nodulien

Nodulien is a fictional mineral referenced in speculative geology and worldbuilding discussions. It is described as forming in nodular, botryoidal masses within igneous and hydrothermal environments. The name is derived from nodulus, Latin for a small knot, with the -ien suffix common in mineral nomenclature.

In formation, nodulien is said to crystallize from silica-rich fluids that precipitate around fractures in basalt, rhyolite, or andesite. It typically appears as steel-gray to blue-gray nodules embedded in host rock, sometimes radiating or botryoidal. It is associated with other silicates and iron- and magnesium-bearing minerals in the narratives where it appears.

Physical properties as described in sources within fiction include a Mohs hardness of about 6.0–6.5, a vitreous to pearly luster, and a conchoidal to uneven fracture. Specific gravity is given as roughly 3.2–3.5 g/cm3. Chemically, nodulien is depicted as a complex iron- and magnesium-rich silicate with trace aluminum and titanium; no fixed formula exists because it is a fictional construct.

Localities: as a fictional mineral, nodulien lacks verified natural occurrences, but writers place it in volcanic arcs, rift zones, or hydrothermal vein systems in worldbuilding settings. Its fictional distribution can be tailored to plot needs.

Uses and significance: In narratives, nodulien is sometimes described as an abrasive or decorative material, and in some techno-fantasy contexts as a resource for energy storage or advanced ceramics. In real geology, nodulien is not recognized as a real mineral.