kabelite

Kabelite is a historical mineral name that has appeared in various early 20th-century mineralogical publications but is not recognized as a valid mineral species by contemporary reference works. The term has been applied to different materials in different localities, and there is no single, stable definition or chemical formula associated with kabelite.

Etymology and naming: The origin of the name Kabelite is uncertain. It may derive from industrial terminology such as “cable” or from an eponym, but no authoritative source establishes its etymology.

Description and composition: Descriptions of kabelite in the historical literature are heterogeneous. Some accounts described a dark, metallic substance with a resinous to metallic luster, while others suggested it was an iron- or copper-rich oxide or sulfide. The lack of consistent chemical analysis and the possibility that kabelite specimens were misidentified under other established minerals hinder any attempt to define a stable composition or structure.

Current status: In modern mineral databases and nomenclature, kabelite is not listed as a valid mineral name. It is generally treated as a historical name or a misapplied label that may have been used for specimens later identified as known minerals such as sulfides or oxides. As such, kabelite is regarded as obsolete rather than a distinct mineral species.

See also: List of mineral names; Discredited minerals; Mineral nomenclature.