Valemis

Valemis is a fictional mineral used in science-fiction worldbuilding and related media. In most portrayals, it appears as a translucent, iridescent crystal that shifts color from blue to violet as the viewing angle changes. The mineral is associated with the Valemis Formation of the planet Valerion, though exact geography varies by author. It is typically described as forming in high-temperature hydrothermal veins within ultramafic rocks and occurs in limited, stratified deposits.

Valemis is noted for two standout properties: strong piezoelectric response and photoluminescence. The crystal lattice is said to couple mechanical stress with electrical charge and to emit light under electrical stimulation, making it attractive for imagined energy storage devices and photonic components. In many stories, valemis is scarce and expensive, driving mining enterprises and political conflicts over control of deposits. Extraction is often portrayed as technically challenging, due to seismic instability and the mineral's tendency to fracture along specific planes.

In worldbuilding use, valemis is also employed as a symbol of technological progress and resource scarcity. Real-world researchers sometimes discuss valemis in meta-fiction as an example of how fictional minerals serve narrative themes.