Ilmumine

Ilmumine is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and science fiction. In most uses, ilmumine is portrayed as a silicate-based mineral with intrinsic luminescent properties that glow when excited by ultraviolet light or electric fields. The term is not recognized as a real mineral by current scientific standards.

The name is typically attributed to roots related to light, though there is no canonical origin across works. In these depictions, ilmumine comprises a crystal lattice enriched with optically active dopants such as europium or terbium, embedded in a silicate or aluminosilicate host. The exact crystal system is often listed as monoclinic or orthorhombic in fictional descriptions, with lattice parameters varying by author.

In fiction, ilmumine is reported in geologically diverse settings— basaltic intrusions, meteorite impacts, or lunar mare analogs— often formed through high-temperature magmatic differentiation or hydrothermal alteration. Some narratives describe metamict or radiation-damaged variants after exposure to cosmic radiation.

Key properties include bright, persistent luminescence, chemical inertness, and high thermal stability, with a Mohs hardness around 6–7 and a high melting point. Proposed applications in the stories include photonics components, luminescent displays, anti-counterfeiting materials, and energy storage. The material serves as a plot device to explore themes of light and energy in speculative contexts.