kabelore

Kabelore is a hypothetical mineral proposed in mineral-physics literature as a copper-rich silicate with a layered structure. It is used in discussions of materials capable of combining mechanical strength with electrical conductivity. It is not confirmed to occur in nature.

The name kabelore combines “kabel” from German for cable and the common mineral suffix “-ore.” It was first described in theoretical works around the early 2000s to illustrate conductive silicate behavior under pressure, and it has since appeared in textbooks and model studies as an example rather than a catalogued mineral.

Kabelore is described as a copper- and iron-bearing silicate with a sheet-like structure akin to micas; general formulas are often represented as (Cu,Fe)2Si4O10(OH)2 with variable Mg and Al substitution. Crystals are typically prismatic, and synthetic samples may show a pseudo-hexagonal habit, reflecting the layered nature of the structure.

Physical properties attributed to kabelore include a density in the range of 3.2–4.0 g/cm3, hardness on the Mohs scale of 4–6, and a color spectrum from steel gray to blue-black with a metallic or sub-metallic luster. It is described as having anisotropic electrical conductivity and relatively low magnetic susceptibility in theoretical models.

Occurrence and synthesis: no natural specimens are confirmed in current records; however, kabelore can be produced in laboratory settings under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions. In studies, it is explored for potential use in conductive ceramic composites and advanced cables, though no commercial applications exist at present.