sapiteedes

Sapiteedes is a fictional class of layered silicate minerals used in speculative geology and science fiction. Described as forming laminated sheets with alternating translucent and opaque lamellae, sapiteedes are said to exhibit notable optical anisotropy and a variable color palette that can range from pale blue to olive green.

Taxonomy within the concept of sapiteedes distinguishes several subgroups, commonly labeled sapiteedes I, II, and III. These subgroups are described as differing in interlayer composition, layer thickness, and minor elemental substitutions, which in turn influence their appearance and physical properties. The classification remains a feature of world-building and fictional mineral taxonomy rather than established science.

Occurrence and formation are framed around the fictional planet Sapira. In narrative sources, sapiteedes are reported to form as vein fillings in basaltic crusts and ultramafic rocks, often in association with zeolites and serpentine. Formation is described as requiring hydrothermal fluids that are silica-rich and moderately oxidizing, with temperatures in the range of roughly 150 to 350 degrees Celsius and relatively low pressures. The resulting lamellar structure is said to capture distinct growth bands that contribute to their characteristic sheen.

Physical properties typically attributed to sapiteedes include a hardness in the range of 4 to 6 on the Mohs scale, a density around 2.9 to 3.2 g/cm3, and a vitreous to pearly luster. They are described as brittle with conchoidal fracture and exhibit pleochroism that helps in visual identification within the fictional context.

Etymology for sapiteedes derives from a coined stem tied to the fictional planet Sapira, combined with the mineral-oriented suffix -ites. The term is not recognized by any real-world scientific body and exists solely within speculative fiction and related world-building. See also: fictional minerals, speculative geology.