Nsidian

Nsidian is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and worldbuilding. In the imagined setting, it is a dense, blue-to-indigo silicate mineral with a distinctive iridescent sheen. The name derives from the fictional region of Nsidia, and is used in various texts to symbolize endurance and technical worth.

In-universe descriptions place Nsidian in the silicate class with a mixed crystal character ranging from pseudo-crystalline to microcrystalline. Reported Mohs hardness is 6 to 7, and specific gravity around 3.4 to 3.8. Color ranges from deep blue to black, often with an opalescent or iridescent flash. The luster is described as vitreous to resinous, and it commonly shows conchoidal fracture with uneven cleavage.

Geologically, Nsidian is said to form in rapidly cooling volcanic environments and in hydrothermal settings within ultramafic rocks. In fiction, it is frequently found as nodules embedded in volcanic glass, or as inclusions in basalt and peridotite xenoliths. Formation narratives vary, but most accounts emphasize rapid cooling and chemical purity of silica-rich magmas.

Naming and use in-world reflect its symbolic name: Nsidia. In many stories, Nsidian is a prized material in jewelry and ornament, valued for color and light performance. Some cultures attribute it with protective properties, while others treat it as a strategic mineral for trade and technology nodes.

Applications in the narrative range from decorative cabochons and inlays to advanced ceramics and optical components in speculative technologies. In some continuities, synthetic analogues are described as easier to produce than natural specimens, leading to debates over authenticity and value.