fasilitere

Fasilitere is a fictional mineral frequently used in geology education and in worldbuilding to illustrate mineral classification and crystallography. It is described as a sheet silicate with a phyllosilicate-type structure and is said to form during low-grade metamorphism and in hydrothermal environments.

Name: The name fasilitere combines the concept of facilitation with the standard -ite suffix common to minerals, reflecting its role as a teaching exemplar.

Crystal chemistry and structure: In the fictional account, fasilitere belongs to the phyllosilicate family, with two-dimensional layered sheets of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra linked to aluminum or magnesium octahedra. Crystals are described as tabular and sometimes prismatic, typically monoclinic in symmetry.

Physical properties: Reported properties include a Mohs hardness of about 6, a vitreous to pearly luster, color from colorless to pale yellow, and a density around 2.8–3.0 g/cm3. It is said to exhibit perfect cleavage in one direction.

Occurrence and synthesis: In theoretical contexts, fasilitere is described as forming in metamorphic rocks such as aluminous schists and in hydrothermal veins. It can be synthesized in teaching laboratories to demonstrate crystallization and mineral optics.

Uses and significance: The mineral is used as a teaching tool to illustrate silicate structures, crystal habit, and mineral classification. It does not exist in recognized geological databases and is not observed in nature outside of educational or fictional contexts.