Lausumiin

Lausumiin is a fictional mineral described in speculative worldbuilding and science fiction. It is characterized by pale blue crystals and a faint, persistent luminescence that intensifies in darkness.

Etymology and concept: The name derives from the imagined language Lausuma; lausumiin denotes the act of uttering light, a metaphor for the mineral’s glow.

Composition and properties: In-universe, lausumiin is represented by a silicate framework doped with rare-earth ions. Crystals typically form prismatic tabular habits; Mohs hardness around 6.5; refractive index about 1.65; under ultraviolet light it emits a strong blue-green glow near 520 nm.

Occurrence and formation: In the fiction, lausumiin occurs in basaltic lava tubes and shallow magmatic pockets on the planet Veridia. It is proposed to form through hydrothermal processes that drive the incorporation of dopants into a silica-rich lattice at temperatures of 250–400°C.

Applications and significance: Within its fiction, lausumiin is explored for optoelectronics and phosphor technology. It is described as potentially lower-cost and more thermally stable than some terrestrial phosphors, with prospects for use in displays, sensors, and energy conversion.

Discovery and reception: The mineral is introduced in the 2193 novella The Silent Lattice by author-characters, with later entries in the Veridian Chronicles expanding its lore. As a fictional construct, lausumiin has no real-world samples or verified properties. This article describes a fictional mineral created for worldbuilding and is not based on any verified natural mineral.