proveyeron

Proveyeron is a hypothetical mineral phase that appears in speculative geology and in certain science-fiction contexts. In these uses, provyeron is described as a high-pressure silicate that might form within subducted oceanic lithosphere or other ultrahigh-pressure environments. The concept is frequently cited as a possible marker for understanding deep subduction processes, exhumation rates, and the stability limits of certain silicate structures.

Etymology and naming conventions in the literature typically draw on mineral-name conventions, with the suffix -eron used to denote a newly proposed crystal phase. The term provyeron is not tied to a verified specimen or a widely accepted chemical formula in mainstream mineralogy, and it remains a topic of theoretical discussion rather than an established classification.

Proposed properties and structure are described in varyingly speculative terms. In most accounts, provyeron is imagined as a layered or framework silicate, potentially containing calcium, aluminum, silicon, and magnesium with trace elements such as titanium. Reported hardness is often cited as in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and colors in speculative descriptions range from pale blue to gray. Densities are conjectured to fall around 3.6 to 4.0 g/cm³, with monoclinic or orthorhombic crystal symmetry in some models.

Occurrence and formation are described as conditions of high pressure (a few gigapascals) and elevated temperatures, consistent with deep subduction zones. Some authors associate provyeron with other high-pressure phases like omphacite or garnet, while others view it as a potential solid solution or transformation product of known minerals.

Research status remains unsettled. Without verified natural samples or definitive crystallographic data, provyeron is treated as a theoretical construct rather than an established mineral. Its hypothetical existence is used to explore implications for geobarometry and subduction dynamics.