Nivelkuopan

Nivelkuopan is a fictional mineral commonly referenced in science fiction and worldbuilding. It is described as a hydrated silicate mineral with luminescent properties that become visible under ultraviolet light. In worldbuilding depictions, nivelkuopan forms in hydrothermal environments associated with volcanic activity and mid-ocean ridges, where hot, mineral-rich fluids interact with basaltic rocks.

The name is typically treated as a constructed term, combining elements that suggest layered formation and hollow channels. Some sources place it in a regional language within the fictional setting, while others present it as a standardized geological name.

A standard fictional profile describes nivelkuopan as a calcium-magnesium silicate with water of hydration and trace dopants of rare earth elements. It is said to have a Mohs hardness around 4 to 5, a vitreous to pearly luster, and colors ranging from pale blue to emerald green. Under UV light it exhibits a stable photoluminescence, sometimes with a shifting emission spectrum.

In the canonical fictional chronology, nivelkuopan was first described by explorers in the Nyara Ocean trench during the late 22nd century. It is reported to occur as coarse to fine-grained aggregates within fracture-filled veins and porous pillow lavas, often associated with other hydrothermal minerals such as epidote and chlorite.

Within fiction, nivelkuopan is valued for potential energy storage, piezoelectric or photonic applications, and as a pigment. Its allure in worldbuilding stems from its combination of luminescence, porosity, and stability under high-temperature fluids.