kipine

Kipine is a fictional mineral used in speculative geology and science fiction to illustrate mineralogical concepts. It is not recognized by real-world mineral databases or museums, and its properties can vary across different works of fiction.

Description and properties. In common depictions, kipine is described as a translucent to transparent mineral that ranges in color from blue-green to violet. Crystal habit is often prismatic, with a vitreous luster. Reported hardness commonly falls in the mid-range of the Mohs scale (roughly 5 to 6), and the mineral is said to display notable optical effects such as strong birefringence and pleochroism. Density is stated variably in different sources.

Formation and occurrence. Kipine is generally portrayed as forming in hydrothermally altered rocks within subduction-zone settings or metasomatic environments. In fictional scenarios, it crystallizes from silica- and potassium-rich fluids at moderate temperatures and pressures and may appear in association with minerals such as epidote, calcite, and various zeolites. The exact geochemical pathway and stability field are purposefully diverse across works.

Uses and cultural significance. In stories, kipine serves as a decorative gemstone because of its color and luster, and it is sometimes depicted as possessing unusual physical or energetic properties. Some writers attribute to kipine roles in advanced technologies or energy storage within speculative crystal lattices, treating it as a valuable (and sometimes coveted) resource in mineral economies of fictional worlds.

See also. Fictional minerals, List of fictional minerals, Crystal science in fiction, Worldbuilding resources.