Argonilla

Argonilla is a fictional mineral referenced in speculative science fiction and thought experiments. In these contexts, argonilla is described as a solid argon-bearing mineral formed when argon gas becomes imprisoned within a crystalline lattice during rapid cooling of silicate-rich melts. The name blends argon with the Latin suffix -illa, a common mineral-name ending.

Formation and occurrence: In narrative accounts, argonilla occurs in deep crustal or mantle-like settings where argon-rich fluids are trapped in vesicles and channels, eventually crystallizing under high pressure. Some stories place argonilla in meteorites or on hypothetical rocky planets with active outgassing. As a fictional material, reported compositions vary, but claims often describe it as a silicate or aluminosilicate with gas inclusions that can influence its optical behavior.

Properties: Argonilla is typically depicted as colorless to pale-blue crystals or glassy masses with a vitreous luster. Its notable feature is the inclusion of trapped argon gas, which may impart weak luminescence or peculiar spectral lines under ultraviolet light. Mechanical properties in fiction range from brittle to relatively tough, depending on the imagined crystal structure.

Uses and significance: In stories, Argonilla serves as a speculative resource for gas storage, luminescent jewelry, or components of energy devices. Its inert-gas content is sometimes cited as providing chemical stability or inert shielding in fictional technologies.

Etymology and reception: The name derives from argon and the diminutive -illa and is used primarily in non-scientific or speculative literature. Argonilla is not recognized as a real mineral by current geological or chemical authorities.