal. It is from the heart of the largest ancient treants but can only be harvested if the treant dies peacefully from old age. Violent death causes the treant to release a chemical that spoils its heartwood. Ent-heart wood burns in fire, but it is light as normal wood and a lot stronger. It can be given a point or an edge and it will hold it as well as bronze. It can be used to create spears, daggers and hand axes that are entirely wooden and therefore usable by druids. Similarly it can be enchanted so it is used in certain magical staffs, particularly those suitable for druidic use. Ent-heart is not quite good enough to make sword blades that can withstand the rigors of combat nor is it dense enough to make proper warhammers or maces - such items made from Ent-heart Wood are treated as clubs (albeit very good quality clubs).
Hellforged Iron is not of Mystara, but comes from one of the Planes of Chaos known as Urdunor. It is a black, sinister metal, perhaps the evil counterpart of Mithril. On Mystara it is very difficult to either shape or enchant but on its native Plane of Chaos it is easier to use, and so most of the items made from Hellforged Iron are crafted on Urdunor. Such weapons and armour are often imbued with chaotic, foul enchantments favoured by Chaos Cultists, and like mithril, any weapon or armour made of it is automatically enchanted at least +1 magic bonus. Although the use of Hellforged Iron is not an inherently chaotic act, it is most often used by those of chaotic alignment. It is often fashioned into baroque, spikey and scary styles of armour that are worn by chaotic clerics and chaos warriors who want to appear more imposing and dramatic. It is still a form of iron and as such is affected by rust monsters and iron living statues.
Huge Dragon Scales are, as the name suggests, found on the bodies of huge dragons. Unfortunately these massive monsters are not in the habit of giving them away freely. Although they can be used "raw", they will decay over time unless properly treated with preservatives and cured. Once this is done they will make excellent plates for plate mail and also small shields. Huge dragon scales are lighter than the equivalent amount of iron or steel though not so easy to reshape. Note that other dragons and those who respect dragons will not be happy about part of a dragon being worn as part of an upstart human's outfit.
Mithril, also sometimes known as Truesilver, is a rare metal, more precious than gold but harder than steel and as light as aluminium. It is found deep in the earth and dwarves are often the ones who mine it. Both they and elves value it highly. It is very hard to work - it can be wrought like iron but it takes a lot more effort to hammer it into shape. Any weapon or armour made of Mithril is automatically considered to have a +1 magical bonus, but further enchantments can be added - indeed, most Swords of Sharpness are made of Mithril, and it is also used in legendary Elven Chainmail. When finished, an item of Mithril shines like silver but cuts quicker and deeper than steel. Mithril is actually more like silver than iron and is immune to rust monsters and iron living statues. (My apologies to Tolkein, but some of his stuff is too good to leave alone).
Neptunium is found in deep ocean trenches. It looks dull grey like old iron and things made out of it are generally not particularly pretty. But it is resistant to all sorts of corrosion especially in seawater. It also has the property that it can be wrought into shape underwater, even without a heat source, though this process of fashioning the item is slow, hard work and tedious requiring many strikes on the anvil. It is highly prized by underwater races such as sea elves, merfolk, shark-kin and the like, especially when as a finished product. Neptunium can be enchanted as well as any iron or steel item. Helms of Water Breathing are often fashioned out of Neptunium (though of course additional enchantments are required), as well as magic tridents and bowls of commanding water elementals. Neptunium generally does not rust, but if attacked by a rust monster the wearer/wielder is allowed a save vs wands & staves - if successful the neptunium item survives the rust monster attack - if not the neptunium turns to a weird greenish-yellow rust, destroying the item but the rust monster won't like the taste - neptunium tastes wrong to rust monsters. (This Neptunium is my own creation, no relation except in name to the real life heavy element Neptunium)
Orichalcum is similar to bronze. with a yellow-brown sheen, but is tougher and stronger, having similar properties of iron. Although not exactly superior to iron, it is sometimes available to cultures that have not mastered iron, such as those in Bronze Age cultures such as ancient Nithians. They can be enchanted and magic weapons and armour of Nithian make is often forged from Orichalcum. The skills and methods for making Orichalcum are not widely known, and such items are highly prized. Because of it's bronze-like nature, orichalcum is unaffected by either rust monsters, iron living statues or magnetism. (Orichalcum is mentioned in real world ancient Greek writings but scholars are not really sure what it actually was.)
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