Spilene

Spilene is a fictional mineral described in speculative fiction, role-playing games, and world-building guides. It is portrayed as a luminous crystalline substance that forms in deep subterranean environments and is valued for potential energy storage and optical properties.

Etymology and in-world lore are fictional. The name Spilene is a neologism created for storytelling, and in various works it is attributed to an ancient language or culture. There is no single canonical origin across texts, and different authors treat the term as a generic mineral with associated mythic significance.

In most depictions, Spilene forms as elongated prismatic crystals with a vitreous to resinous luster. It ranges in color from blue-green to amber, is translucent to opaque, and has a Mohs hardness around 6–7. Descriptions commonly assign a density near 3.0 g/cm3 and a faint phosphorescent glow after exposure to light or electrical stimuli. Its imagined chemistry is often silicate-based, with trace rare-earth elements contributing to its varied coloration and luminescence.

Occurrence and extraction are described as challenging and hazardous. Spilene is said to form in hydrothermal veins within basaltic or ultramafic rock, typically in high-temperature, high-pressure environments such as magma conduits. It is rare and difficult to mine, with risks including volatile gas release and seismic instability, requiring specialized stabilization and protective measures.

Uses and significance vary by work. In fiction, Spilene is valued for energy storage, enabling compact power sources and long-lasting devices. It also features in optics, jewelry, and ceremonial contexts, and in some narratives serves as a political or economic focal point due to its scarcity.