Latureiden

Latureiden is a hypothetical inorganic compound and mineral described in speculative mineralogy literature. It is characterized as a layered lanthanide tellurate oxide with an approximate formula of La2Te2O7. The proposed structure features alternating sheets of LaO6 octahedra and TeO6 octahedra that form a two-dimensional framework, yielding a ceramic-like phase in synthetic samples and a potentially layered crystal habit in natural configurations.

Physical and chemical properties associated with latureiden in these accounts include a pale yellow to amber color, a Mohs hardness around 5 to 6, and a relatively high density in the mid-to-upper range for oxide minerals. Reported refractive index values are also elevated, consistent with the presence of heavy elements such as tellurium. In speculative models, the material is noted for chemical stability at moderate temperatures and for showing anisotropic properties related to its layered structure.

Occurrence and locality are described in fictional or hypothetical settings, with a type locality imagined as a hydrothermal vein system within high-grade metamorphic rocks in a region named Lature Ridge. In these narratives, latureiden is considered rare and primarily known from laboratory syntheses or from speculative geological contexts rather than widely documented natural deposits.

Etymology and naming reflect the layered, sheet-like structure suggested by its name: the term latureiden combines a root inspired by “layer” with a suffix common to mineral names, intended to signal its two-dimensional oxide framework.

Uses and significance are discussed mainly in theoretical or exploratory contexts. In such discussions, latureiden is proposed as a potential model for layered oxide materials with applications as solid-state electrolytes or catalytic supports, though it remains a fictional or prototype concept rather than an established commodity.

See also: tellurates, lanthanide oxides, layered oxide materials, fictional minerals.

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