sqaruan

Sqaruan is described in speculative fiction and worldbuilding as a rare mineral, valued for beauty and lore. It is typically depicted as a silicate mineral with a glassy to pearly luster and a subtle iridescence that shifts with viewing angle.

Etymology: The name arises from the fictional Sqaruan language of the northern archipelago of Svarun (variant spellings), and is sometimes written as sqarúan in diacritic texts.

Properties: Reported hardness 6–7 on Mohs, transparency from translucent to near-opaque, colors ranging pale blue to emerald green. Crystals are described as monoclinic prismatic or tabular. The composition is said to be a complex silicate with aluminum, magnesium, iron, and trace elements; exact chemistry varies by deposit.

Occurrence: In the lore, sqaruan forms under high-grade regional metamorphism and local hydrothermal activity within metapelites and schists. It is commonly described as occurring in narrow veins within faulted metamorphic belts and commonly co-occurring with garnet, kyanite, and quartz.

Usage and significance: Sqaruan is prized for its aesthetic qualities and allegedly for thaumaturgic or technomagical properties in some stories. It is used in jewelry, seal stones, and ceremonial objects; fictional mining and trade practices often regulate its extraction.