Kelater

Kelater is a fictional crystalline mineral featured in science fiction and speculative media. It is described as an energy-dense material with properties that allow efficient energy storage and transmission. In most depictions kelater forms under high-pressure, low-temperature conditions and is found in meteorites or deep planetary crusts. The term appears across novels, tabletop games, and films as a technological cornerstone or plot device.

Typical properties include translucence, a blue-green hue, and a high refractive index. In-universe explanations attribute a quantum-like lattice that enables near-lossless conduction of energy and signals. Refined kelater is portrayed as usable in compact power cells, ion drives, and defensive shields, but processing requires specialized facilities to prevent accidental energy release.

Extraction and handling are depicted as hazardous due to radiolytic effects, brittle fracture, and potential energy release. Mining is shown as difficult and risky, with shielded galleries and remote robotics. Transportation and storage demand climate control and shock protection because small shocks can degrade performance.

Impact and reception: Kelater drives imagined economies and technologies in settings where supply is limited. It underpins fictional industries, from mining to high-tech manufacturing, and serves as a catalyst for research, competition, and conflict within narratives.

Variants and nomenclature: Some sources refer to kelaterite or kelater-weave as processed forms or composites. Terminology varies by author and work, with kelater sometimes treated as a general class of energy-dense minerals.