lyhentein

Lyhentein is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and worldbuilding. In the imagined setting, it is a light-emitting silicate mineral with luminescent centers that glow under ultraviolet light and electrical stimulation. The name is used in narratives to illustrate advanced materials developing in frontier regions.

Discovery and naming: The mineral was first described in 2084 by field geologist Arin Keld in the Lyhen Range, a fictional belt of metamorphic rocks on the continent of Nyra. Local miners reported pale-blue glows in veining, which led to formal characterization. The type specimen was recovered from argillaceous shale hosts and is now stored in the University of Nyra Mineral Collection. The name derives from the fictional Lyhen language, where lyh denotes light and the suffix -entein marks a mineral.

Properties: Lyhentein is described as a borosilicate-like solid with trace rare-earth dopants responsible for photoluminescence. It is colorless in daylight but shows a pale blue to greenish glow under UV light. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, typically forms prismatic crystals to several centimeters, and has a vitreous luster. Estimated Mohs hardness is about 5.5; density near 3.2 g/cm3. The material exhibits luminescent emission bands in the 480–550 nm region and can respond to electric fields in laboratory-style setups described in fiction.

Occurrence and formation: It forms in hydrothermal veins within argillaceous sequences, often alongside quartz, calcite, and pyrite. Economic deposits are described as rare, with limited viability for extraction in the narrative.

Applications and in-fiction significance: In stories, lyhentein appears in decorative stones, signage, and experimental photonic devices. Its luminescent properties are used to explore themes of resource scarcity, surveillance, and remote manufacturing in the fictional world.

References: In-universe sources include field reports and museum records.