qelq

Qelq is a fictional mineral used in speculative fiction and world-building. It refers to a rare, glassy substance valued for its luminescent properties and potential as an energy storage medium.

Origin and name: The term qelq is commonly presented as belonging to an invented language family in which the root conveys light or glow; etymologies vary by work but emphasize brightness.

Physical and chemical characteristics: In most renderings qelq is a conchoidally fractured, high-hardness glass with a color that ranges from aqua to violet. It glows under ultraviolet light and may exhibit spectral coloration depending on trace elements.

Occurrence and formation: In-universe geology depicts qelq forming in deep fault zones where hydrothermal fluids cool rapidly, yielding irregular crystals. Some authors describe it as crystalline glass rather than a true mineral, with isotropic properties.

Uses and significance: Qelq is often depicted as an energy storage medium or power source for devices and starships, a luxury gemstone, or a symbolic artifact in rituals. Its scarcity drives trade, politics, and conflict in many stories.

Cultural reception: The term has entered fansites and world-building guides as a prototypical fictional mineral, used to illustrate themes of scarcity, technology, and the tension between progress and ethics.