luomen

Luomen is a fictional mineral frequently described in speculative geology and science fiction. It is presented as a dense, silicate mineral that forms under high-pressure hydrothermal conditions in subduction-zone environments. The name is often said to derive from the element lutetium (symbol Lu) and the suffix -omen, intended to signify a distinctive geological hallmark.

Composition and structure: In the fiction, luomen comprises a layered silicate framework in which lutetium- and rare-earth cations occupy octahedral sites. A commonly cited approximate formula is Lu2MSi4O12, with M representing a trivalent metal such as Al or Fe. Some depictions include trace organic matter or fluorine to account for optical luminescence.

Physical properties: Descriptions vary, but luomen is typically depicted as very dense, with a Mohs hardness around 6–7 and a high refractive index. It is sometimes described as showing blue- or green-tinted iridescence and luminescence under ultraviolet light, features that are appealing in fiction and educational examples about mineral properties.

Occurrence and discovery: There is no confirmed discovery in real-world geology. In fictional contexts, luomen is said to form in deep crustal or mantle-derived hydrothermal pockets, or in ultramafic rocks subjected to high pressures, and it is sometimes linked with unusual seismic signatures.

Applications and cultural impact: In some stories, luomen is valued for radiation shielding or as a gemstone with unusual properties; researchers in those worlds discuss its scarcity, synthesis, and ethical implications.