Derybose

Derybose is a fictional mineral species commonly used in geology education and science fiction to illustrate mineral classification and nomenclature. It has become a convenient example for discussing how new minerals might be described and categorized.

In the conventional fictional description, Derybose crystallizes in the monoclinic system and occurs as prismatic crystals with a vitreous luster. It is typically pale green to blue, translucent to transparent, with a Mohs hardness of 5–6 and a density around 3.2–3.4 g/cm3. Its composition is described as a complex silicate containing aluminum, magnesium, and iron as major cations, with silicon-oxygen tetrahedra forming a framework and variable cation substitutions that yield minor color and brightness variations.

Occurrence in the fictional setting is said to arise from high-temperature hydrothermal veins within ultramafic host rocks, often found together with quartz, calcite, and magnetite. The name is derived from the imagined Deryb Mountain Range, where the mineral is said to have been first described.

Nomenclature and status: Derybose is not recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) and exists as a fictional entry used to demonstrate mineral description practices. While it has educational value for illustrating classification, it has no confirmed occurrence in the real world.