silikaatidena

Silikaatidena is a silica-rich silicate phase that has appeared in a small number of mineralogical reports. It is not listed in major mineral databases and its status as a distinct mineral species is not universally accepted. The available descriptions characterize silikaatidena as a polymerized silicon–oxygen phase with a three-dimensional network, potentially containing aluminum or other cations as charge-balancing species. No widely agreed chemical formula or crystal structure has been published, and determinations often rely on high-resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopic analyses.

Occurrence and discovery: The phase has been reported in a few silica-rich metamorphic rocks and hydrothermal veins. Reported grain sizes are typically submicron to several micrometers, requiring electron microscopy for identification. Because it is described from limited samples, its formation conditions and paragenesis remain poorly understood.

Properties: Physical property data are sparse. Reported observations include translucent to colorless appearance and varying habit from intergrowths with quartz to isolated grains; no standard Mohs hardness or refractive-index values are established in the literature.

Synthesis and research: Laboratory studies using hydrothermal synthesis and solid-state reactions with silicate precursors have been conducted to probe stability ranges and potential polymorphs. Research efforts focus on clarifying whether silikaatidena represents a distinct mineral, a polymorph of known silica phases, or a metastable texture within siliceous rocks.

Etymology: The name silikaatidena is formed from 'silica' and a Latinized ending chosen by the authors who introduced the term. See also silicate minerals, cristobalite, tridymite.