Orsomic

Orsomic is a fictional material used in science fiction and worldbuilding to describe a rare mineral with extraordinary energy properties. It does not refer to a real substance and is commonly employed as a plot device or worldbuilding element.

Etymology and naming of orsomic vary by setting; there is no single canonical origin. In many works, the term is treated as a compound-derived name with no defined linguistic roots, allowing authors to reuse or adapt it without conflicting with real-world terminology.

Physical properties attributed to orsomic in various depictions center on high energy density and unusual transport characteristics. It is often described as a dense, crystalline mineral that appears translucent with colors ranging from blue to teal. In several portrayals it exhibits near-superconductive behavior at relatively high temperatures and emits a faint glow in darkness, sometimes described as radioluminescence. The material is typically portrayed as brittle, requiring specialized handling and processing.

Occurrence and extraction within fictional settings place orsomic in extreme environments, such as mantle-rich asteroidal bodies or deep crustal pockets on certain exoplanets. Mining is often depicted as technologically demanding, dominated by automated drones or specialized mining fleets, and mining rights are frequently a subject of political or economic tension in these narratives.

Applications and impact in fiction vary but commonly include energy storage, advanced propulsion, and shielding materials. The rarity and value of orsomic drive geopolitical dynamics, with debates over extraction ethics, environmental risk, and trade restrictions forming recurring plot elements.

In discourse and fan-created reference works, orsomic is treated as a versatile worldbuilding term rather than a canonical scientific substance. There is no universally accepted definition, and its properties are defined by individual authors or game designers.