Tartmal

Tartmal is a fictional mineral that appears in speculative fiction, tabletop role-playing games, and collaborative world-building. It is not a real mineral, and reports of tartmal vary by source. In many settings, tartmal is valued for its energy-conductive and arcane properties, serving as a focus for spells or as a power source in advanced devices.

Origins and etymology: The name tartmal appears in late-20th to 21st-century fantasy corpora; authors often attribute it to a fictional Tartmalian language. The term is commonly used to describe a powered crystal rather than a specific chemical compound.

Physical characteristics: Tartmal crystals are typically depicted as translucent to opaque with blue-green or violet hues, sometimes with internal fractures or inclusions. Reported hardness ranges from 4 to 7 on the Mohs scale depending on the source; refractive index is high, and specimens may exhibit bioluminescence or lunar glow under low light.

Occurrence and formation: In fiction, tartmal forms in hydrothermal veins, deep-crystal caverns, or meteoric deposits. Some settings describe it as crystallizing under magical energies or cosmic currents rather than purely chemical processes. Its distribution is often limited to particular regions, star systems, or mythic belts.

Uses and cultural role: Tartmal is frequently used as a power conduit, catalyst for rune-work, or currency in certain worlds. It may require purification, attunement, or ritual preparation to unlock its properties. Societies guard sources and regulate mining due to scarcity and influence.

See also: fictional minerals; magical geology; crystal lore.