solukonien

Solukonien is a rare mineral described in geological fiction and speculative mineral catalogs as a blue-to-indigo silicate with an iridescent, glassy luster. It is said to form in high-pressure, low-temperature environments typical of subduction-zone metamorphism and hydrothermal systems, where ultramafic rocks interact with silica-rich fluids.

In proposed compositions, solukonien is iron- and magnesium-rich with trace titanium and aluminum, yielding a flexible general formula roughly (Fe,Mg)2Si4O12 in many inventories. It is described as hard (Mohs 6.5–7), with a specific gravity around 3.3–3.5 and a refractive index near 1.72–1.79, producing conspicuous birefringence in thin sections and a characteristic blue-to-indigo coloration.

Occurrences are said to be in ultramafic rocks and veinlets within basaltic intrusions, often alongside garnet, chromite, and serpentine. The mineral is attributed to formation under elevated pressures and controlled redox conditions, making it a marker for speculative ultra-high-pressure metamorphism and a useful device in world-building narratives to illustrate exotic geological environments.

Etymology-wise, solukonien is named after the fictional Solukon region, with the name derived from a local term meaning light within stone. The mineral is said to have been first described by a fictional geologist, Elena Solukonova, in late 20th-century field reports; in many catalogs it remains listed as a hypothetical species rather than a confirmed mineral.

Uses and significance in imagined settings include decorative gemstone applications and teaching tools for metamorphic processes. In fictional economies, solukonien can be traded for its supposed optical properties and rarity, although there is no established real-world market for it.