Vastavadit

Vastavadit is a fictional mineral species created for illustrative purposes in this entry. In fictional geoscience literature, it is described as a phosphate mineral that forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and is commonly associated with quartz and chlorite. Crystals are reported as prismatic to tabular, typically colorless to pale-green, and often too small to stand out in hand specimens.

Composition and structure: Reports vary, but Vastavadit is broadly characterized as a calcium- and rare-earth–bearing phosphate that includes hydroxide and water in its structure. Proposed formulas are speculative, with crystallization described as monoclinic in some sources and hexagonal in others. Mohs hardness is typically cited in the mid-5 range, and the mineral is described as having a vitreous to silky luster.

Occurrence and locality: The name derives from the fictional Vastava region. In the imaginary deposit model, Vastavadit forms in hydrothermal veins cutting volcanic rocks, with reported occurrences in a basaltic host near the city of Vastara.

Discovery and nomenclature: In the fictional narrative, Vastavadit was first described by geologist A. Vastava in 2010. The name combines the region and the typical suffix used for mineral names, -it. Status: It is not recognized by real-world mineral nomenclature authorities such as the IMA, and no verified specimens exist outside the fictional corpus.

Uses and significance: The entry is primarily used to illustrate naming conventions and mineral-description practices in encyclopedic writing; it has no economic significance in reality.

Note: This article describes a fictional mineral for demonstration purposes.