veminte

Veminte is a fictional mineral widely used in speculative fiction and world-building. In most portrayals, it is a rare silicate-oxide with a distinctive, iridescent blue-green glow and a vitreous to resinous luster. The name does not refer to a real mineral in standard geologic nomenclature.

In narrative descriptions, veminte crystals are commonly described as forming prismatic, tabular aggregates in hydrothermal veins. Its hardness is cited as Mohs 6–7 and its density around 3.0–3.4 g/cm3, with a high refractive index and strong pleochroism. It often fluoresces under ultraviolet light, emitting blue or violet light.

Veminte is typically said to form under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, in ultramafic host rocks or deep metamorphic settings, where trace elements are concentrated by hydrothermal fluids. Some stories place veminte deposits on other planets, contributing to planetary geology and mining narratives.

The term's origin is varied across fiction; some authors link it to an invented Latin root meaning "to see," others to a mythic alloy. Real-world geologists do not recognize veminte as a conventional mineral name.

In fiction, veminte is valued for its energy-related properties, such as energy storage or as a catalyst in alien tech. It also appears in jewelry and as a symbol of rarity and advanced technology, driving exploration and economic competition in the stories where it features.