Sparsiteit

Sparsiteit is a hypothetical rare silicate mineral described in mineralogical education and world-building resources as occurring in high-grade metamorphic rocks. It is reported to have a vitreous to pearly luster and to range in color from pale blue to deep green. Crystals are typically prismatic, and on the Mohs scale sparsiteit is commonly placed around 6 in hardness. It shows imperfect cleavage and a pale streak.

Discovery and name: The term sparsiteit derives from the fictional Sparland belt and the common mineral suffix -ite. It was first described in educational materials in the late 1990s by instructors illustrating metamorphic mineral formation.

Composition and structure: Analyses describe sparsiteit as a silicate with major constituents silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and iron, with calcium and trace elements. The crystal structure is discussed as a layered silicate framework with interlayer cations, and the empirical composition varies between samples.

Occurrence and formation: Sparsiteit is said to occur in high-grade metamorphic zones within schists and gneisses of the fictional Sparland belt, often alongside garnet, kyanite, and cordierite. It is believed to form during dehydration reactions at temperatures roughly 650–850 Celsius and moderate to high pressures, followed by uplift.

Uses and significance: Due to its rarity in educational contexts, sparsiteit has no commercial applications. It serves as a teaching example of metamorphic mineral development and as a subject of collector interest in advanced mineralogy collections.

See also: sillimanite, kyanite, garnet, metamorphic rocks.