Ulommien

Ulommien is a rare monoclinic silicate mineral described from ultramafic rock complexes in the Ulom Mountains. It belongs to aluminum-magnesium silicates and occurs with accessory iron and trace elements such as vanadium and titanium. The mineral is typically found as small prismatic crystals in hydrothermal veins.

Its color ranges from pale olive-green to brown-green, and it has a vitreous luster. Ulommien rates about 6.5 on the Mohs scale and is translucent to opaque. Under shortwave UV light it can exhibit a blue-white fluorescence.

Ulommien forms in high-temperature hydrothermal settings within ultramafic rock suites and is commonly associated with spinel, olivine, and pyroxene. Type locality is the Ulom Mountain belt, with additional finds in alpine metamorphic belts and scattered intrusions. The mineral is rare and typically occurs as vein material rather than large aggregates.

The name derives from the Ulom Mountains and reflects the local language and topography. Ulommien was first described in 1983 by mineralogist K. Sato and colleagues; the type specimen is deposited at the Nordic Mineral Repository. Subsequent work has confirmed its distinct chemical and crystallographic identity.

As a research material, ulommien has attracted interest for studies of high-temperature stability and luminescent properties, with potential niche applications in optical materials and ceramics. It remains primarily of interest to researchers and mineral collectors.