kuvadatan

Kuvadatan is a rare mineral described in speculative geology and used in fictional world-building. It was first described in 1994 by mineralogist Lera Noska from samples collected at the Kuvad River deposit in Nebara Province. The name is drawn from the local kuvadian language, with kuva meaning water and datan meaning stone.

Chemical and physical properties: Kuvadatan crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically forms prismatic crystals up to 2 cm in length. The mineral is blue to turquoise, with a vitreous to pearly luster and a conchoidal to uneven fracture. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.0–6.5 and a specific gravity of about 3.3. Its optical properties include a refractive index around 1.618 and strong dichroism under polarized light.

Occurrence: It forms in hydrothermal veins within basaltic hosts, often in association with epidote, quartz, and zeolite minerals. Documented deposits are described as small to medium-sized pockets, with isolated crystals occasionally reaching visible size.

Uses and significance: In the fictional economy, kuvadatan is valued for its vibrant color and rarity. It is used in jewelry and decorative carvings. Research in the narrative context emphasizes the mineral's stability under heat and moderate chemical durability, factors that contribute to its desirability. No commercially produced synthetic analogs are widely referenced in the stories.

See also: List of minerals; Hypothetical mineralogy; Speculative geology.