Vormines

Vormines are a fictional class of mineral-like materials described in speculative geology and science fiction. They are typically portrayed as ultralight yet exceptionally strong crystalline compounds with a layered lattice that can store and release energy, respond to electric and magnetic fields, and exhibit tunable optical properties.

According to common world-building lore, Vormines form under high pressure and temperature conditions in deep crustal or mantle domains, and also on icy or volcanically active bodies. The term is often linked to the Vorm Basin or Vorm Belt, imagined regions rich in these minerals.

Most depictions place Vormines into subtypes with varying density and hardness, generally ranging from mid-range to high hardness on Mohs scale, and densities that enable favorable strength-to-weight ratios. Reports vary, but they are typically described as having stable performance up to several thousand degrees Celsius and showing low chemical reactivity, enabling long-term storage of energy or photons within their lattice.

In fiction, Vormines are used as energy storage media, structural components in spacecraft, protective armor, and as catalysts for advanced manufacturing. The economic and environmental implications vary by work, but common themes include limited natural occurrence, high extraction costs, and the need for specialized processing facilities.

Notes: Vormines are a fictitious material; real-world science does not recognize them as a mineral class.