reostavate

Reostavate is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and worldbuilding contexts. It is not recognized by major mineral databases or the International Mineralogical Association, and is used primarily in educational examples and fiction.

The name reostavate is typically explained as a portmanteau designed to evoke electrical control, with some works attributing it to a fictional researcher. In other narratives, the term is chosen for its phonetic similarity to established mineral names rather than for an asserted real-world origin.

Physical properties in fictional depictions vary, but common portrayals describe reostavate as dark blue-black to violet crystals with a vitreous to pearly luster. Reported hardness ranges from 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, and density is often given as approximately 3.2 to 3.7 g/cm3. Crystal habit is described as monoclinic or tetragonal in different sources, with imperfect cleavage and uneven fracture. Some depictions note luminescence under ultraviolet light.

Occurrence and formation in these narratives place reostavate in pegmatitic deposits or late-stage metamorphic veins within ultramafic or granulitic terrains. It is frequently shown in association with quartz, tourmaline, garnet, and mica, forming in relatively evolved geological environments.

Uses and significance in fiction often center on its purported tunable electrical properties. Reostavate may be portrayed as a fictional semiconductor or variable resistor, with conductivity altered by temperature, pressure, or magnetic fields, enabling imaginary energy storage, sensing, or exotic electronics.

See also: List of minerals; Hypothetical minerals; Worldbuilding resources. This article describes a fictional concept rather than a real mineral.