ZnOkiteiden

ZnOkiteiden is a hypothetical mineral described as part of the oxide mineral group, with zinc as the dominant constituent and oxygen as the major anion. In proposed compositions, zinc is accompanied by small amounts of trace elements such as iron and aluminum, which can substitute on the same lattice sites. The mineral is typically discussed in terms of a zinc-oxide–rich solid solution.

The name ZnOkiteiden is constructed from the chemical symbol for zinc, Zn, together with a conventional mineral suffix, reflecting its oxide character. It was reported in mineralogical literature as part of studies of zinc-rich hydrothermal systems, and has been treated as a conceptual example illustrating oxide mineral chemistry rather than a widely established species.

Crystallography and composition are described in generalized terms. The idealized formula is often given as (Zn,Fe,Al)O, indicating zinc as the dominant cation with possible substitution by iron and aluminum. ZnOkiteiden is described as crystallizing in a hexagonal system, with crystal forms that can include prismatic or tabular habits. The color range is reported as colorless to pale yellow, with a vitreous to resinous luster, and a white to pale streak. Hardness is typically placed around 5.5 on the Mohs scale, and the mineral is usually transparent to translucent with poor or indistinct cleavage.

Occurrence and association are described in hydrothermal veins and skarn environments within granitic or metamorphic terranes, where it may occur alongside quartz, sphalerite, and calcite. Significance rests on its role in discussions of zinc oxide chemistry and potential connections to ZnO-related material science, though no broad, well-documented deposits are established. See also: zinc oxide minerals, oxide minerals.