Vastean

Vastean is a fictional mineral that appears in speculative geology and science fiction. In these works, it is described as a rare, hard crystalline substance characterized by exceptional thermal stability and unusual electrical properties.

The imaginary mineral is typically depicted with a layered, anisotropic crystal structure and is sometimes categorized as a silicate- or oxide-based phase.

Explorations within fictional narratives often place Vastean in geothermally altered rocks, deep hydrothermal veins, or on extraterrestrial bodies with extreme heat and pressure.

The name is said to derive from the fictional explorer Vaste or from the language of a constructed culture associated with the mineral’s discovery.

In speculative uses, Vastean is imagined to enable advanced technologies: high-temperature electronics, efficient energy storage, and, under certain dopants, superconducting behavior. Its purported properties make it a common plot device for world-building and techno-thrillers.

Notes: Vastean is not a real mineral; there are no verified specimens, samples, or peer-reviewed studies confirming its existence. The term appears in fictional texts and role-playing settings, where its characteristics vary by author.