kaseïnen

Kaseïnen is a term used in speculative fiction to denote a rare mineral with notable energy-related properties. Because it appears across multiple works, there is no single canonical definition, and the precise details vary by author.

In many depictions, kaseïnen crystals are prismatic and translucent, typically blue to violet, with a glassy to pearly luster. It is described as fairly hard, around 6 on the Mohs scale, and moderately dense. Some narratives emphasize iridescent inclusions or faint luminescence in darkness. The mineral is sometimes described as thermally stable and chemically reactive with certain alloys.

Geology within the fiction places kaseïnen in high-temperature environments, often forming in deeply buried pegmatites, metamorphic pockets, or impact melt reservoirs. In several works, deposits occur in restricted regions or on frontier worlds, which contributes to its value and strategic importance. Extraction and refinement are portrayed as technologically demanding.

Applications center on energy and technology. Kaseïnen is frequently depicted as an efficient energy storage medium or a component enabling advanced superconductors and compact reactors. It also appears in art and ritual contexts in some settings, perceived as a symbol of remote-world frontier culture.

Etymology: the name kaseïnen is fictional and varies by universe. The spelling with the diaeresis is used in some translations to indicate a separate syllable, while others render it as kaseinen.