Merals

Merals are a fictional class of mineral-like substances described in speculative geology and science fiction. They are typically portrayed as crystalline materials with unusual optical and energetic properties, including the ability to store and transfer energy without significant loss.

In most treatments, Merals lack a fixed chemical formula and are defined by a flexible lattice that can accommodate different trace elements. They are described as layered or polycrystalline, with interstitial sites that permit variable composition and local symmetry.

Merals are described as ranging in color from deep blue to green, with a glassy to translucent appearance. They are said to have high refractive indices and a Mohs hardness often placed between 6 and 8. They may exhibit luminescence under ultraviolet light and anisotropic optical properties.

In fictional narratives, Merals are said to form under extreme metamorphic conditions or to crystallize from exotic ions in planetary mantles or oceans.

Within stories, Merals are valued for energy storage, photonic devices, and durable construction materials, and play a role in trade networks and in myths about the balance between science and mysticism.

The name Meral appears inconsistently across works, with no single canonical etymology. They are often grouped with other fictional minerals such as crystliths or lumarals.

See also: Glossary of fictional minerals; speculative geology; list of minerals in science fiction.