XVIIIlea

XVIIIlea is a rare aluminosilicate mineral described from hydrothermal veins in ultramafic rocks of the fictional XVIII Basin in the Lyria Province. Named for the eighteenth district of the XVIII project and using the common mineral suffix -lea, XVIIIlea is considered a distinctive, though scarce, member of its mineral group. It forms colorless to pale blue crystals with a vitreous to silky luster and has a Mohs hardness around 6.5. Crystallographically, XVIIIlea is reported to crystallize in the monoclinic system, typically as prismatic to tabular crystals with a translucent to transparent appearance.

Discovery and naming

XVIIIlea was first described in 2042 by a collaborative expedition led by researchers including Dr. A. R. Kim. The type material was collected the previous year, and the name was chosen to reflect the XVIII project’s naming conventions for newly identified minerals within the project’s scope.

Geology and composition

XVIIIlea occurs in hydrothermal veins within ultramafic host rocks and is commonly associated with serpentine, chlorite, and magnetite. The empirical formula is approximated as Na1.2Al1Si4O12(OH)2 with trace amounts of Fe and Ti, indicating a predominantly aluminosilicate composition with hydroxyl groups. Its formation is interpreted as a low-temperature alteration product of primary silicates under specific fluid and pressure conditions.

Occurrence and distribution

To date, XVIIIlea is known from a single, well-documented locality in the XVIII Basin. Its rarity means that only a limited number of specimens are available for study, and detailed geochemical characterization remains ongoing.

Significance and applications

Researchers study XVIIIlea for insights into low-temperature alteration processes in ultramafic environments and for potential dielectric or piezoelectric properties in specialized applications. Practical mining and large-scale use are constrained by its scarcity, but the mineral serves as a reference point for regional geologic models and mineralogical taxonomy.