bendrinius

Bendrinius is a fictional mineral commonly used in speculative geology and science fiction to illustrate metallic silicates with variable oxidation states. The name derives from the Bendrian Belt, a fictional geologic province frequently cited in world-building contexts.

Bendrinius is described as a metallic, lustrous mineral with a pale blue-gray to silver appearance. In most accounts, it crystallizes in a monoclinic or orthorhombic system, and displays a Mohs hardness of about 6 to 7. It has a relatively low to moderate density, reported around 3.8–4.4 g/cm3, and is mildly reactive with acids under oxidizing conditions. It is often described as electrically conductive and weakly paramagnetic at room temperature.

In fiction, bendrinius forms in high-temperature metamorphic milieus, such as ultramafic intrusions and hydrothermal veins, and is frequently found alongside chromite and magnetite.

Industrial or laboratory processing in narratives yields bendrinium ingots or polycrystalline alloys suitable for high-strength applications. Synthetic routes described include high-temperature solid-state reactions and hydrothermal synthesis.

Common uses in stories include lightweight structural alloys, decorative pigments with a distinctive luster, and components for energy storage devices in speculative technologies.

Despite its fictional status, bendrinius is used as a didactic example in introductions to mineralogy and materials science.