drithëra

Drithëra is a mineral species in the silicate group, notable for its transparent to translucent crystals with a vitreous luster, hexagonal habit, and a faint blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It occurs as prismatic crystals up to a few centimeters.

The name drithëra derives from the Drith language for "shimmer" and was proposed by mineralogist Arin Reth in 1977 after a specimen was found in the Eldara Range.

Mohs hardness around 6.0–6.5; specific gravity 3.2–3.6; refractive indices near 1.610–1.615; clear pleochroism in polarized light shows subtle color shift from colorless to pale yellow.

Formed by metasomatic alteration of ultramafic rocks in high-temperature, high-pressure environments; associated minerals include talc, chrysotile, and serpentine. Primary localities include the Eldara Range and the Kirana Islands.

Valued as a gemstone for small carvings and collectors; potential for lithographic optical components due to birefringence; research interest centers on its formation conditions and trace-element chemistry.

Fewer than a hundred authenticated specimens have been reported; ongoing studies examine its trace-element patterns to distinguish primary magmatic from metasomatic origins; some debates persist about variation among natural samples.