Hydroksideilla

Hydroksideilla is a fictional mineral used in speculative geology and science fiction settings. In its canonical fictional description, it is a hydroxy-rich layered silicate that forms under hydrothermal conditions in alkaline fluids and acts as a model for studying phyllosilicate structure and behavior.

In structure and composition, Hydroksideilla is described as belonging to the layered silicate family, with alternating tetrahedral silicon-oxygen sheets and octahedral metal-hydroxide sheets. An idealized formula is often given as (M2+)2(M3+)4Si8O22(OH)2, with M2+ and M3+ representing varying divalent and trivalent cations (for example Mg2+, Fe2+/Fe3+, Al3+). The mineral is said to exhibit fine, tabular crystals, a pearly to resinous luster, and pronounced basal cleavage. Reported color ranges include pale green to gray, with a Mohs hardness around 3–4 and a moderate to low specific gravity.

Occurrence and genesis are described in fictional geology as veins within altered ultramafic or low-grade metamorphic rocks, often in hydrothermal districts such as the fictional Volantis Ridge. Hydroksideilla is typically found with chlorite, serpentine, and magnetite, forming where aqueous fluids introduce hydroxyl groups into silicate sheets during mineral alteration.

Synthesis and applications are explored in laboratory-inspired narratives and teaching contexts. In such stories, hydroksideilla can be crystallized by hydrothermal methods at roughly 250–350°C under moderate pressure. The material’s hydroxyl content allows reversible dehydroxylation at higher temperatures, making it a convenient stand-in for discussions of hydrogen storage, catalysis, and ion exchange in mineralogical education. The mineral also serves as a convenient example for naming conventions in layered silicates.

See also: silicate minerals, phyllosilicates, mica-group minerals.