Brautum

Brautum is a term used in speculative mineralogy and science fiction to denote a fictional metallic mineral. In most narratives, brautum is portrayed as a dense, corrosion-resistant alloy with distinctive optical properties that reveal a blue-to-violet iridescence under ultraviolet light.

Description and composition: In common fictional models, brautum is an iron–nickel alloy enriched with trace rare-earth elements and boron. Because it is a fictional material, there is no standardized chemical formula, and profiles vary across works. The lattice is typically described as highly ordered, contributing to hardness and strength.

Formation and occurrence: Brautum is said to form under extreme conditions, such as high-pressure planetary interiors or during large meteoritic impacts. It is sometimes described as occurring in isolated metallic veins in ultramafic rocks or as inclusions within meteorites.

Properties and potential uses: In fiction, brautum combines high tensile strength, hardness, and magnetic properties with resistance to corrosion. Some narratives attribute superconductivity at low temperatures and luminescent behavior to brautum. Its imagined applications include spacecraft hulls, radiation shielding, quantum devices, or advanced energy storage.

Etymology and cultural context: The name brautum is typically linked to fictional discoverers or to a planet or region named Brautum. It appears across a range of speculative works, sometimes as a plot element signaling advanced technology or scarcity.