eilaskeva

Eilaskeva is a fictional mineral that appears in speculative fiction and worldbuilding exercises. The term is used to describe a rare, iridescent crystal with exceptional energy storage capabilities and luminescent properties.

Etymology: The name is constructed from the imagined language of the Eldran archipelago and has no real-world cognates.

Properties: Eilaskeva crystallizes in prismatic hexagonal forms with a glassy luster. It has a high gravimetric energy density, stable up to 1500 C, and exhibits photo-luminescent emission when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is moderately conductive and can operate at low temperatures, making it attractive for compact power storage and photonic devices. It is chemically inert in normal atmospheric conditions but reacts slowly with fluorine under high-energy conditions.

Occurrence and mining: It is said to form in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks within subduction zones, and is rare to find in surface exposures. The most significant deposits are described in the fictional northern archipelago of Nareth, where mining requires specialized safety protocols.

Historical and cultural context: In-world economies eilaskeva acts as a high-value commodity and is often used as currency or as a trade medium in barter networks. Its scarcity, coupled with the difficulty of extraction, has driven research into alternative synthetic production.

Applications: In stories, eilaskeva is used to power compact reactors, serve as a dopant in lasers, and as a luminescent marker in navigation beacons. Controversies include environmental impacts of mining and debates about synthetic production.