Kabandit

Kabandit is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and science fiction. It is depicted as a dense oxide-silicate mineral rich in iron and magnesium, with trace elements that produce a range of colors and a metallic to submetallic luster. In many depictions, Kabandit crystallizes in a monoclinic or orthorhombic system and occurs as prismatic crystals or as compact masses rather than ideal crystals.

Typical properties attributed to Kabandit include a Mohs hardness of 6 to 7 and a density around 4.7 to 5.2 g/cm3. The color is usually described as steel gray to blue-gray, sometimes with a faint iridescence. The mineral is said to be moderately reactive with acids only at elevated temperatures, reflecting its variable oxide composition.

Geologic setting and occurrence: Kabandit is said to form in high-grade metamorphic or magmatic environments within ultramafic rocks. It is commonly imagined to occur with minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, magnetite, chromite, and amphibole, and to appear as intergrowths with lamellar textures in performative descriptions.

History and naming: The name Kabandit derives from the fictional Kabanda Basin and was introduced by geologist A. Kabanda in 2010 in a set of speculative mineral descriptions. It is not listed in major mineral databases and there is no confirmed natural specimen in real collections.

Applications and interpretation: In fiction it is proposed for decorative architectural stone, or as a candidate for hypothetical high-temperature ceramics or electronic materials. In encyclopedic contexts, Kabandit is used as an example to discuss mineral nomenclature, type locality, and the processes by which minerals are described and validated.