purunemist

Purunemist is a natural mineral characterized by a faint, mist-like luminescence observed under ultraviolet light. It was described from hydrothermal veins in the Purune region, after which the mineral was named. The term combines the locality name with the suffix mist, reflecting its ethereal appearance.

Physically, purunemist appears colorless to pale blue, with a waxy to pearly luster and a microcrystalline to fibrous habit. It typically yields a white streak, Mohs hardness around 3, and a density near 2.8 g/cm3. Under UV exposure it fluoresces blue, and it exhibits weak pleochroism.

Formation occurs in silica-rich, low-temperature hydrothermal systems adjacent to rhyolitic volcanic rocks. Purunemist is commonly intergrown with zeolites and opal in vesicular cavities, and it may form during slow crystallization from hydrothermal fluids.

The mineral was first described in 1987 by field geologist Lina Vost. The name purunemist was proposed to reflect the locality and its mist-like emission.

Potential applications center on decorative uses and research into thermoluminescent materials. Because heating can release a faint volatile mist, handling guidelines emphasize containment and ventilation. While it has attracted interest for light-emitting and dosimetry research, purunemist is not a major commercial mineral at present.