farkndaln

Farkndaln is a rare mineral known for pale green to blue crystals and a distinctive luminescent response under ultraviolet light. It was first described in the Farkn geological belt and is named after the region where it was discovered. The mineral has drawn attention for its unusual combination of optical and crystal-chemical properties, as well as its occurrence in high-grade metamorphic rocks.

The name farkndaln derives from the local toponym Farkn, with the suffix aln indicating a mineral species in the region’s nomenclature. The term is now used in mineralogical literature to refer to this specific fluorosilicate phase.

Farkndaln’s composition includes magnesium and silicon in a silicate framework with fluorine as a coordinating element. It forms crystals in the orthorhombic system, typically colorless to pale green or blue in small specimens, and shows a Mohs hardness of 6 to 7. The mineral exhibits a modest density around 3.2 g/cm3 and displays notable luminescence and birefringence under polarized light.

Geologically, farkndaln forms in hydrothermal veins within high-grade metamorphic rocks, often in association with quartz, muscovite, and sulfide minerals. Temperature and pressure conditions are consistent with greenschist to granulite facies environments, and veins may be several centimeters to decimeters thick.

Applications and significance include potential uses in photonic devices, frequency conversion, and scintillation, owing to its nonlinear optical properties. Research interest centers on synthetic synthesis, stability under irradiation, and its potential as a mineralogical indicator of specific metamorphic conditions.

References: Calder, M. et al. 2111; Singh, R. 2123; Journal of Regional Mineralogy, 2120.