Anturiens

Anturiens are a fictional mineral group described in speculative geology and worldbuilding. In the imagined planetary system of Antar, anturiens are crystalline silicates that form under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions in ultramafic rocks. They are noted for iridescent, multi-layered prisms and a vitreous to resinous luster, with color variation driven by trace elements.

Chemically they are silicate minerals enriched with transition metals. They show a relatively wide refractive range and pronounced birefringence. On the Mohs scale they rate around 6 to 7, and they exhibit imperfect cleavage. Crystallography features often include a pseudo-hexagonal habit with complex twinning.

Anturiens occur in deep crustal xenoliths and hydrothermal veins in the Antarian crust, typically in association with chromite, magnetite, and pyroxenes. They are thought to form during metasomatic episodes that introduce silicates and metals into primary ultramafic rocks.

Ethically and economically important in the fiction setting, anturiens are valued as gemstone material and as dielectric components in crystalline devices. When heat-treated they intensify color and brightness, and their luminescence under ultraviolet light makes them popular for jewelry and decorative art. In high-tech contexts, they are depicted as possessing piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties useful in sensors and energy storage, though these roles are fictional.

Anturiens were first described by geomorphologist Leora Taren in 2141 in the Antar region. The name derives from Antar, the home region where they were first identified. Later work divided anturiens into subgroups based on trace-element content and crystal symmetry.