invertite

Invertite is a fictional mineral devised for educational and narrative purposes. The name derives from the proposed inversion of coordination within its crystal framework.

In fictional descriptions, invertite forms a three-dimensional lattice consisting of coordinated cations and an interconnected silicate-oxide framework. It is commonly described as crystallizing in a triclinic system with pseudo-hexagonal symmetry, where inverted tetrahedra link into alternating layers.

Physical properties often depicted include a pale green to brown color range, a vitreous to resinous luster, hardness around 6 on the Mohs scale, and a density near 3.9 g/cm3. Cleavage is described as imperfect and tends to reveal faint, sheet-like planes.

In the fictional corpus, invertite forms in metasomatic pockets within high-temperature continental crust or in subduction-zone settings where silicate fluids alter protoliths. In some stories, it occurs with rare earth elements and copper, contributing to electro-optical phenomena in simulated experiments.

As a teaching and storytelling tool, invertite helps illustrate concepts of crystal inversion, coordinated frameworks, and mineral classification. It is not recognized by the International Mineralogical Association and has no confirmed natural occurrence outside fiction.

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