altangitre

Altangitre is a fictional mineral created for speculative fiction and worldbuilding exercises. It is typically depicted as a dense, luminous mineral that forms under extreme metamorphic or magmatic conditions deep within planetary crusts. The name is widely used in science fiction and educational simulations to illustrate exotic materials and their imagined applications.

In many stories, altangitre forms at depths of several hundred kilometers, where rocks experience high temperatures and pressures. It is often associated with subduction zones, planetary collisions, or artificial geological processes in advanced civilizations. Some writers place altangitre in meteorite-rich regions or as a product of fictional planetary geology.

Physical properties are variable across works, but common depictions describe altangitre as hard (Mohs 6–7) with a metallic to pearly luster and a density around 4.0–5.0 g/cm3. Its color ranges from cobalt blue to gunmetal gray, sometimes showing iridescent inclusions that shift with viewing angle. The mineral is usually described as stable at high pressures.

In fiction, altangitre is valued for energy-related applications. It is often portrayed as an efficient conductor or energy-storage medium, enabling compact power cells for spacecraft, weapons, or smart materials. Some narratives assign unconventional properties such as near-room-temperature superconductivity or self-healing behavior under magnetic fields.

Etymology and realism: Altangitre is a constructed term with no basis in real mineralogy. Its usage varies by author, and it is primarily employed as a narrative device to explore exotic geology and futuristic technologies.