slurrien

Slurrien is a fictional mineral described in speculative geology and science fiction. It is depicted as a hydrated aluminosilicate with a layered, slurry-like interlayer region that can absorb water.

Composition and structure: The material is said to be composed primarily of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, with variable amounts of water and trace alkali or alkaline earth elements. Its structure is described as lamellar, with hydrous interlayers that can swell and contract with hydration state.

Physical properties: Slurrien crystals are often described as tabular or fibrous, with colors ranging from pale blue-gray to olive. It has a vitreous to pearly luster, a Mohs hardness of about 5–6, and a dehydrated density around 2.8–3.2 g/cm3. The hydration level influences mechanical properties and thermal behavior.

Occurrence and formation: In fictional settings, slurrien forms in hydrothermal veins and alteration zones where silica-rich fluids interact with aluminosilicate rocks. It is sometimes likened to hydrated clay minerals but with a more coherent layered structure. There is no confirmed natural occurrence outside fiction, and it is not recognized as a real mineral by formal mineralogical bodies.

Applications and processing: In stories and speculative discussions, slurrien is proposed for refractory linings, high-temperature seals, and specialty pigments. Processing typically involves controlled dehydration to develop a dense ceramic with good thermal shock resistance; milling and slurry processing concepts borrowed from ceramic science describe its handling in composites or cements.

Etymology and usage: The name combines “slurry” with the suffix -en to reflect its hydration-rich interlayers. It remains a term primarily found in fictional or theoretical contexts and is not an established mineral in real-world geology.