Vooludes

Vooludes are a family of luminescent mineral-like solids described in speculative mineralogy. They are notable for bright, shifting iridescence and for emitting light after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In hand specimens vooludes range from tabular to prismatic crystals and commonly show a glassy to resinous luster.

The term voolude was coined by mineralogist Dr. Amina Kesh in 2042 after fieldwork at the Shalyn Crags. The name derives from a local dialect word vool meaning "shine" and the suffix -ude used for minerals in the region, intended to reflect their luminous character.

Vooludes are described as complex silicate-like minerals with a variable composition. They are typically doped with rare-earth or transition-metal activators that produce luminescence when excited by ultraviolet light or electron irradiation. The crystalline framework is reported to be layered and porous, which may contribute to their afterglow and potential energy-storage properties.

Occurrence and formation: They occur in hydrothermal veins associated with quartz and feldspathoids, usually at depths of several hundred meters. Conditions believed to favor voolude formation include moderate temperatures, reducing fluids, and locally elevated radiation fields, contributing to their luminescent behavior.

Applications and research: Researchers have explored vooludes for potential uses as low-temperature phosphors, decorative stones, or model systems for luminescent porous materials. Synthesis remains challenging, and natural specimens are rare, limiting large-scale study.

See also: Luminescent minerals, Phosphors.