sortrile

Sortrile is a fictional mineral that appears in science fiction literature and games. It is depicted as a rare, exceptionally hard silicate with an iridescent surface and high resistance to heat and corrosion. The name is used across multiple settings to denote a material of strategic value rather than a single, canonical composition.

In origin stories, sortrile forms in deep crustal or mantle-like environments of alien worlds, within basaltic or ultramafic magmas. Crystals are said to grow under slow cooling and high pressures, producing prism-like facets and a characteristic color-shift sheen. Its occurrence is typically localized, found in veins or nodules within host rocks.

Physical properties described for sortrile include a Mohs hardness around 8.5, high melting point, and a density in the mid-range for silicates. Many depictions assign it a play-of-color or iridescence, with a luster ranging from adamantine to nacreous. It is usually portrayed as weakly magnetic or paramagnetic and exhibits conchoidal fracture.

Applications in fiction emphasize its utility for demanding technologies. Sortrile is said to be ideal for precision cutting tools, high-temperature turbine components, armor plating, and advanced laser optics. Its scarcity makes it a valuable trade good, often central to interplanetary economies and conflicts. Extraction is described as hazardous, complicated by toxics in ore bodies and the need for remote processing facilities.

In cultural depictions, sortrile can symbolize resilience or serve as a plot device for mining rights and scarcity. See also: fictional minerals, list of minerals in science fiction.