tarnijatelt

Tarnijatelt is a fictional mineral that appears in science fiction and world-building literature as a rare sulfide-telluride mineral. It is not a mineral recognized by real-world geology. The name is commonly explained as a compound of a fictional Tarnija region plus the suffix -telt, echoing mineral names such as telluride.

In-universe, tarnijatelt is described as forming in high-temperature hydrothermal veins within ultramafic to mafic rocks, often associated with minerals such as tetrahedrite and sphalerite. Its crystals are described as elongated prisms with a deep blue-green iridescence and a pale glow under ultraviolet light. Reported hardness is around 5–6 on the Mohs scale; density is given as approximately 6.0–6.5 g/cm3; and it is sometimes said to contain tellurium and iron with trace copper and nickel.

Its uses in fiction vary, but tarnijatelt is commonly depicted as an energy-rich resource or as a plot device. Some sources claim it can store geothermal energy, power starship reactors, or act as a catalyst for unusual reactions, making it valuable to factions within the story universes.

In-universe discovery is attributed to geologist Dr. Lysa Korm in the mid-22nd century in the fictional Tarni Rift; since then Tarnijatelt has appeared in multiple works and media as a rare and coveted substance. Because Tarnijatelt is fictional, no physical samples exist, and real-world attempts to locate it have not been reported.