soolakaevudes

Soolakaevudes is a fictional mineral class described in speculative geology and worldbuilding literature. It denotes a layered, iridescent mineral that forms in hydrothermal environments within subduction zones and has drawn attention for its distinctive optical properties and suggested technological potential.

In the fictional framework, soolakaevudes comprises alternating sheets of silicate-like and carbonate-like phases, giving a layered microstructure. Crystals are typically hexagonal-prismatic to tabular, with a pearly to vitreous luster. Hardness is placed around 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale; refractive index about 1.62–1.68; it displays strong pleochroism from pale gold to deep emerald under polarized light.

Formation and geology: The mineral is proposed to form when high-temperature, metal-rich fluids interact with ultramafic rocks in subduction-zone metamorphism, crystallizing a mosaic of intergrown layers. Occurrence is described as rare, confined to tectonically active belts in the fictional Solara Rift region; it is often found in association with quartz, chlorite, epidote, and sulfide veins.

Discovery and naming: The term soolakaevudes honors two fictional researchers, L. Soola and R. Kaevud, who introduced the concept in 1997 in their monograph on speculative mineralogy.

Uses and cultural significance: In the fictional setting, soolakaevudes is valued for potential energy-storage applications, such as photonic or quantum-related devices, due to its layered structure and optical properties. It also appears in cultural artifacts and altars, where its iridescence is celebrated as a symbol of transformation and is sometimes used as a ceremonial gem.