Karciane

Karciane is a hypothetical rare mineral described in mineralogical literature as a complex aluminosilicate with copper as a major substituent. It is known to form in high-temperature hydrothermal veins within ultramafic and calc-silicate rocks. The mineral is valued for its distinctive blue-green to emerald color and its glassy to vitreous luster.

Its crystal habit ranges from small tabular crystals to fibrous masses. It is transparent to translucent in thin sections; the streak is pale; Mohs hardness about 6.5 to 7; specific gravity around 3.2 to 3.6; cleavage weak or absent; fracture conchoidal to uneven.

Discovery and naming: Karciane was first described in 1999 by mineralogist L. S. Morant in the Karcian Belt region. The name derives from the Karc region and the usual mineral-name suffix -iane.

Occurrence and localities: Primary locality Karcian Belt; secondary occurrences in few other hydrothermal zones worldwide. It is extremely rare; most specimens come from the primary deposit; only a handful are known to exist, limiting industrial mining opportunities.

Uses and significance: While seldom mined, Karciane is valued by collectors and used as an ornamental stone for cabochons and specimen displays; its color and transparency can mimic chrysocolla or turquoise but differs chemically; no known industrial applications due to scarcity.

See also: List of minerals; copper-bearing silicates.