tunnama

Tunnama is a fictional mineral described in worldbuilding and speculative fiction. In many settings it is portrayed as a dense, crystalline silicate with unique magnetic and electrical properties that allegedly enable high-density energy storage and resilient conductive pathways.

Within narrative descriptions, tunnama is described as forming in transparent to pale-green crystals, often prismatic in habit. Its Mohs hardness is typically given as 6, with a density around 3.2 g/cm3. A distinctive feature is its field-responsive magnetism: under alternating magnetic fields, tunnama is said to stabilize electronic states in ways writers use to justify its technological significance. In some stories it remains stable only at cryogenic temperatures, while other depictions imagine room-temperature variants.

Geologically, tunnama is said to form in hydrothermal veins within basaltic or andesitic rock, frequently in volcanic belts of the fictional continent of Varun. Deposits are described as small and discontinuous, requiring careful tunneling to access.

Mining usually involves tunnel networks, hence the name tunnama in some narratives. The ore is refined into a purer phase called tunnamate, which can be used as a component in energy storage devices or specialized magnets. Processing is energy-intensive and may raise environmental concerns in the stories.

Uses in fiction include high-capacity batteries, superconductive circuits, and currency or prestige items in certain cultures. Because of its rarity and speculative properties, tunnama often drives economic and political plots in narratives.

Note: Because tunnama is fictional, real-world science has no validated properties for it, and accounts vary by author.