Augnaric

Augnaric is a hypothetical mineral used in educational geology and speculative mineralogy to illustrate mineral description and classification. Conceived as a rare aluminosilicate, it is described as forming in high-grade metamorphic rocks and displaying a striking color range when viewed in thin sections or polished slabs.

The name Augnaric derives from Augnar Ridge, a fictional locality commonly cited in teaching materials. It was first described by the fictitious geologist Mara Kline in 1994 as part of a problem-based learning module intended to teach mineral nomenclature, crystal chemistry, and identification techniques.

Typical properties attributed to Augnaric in educational texts include a Mohs hardness around 6.0 to 6.5, a vitreous to pearly luster, and a transparent to translucent appearance. Pleochroism is described as blue to violet in transmitted light, with a metallic or iridescent sheen on cleavage faces. The crystal system is given as monoclinic, though several datasets assume a hypothetical structure.

Augnaric is said to occur in metamorphosed aluminous rocks such as schists or gneisses formed under high-temperature conditions. In the literature, it is commonly listed as co-occurring with garnet, kyanite, and cordierite, and is described as forming through metasomatic or solid-state reactions.

In practice, Augnaric serves primarily as a teaching tool and as a fictional gemstone analog in literature and simulations. It is not known to exist in nature or to have any industrial or commercial value, but it provides a convenient framework for discussing mineral classification, spectroscopy, and paragenesis.