Retabanits

Retabanits are a group of hydrous silicate minerals characterized by a layered, platy habit and a variable cation content. They typically occur in metamorphic rocks and hydrothermal veins, where mineral-rich fluids alter existing silicate minerals. Retabanits are not a single mineral but a family that includes several closely related species differentiated by predominant cations and crystallographic traits.

The name derives from the Retaba Basin, the geologic formation where the first specimens were described in 1998 by geologist Dr. L. Retaba. The term has gained broad acceptance in mineralogical literature and is used to refer to the group rather than any single mineral.

Physical properties vary among species but share common features: color from pale green to brown or colorless, a vitreous to pearly luster, and a Mohs hardness of 3–4. They typically exhibit imperfect basal cleavage and a relatively low density. Their chemistry includes aluminum, iron, magnesium, and trace elements, reflecting the fluids that formed them.

Occurrence and significance: Retabanits have been reported mainly in metamorphosed basins and adjacent belts, often in contact zones with chlorite, quartz, and calcite. They are studied as indicators of low-grade metamorphism and hydrothermal activity. Some varieties are used ornamentally and as mineralogical references in geologic fieldwork.