rifornite

Rifornite is a fictional mineral frequently cited in geology-themed fiction, puzzles, and classroom simulations. It is described as a rare calcium aluminum silicate related to the feldspar group, with trace substitutions of iron, manganese, and titanium that produce a range of colors, typically pale green to blue. In proposed descriptions, the mineral forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins within metamorphic rocks, often alongside quartz, mica, and chlorite. Crystals are described as tabular to platy, with a triclinic crystal system and common basal cleavage; the color effects arise from thin, interleaved lamellae that impart iridescence.

Physical properties often attributed to rifornite include a Mohs hardness around 6 to 6.5, a vitreous to pearly luster, and a white to pale streak. It is described as translucent to transparent in their best-crystal forms, with refractive indices around 1.50 to 1.56 in some descriptions. Because rifornite is fictional, there is no consensus on precise chemical formula or exact mineralogical classification, and many catalogs list it as a hypothetical species rather than a recognized mineral.

Etymology commonly states that the name derives from a fictional collector or a region in educational materials. In practice, rifornite serves as an example mineral in teaching mineral identification, illustrating how color, luster, and crystal habit can be used to distinguish silicate minerals in a didactic context. In sum, rifornite is a constructed mineral used for instructional and literary purposes rather than a confirmed natural species.