lithian

Lithian is a fictional mineral used in science fiction and world-building. It is typically portrayed as a lithium-rich material with exceptional stability and energy storage potential, making it a common plot device for power sources in spacecraft and advanced devices.

In most depictions, Lithian occurs in pegmatitic veins within ultramafic or crustal rocks. Its precise chemical composition varies by author, but it is often described as a lithium silicate or lithium-oxide compound with trace amounts of aluminum, magnesium, iron, and zirconium.

Physical properties may include a crystal habit of prisms or grains, a pale gray to blue-green color, Mohs hardness around 5–6, and a density higher than typical silicates. It is valued for high electrochemical performance and thermal stability, enabling compact energy cells. However, because it is fictional, specifications differ between works.

Extraction and processing are described in narratives as mining via deep underground operations, followed by crushing, flotation, and hydrometallurgical refinement. Purity requirements influence device efficiency, and environmental and geopolitical considerations are common plot elements in stories featuring Lithian.

Etymology and usage: The name Lithian derives from lithos, the Greek word for stone, with the suffix -ian; in some texts it is also called lithite. See also lithium, pegmatite, mineral fiction.