Pehmenenud

Pehmenenud is a fictional mineral-like material described in speculative fiction and role-playing game sourcebooks. In the canonical world-building material, pehmenenud is a hydrated silicate composite that forms in high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal environments. The material is characterized by a distinctive iridescent sheen, a pale green to violet color range, and a waxy to pearly luster. Crystals typically occur as thin tabular plates or fibrous aggregates. It has a relatively low hardness (Mohs 3–4) and moderate fracture, making it easy to cut and polish for decorative use but unsuitable for structural applications.

Geography and occurrence: In the fictional setting, pehmenenud is primarily found in the Volara Basin on the planet Cyndora, though small deposits are reported on several moons of gas giants. It forms when mineral-rich fluids circulate through basaltic rock and interact with clays and organic matter, producing interlayered crystals with micro-porous structure.

Uses: In-world, pehmenenud has two main uses: as a pigment and as a component in experimental energy-storage devices due to its layered structure and high surface area. It also appears in ceremonial objects and jewelry because of its color-changing properties under different lighting.

Etymology: The term is constructed from pseudolinguistic roots common to the setting's languages.

Notes: As a fictional element, descriptions vary between sources, and there is no real-world counterpart. Researchers in the setting debate its provenance and exact composition.