Hollowtine

Hollowtine is a fictional mineral used in fantasy and speculative fiction to describe a material with a hollow-centered crystalline structure. In most depictions, its hollow core can transmit or store energy, and its surface offers facets that focus light or magical energies.

Its etymology is a portmanteau of hollow and tine, with "tine" evoking prongs or spines, a reference to its sometimes lattice-like prisms and occasional hollow channels visible in cross-sections. The exact composition varies by author, and there is no single canonical formula.

Physical properties vary across works. It is often portrayed as lightweight yet strong, translucent or metallic in appearance, ranging from pale silver to pale blue. The hollow interior can be sealed, creating a resonance chamber that can amplify spells, store sound, or concentrate heat, depending on the setting. It can be brittle when stressed along the hollow channels.

Uses and significance: Hollowtine is commonly crafted into conduits, lenses, runestones, or weapon blades. It features in world-building as a scarce resource with trade value and as a plot device for enchantment, quests, or technological puzzles. Mining and distribution are usually difficult due to its delicate internal structure; it is often found in remote caves, deep faults, or meteorite-derived deposits.

See also: crystals in fantasy, fantasy metallurgy, magical artifacts. Note: Hollowtine is a fictional concept and not a real mineral.