Cementumsanasta

Cementumsanasta is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology. It is defined as a calcium-rich silicate mineral with a layered crystalline structure that forms under high-temperature metamorphic and hydrothermal conditions. In the fictional corpus, it occurs as small prismatic crystals within metamorphic rocks and is noted for its distinctive layering.

Etymology: The name combines cementum, referencing the mineral-like binding properties, with the suffix -sanasta, drawn from the fictional Ardentian language. The term is used exclusively within the fictional context.

Occurrence and formation: In the imagined setting, cementumsanasta is found in the northern Ardentia Highlands, often co-occurring with cordierite, spinel, and sanastite. It is described as forming through metasomatic alteration of aluminous rocks during uplift, with constituents migrating under high-temperature hydrothermal conditions.

Properties: Described specimens report a Mohs hardness of 6–7, a vitreous to resinous luster, and a pale gray to olive-green color. It has a calculated specific gravity around 3.2–3.6 and a brittle, plate-like crystal habit. Chemically, it is presented as a stable silicate resistant to common acids in brief exposure tests.

Uses and significance: Within the fictional framework, cementumsanasta is proposed as a potential refractory ceramic material and as a model system for studying layered silicate growth. It has no real-world mining operation and remains a topic in speculative geology and creative writing.

History and taxonomy: Cementumsanasta was first described in 1987 by the fictional geologist L. K. Mirth in the monograph Minerals of Ardentia. It is not recognized by real mineral taxonomy authorities.

See also: List of minerals; silicate minerals; metamorphic rocks.