sedanit

Sedanit is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and science fiction. In these contexts it is depicted as a dense, metallic mineral with a metallic to glassy luster and potential electronic properties.

Origin and naming: The name is said to derive from the fictional Sedara Basin in the northern Karath Mountains. The term first appears in late 20th century fiction as a subject of mineralogical speculation, and is often attributed to the work of a hypothetical geologist in narrative accounts.

Composition and structure: In the stories, sedanit is a sulfide-oxide solid solution dominated by iron and nickel, with cobalt and trace elements. It is described as crystallizing in an isometric system with small, tabular crystals and a relatively high density.

Properties: Reported hardness around 5–6 on the Mohs scale, a strong metallic luster, and stability at high temperatures in inert conditions are attributed to sedanit. Some speculative accounts mention unusual electronic properties, including a wide band gap and potential superconductivity at very low temperatures, but these claims are fictional and unverified.

Occurrence: Said to occur in deep ultramafic and hydrothermal veins in the fictional Sedara Basin, often associated with other nickel-iron sulfide minerals. No physical specimens exist, and sedanit is not recognized by real-world mineral databases or scientific literature.

In fiction, sedanit is used to illustrate mineral diversity and to explore ideas about materials science in speculative futures. It is not a real mineral, and readers should consult real mineral databases for authentic minerals.