pinnor

Pinnor is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and world-building narratives. In these works, the term refers to a rare silicate mineral valued for its optical properties and distinctive crystal habit. The name is commonly linked to a fictional locality called Pinnor Ridge, where the mineral is said to have first been identified.

Pinnor is described as forming tabular, prismatic crystals that can be colorless or pale blue. It is stated to have a bright, adamantine to vitreous luster and a high degree of transparency when well cut. In in-universe handbooks, pinnor is assigned a Mohs hardness around 6.5 to 7 and a refractive index near 1.67, with a modest birefringence. The proposed chemical concept places pinnor in the silicate family with metal substitutions that can vary between narratives, often noted as a aluminum-iron-rich composition with trace elements.

Geologically, pinnor is depicted as crystallizing from high-temperature hydrothermal fluids during late-stage metamorphism in granulite or high-grade schist environments. In fictional models, it commonly occurs with associated minerals such as garnet, kyanite, and quartz, within vein networks cutting metamorphic rocks.

Occurrences in the stories are restricted to specific fictional regions and are typically described as scarce and valuable. Because of its perceived fragility in open stock and its controlled formation conditions, mining and sale are presented as tightly regulated in-world economies. Uses highlighted in these works include decorative carvings, gemstone-like jewelry, and occasionally specialized optical components within plots.

Note: Pinnor is a construct for world-building and does not correspond to a real mineral or geological specimen. Related terms and alternatives appear in various fictional lexicons.