dolamn

Dolamn is a hypothetical mineral frequently referenced in speculative geology and in science fiction. It is used in discussions to illustrate the properties of a silicate mineral with an unusually layered structure and distinctive optical behavior. Because no specimens have been verified in peer‑reviewed mineralogical literature, dolamn remains a theoretical construct rather than a confirmed mineral.

Etymology and naming: The name appears to derive from a coined root in the imagined Dolam region in fictional accounts, with the suffix -mn denoting mineral in some glossaries. The term is sometimes paired with related hypothetical minerals to discuss metamorphic processes.

Properties: Dolamn is described as a translucent to colorless mineral with a glassy to pearly luster. In fictional descriptions, its hardness is placed around 6 on Mohs scale, with a relatively low to moderate specific gravity and a refractive index around 1.65–1.75. It is said to exhibit pronounced anisotropy and, in some sources, potential piezoelectric or pyroelectric behavior. Its structure is depicted as layered, comprising sheets of tetrahedrally coordinated silicon and oxygen with interlayer cations.

Occurrence: In fictional accounts, dolamn is said to form in high-temperature metamorphic belts and is often associated with quartz, muscovite, and boron-rich minerals; some stories place it in the Dolam Belt of the northern subsurface. No natural occurrence has been reported in real geology.

Identification and study: In speculative discussions, identification relies on X-ray diffraction patterns with distinctive peak spacing, plus Raman and infrared signatures. Electron microscopy is used to examine morphology. However, without actual samples, these properties remain hypothetical.

Uses and significance: In fiction and thought experiments, dolamn is proposed as a candidate for optical components, radiation shielding, or lightweight structural materials due to predicted strength-to-weight properties and potential piezoelectric effects. In the real world, dolamn has no confirmed applications.

See also: List of minerals; Hypothetical minerals; Speculative geology; Silicate minerals.