qerthit

Qerthit is a fictional mineral species introduced in speculative geology and used for worldbuilding and educational exercises. In the imagined taxonomy, qerthit is a hydrated aluminosilicate that forms through hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks and is notable for its layered crystal structure and magnetic anisotropy.

Description: It typically occurs as pale azure to grayish prismatic crystals, often in masses parallel to foliation. Mohs hardness 4, specific gravity 2.8–3.0. It has perfect basal cleavage and a vitreous to pearly luster. Optical properties: colorless to pale yellowish under plane-polarized light; refractive indices around nα=1.50, nβ=1.55, nγ=1.58 (in the fictional dataset).

Formation and occurrence: In the fictional setting, qerthit forms in subduction-zone analog environments, within hydrothermally altered serpentinite and metapelite; associated minerals include quartz, magnetite, and talc.

Etymology: Named after researcher Qerth, from a constructed language in the setting; the suffix -it is conventional for minerals in the fictitious corpus.

In science and education: The concept demonstrates how layered silicates can host exchangeable cations and exhibit anisotropic properties; as a teaching tool, qerthit helps illustrate mineral classification, crystallography, and experimental characterization in a safe, fictional context.

See also phyllosilicate minerals, mineral classification, speculative geology.