lithicus

Lithicus is a term used in speculative geology and fictional worldbuilding to denote a hypothetical silicate mineral. It is not an identified mineral in established geological literature. The name derives from the Greek lithos, meaning stone, with the Latin suffix -icus, indicating a mineral species.

In imagined settings, Lithicus is said to crystallize under high-pressure metamorphic conditions associated with subduction zones. Crystals are described as tabular to prismatic and may form coarse aggregates. The color ranges from pale gray to steel-blue, and it commonly exhibits a vitreous to pearly luster. Reported hardness is around 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, with a white to pale streak and conchoidal fracture. The mineral is typically said to lack distinct cleavage.

Because Lithicus is a fictional construct, no field measurements or locality data exist in real geology. In worldbuilding, it is sometimes placed in lithium-rich pegmatites or metamorphic belts where silica- and lithium-bearing fluids interact with feldspar-rich rocks.

In stories, Lithicus may be depicted as an energy-storage material or as a gemstone with magical properties. Some settings associate it with stability and resilience, reflecting its stone-like name.

Related terms include lithosphere, silicate minerals, metamorphism, pegmatite, and lithium minerals. This article describes a fictional mineral invented for illustrative purposes; it does not reflect real-world mineralogy.