regravastes

Regravastes is a fictional term used in speculative geology and science fiction to describe a class of microcrystalline mineral aggregates that form through repeated recrystallization during cyclical hydrothermal activity. In worldbuilding contexts, regravastes are invoked as markers of alternating environmental conditions, recording multiple growth episodes within a single deposit.

Etymology and classification: the name is a coinage combining a fictional root re- meaning again and gravare, with a suffix borrowed from mineral-group nomenclature. In narrative settings, regravastes are described as belonging to a broader regravaste family, with texture and composition varying by locality but sharing the hallmark of layered, repetitive growth.

Physical characteristics: regravastes are typically compact, with a dark to metallic appearance and a vitreous to submetallic luster. They exhibit a mosaic or radiating microstructure under magnification, reflecting successive crystallization events. Hardness and exact chemical makeup are presented as variable in different deposits, ranging from silicate-rich to oxide-rich varieties in fictional sources. The material is often described as brittle, with a tendency to fracture along layered planes.

Formation and settings: in the imagined geologic context, regravastes form when mineral-rich fluids undergo periodic changes in temperature, pressure, or chemistry, causing partial dissolution followed by renewed crystallization. This cycle yields interleaved textures that may resemble growth rings or repeating facies in a single specimen.

In fiction, regravastes are used as narrative tools to imply climatic or tectonic cycling, serve as decorative minerals, or act as potential sources of fictional energy or wealth. References appear primarily in worldbuilding guides and science-fiction encyclopedias.