Luomeen

Luomeen is a fictional mineral described in speculative materials science and science-fiction literature. The name derives from lumen, the Latin word for light, reflecting its luminescent properties.

In the imagined setting, luomeen forms in hydrothermal pegmatites and high-temperature metamorphic rocks, often in the fictional Luom Range. It occurs with quartz, feldspar, apatite, and trace rare-earth elements.

Chemically, luomeen is described as a lutetium-containing silicate-oxide with a monoclinic crystal system. It appears as pale green to colorless crystals with a vitreous luster. Hardness 6–6.5; density roughly 4.2–4.6 g/cm3.

Under ultraviolet or electron-beam excitation, luomeen exhibits photoluminescence, with emission near 550 nm. Doping with cerium or europium can enhance brightness and create measurable afterglow lasting minutes to hours in good samples.

Synthesis typically involves high-temperature solid-state reactions of lutetium oxide and silica, with fluxes and dopants, followed by controlled crystallization. Applications envisioned include luminescent markers for geological tracing, radiation detectors, and components in optical circuitry. It remains a rare, exploratory material.