astrofoorumite

Astrofoorumite is a fictional mineral described in science fiction and speculative geology. In these contexts it is portrayed as a rare silicate mineral with a metallic to vitreous luster, found in extraterrestrial rocks such as meteorites and basaltic crust analogs on distant planetary bodies.

Etymology: The name blends the prefix astro- (star) with the mineral suffix -ite; the middle element 'foorum' is a fictional root associated with a spacefaring mining community or asteroid belt in various works. The term and concept are not recognized in real-world mineral nomenclature.

Discovery and occurrence (fictional): In published stories and games, astrofoorumite is said to occur as small octahedral or tetragonal crystals in shock-created veins within basaltic meteorites. It is typically described as extremely rare, often found alongside olivine, pyroxene, and feldspar in the narratives.

Properties: In the fictional account, astrofoorumite has a Mohs hardness of about 6.5, a specific gravity near 3.6–3.9, and a vitreous to pearly luster. The color ranges from emerald-green to steel-blue, with a refractive index reported around 1.72–1.78. Its crystallography is described as tetragonal in some sources.

Chemical composition: Descriptions vary, but astrofoorumite is generally presented as a mixed iron-magnesium silicate with minor titanium and aluminum, and a simplified formula in some works is given as (Fe,Mg)2Si2O7 (fictional). In all cases, the composition is speculative and not backed by actual analyses.

Applications and research: Because astrofoorumite is fictional, it has no official industrial use or regulatory status. In storytelling, its luminescent properties or semiconducting-like behavior are sometimes invoked to drive plots or world-building.

See also: List of minerals; fictional minerals; astro- terms.