Terassien

Terassien is a fictional mineral described in this encyclopedia-style entry as a rare silicate with a layered tectosilicate framework. Its composition is variable, dominated by silicon and aluminum with substitutions by iron, titanium, and alkali cations. Terassien forms elongated prisms and coarse-grained aggregates; in hand specimen it shows olive-green to brown-green color and a vitreous to submetallic luster. It has a Mohs hardness near 6 and a measured density around 3.8 g/cm3. The crystals are typically monoclinic and commonly exhibit clear cleavage along the basal plane.

Occurrence and locality in the fictional setting place terassien in the Terassa Basin, where it forms during high-temperature metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks. It is typically associated with tremolite, clinoferrosilite, magnetite, and other silicate minerals of similar paragenesis. The mineral is not described as a major ore but rather as a marker mineral for particular metamorphic conditions in educational and research contexts.

Structure and chemistry in terassien feature alternating tetrahedral Si/Al sheets and octahedral layers containing Fe and Al, creating a layered framework that imparts both stability at elevated temperatures and characteristic cleavage. The composition can vary locally, influencing properties such as color and density. The mineral’s textural tendencies include platy to prismatic forms and occasional fibrous aggregates.

Discovery and naming note that terassien was first described in the late 20th century by researchers studying the Terassa Basin. The name derives from the region’s name, with the suffix following conventional mineral-naming practices in this fictional setting. Significance lies in illustrating how layered silicates respond to metamorphic conditions and how mineral stability reflects chemical substitutions.