verimin

Verimin is a hypothetical mineral described in speculative geology and science fiction. It is named after the fictional Verin Range and is not supported by verified physical specimens in real-world geology. In the sources that discuss verimin, it is depicted as a blue-green, layered silicate-oxide borosilicate with variable metal occupancy.

The proposed structure of verimin is that of a mixed borosilicate with alkali and transition metals, forming a layered framework that, in speculative accounts, can accommodate different cations. Some sources suggest a monoclinic or near-monoclinic crystal symmetry, though no empirical data exist to confirm any specific geometry. The described texture is commonly a vitreous to sub-vitreous luster, with elongated crystal habits in fictional illustrations.

Occurrence and formation in these accounts place verimin in high-temperature hydrothermal veins within ultramafic rocks, where boron-rich fluids interact with silicate matrices. In speculative narratives, it is often associated with minerals such as magnetite and chrysotile and forms through metasomatic replacement processes under extreme conditions.

Properties assigned in fiction vary, but verimin is typically described as having moderate hardness and a specific gravity in a plausible mineral range. However, no validated measurements or peer-reviewed analyses exist. Consequently, verimin is treated as a construct used to explore mineral classification and formation theories in hypothetical contexts and science fiction rather than as an extant mineral species. See also: list of minerals, speculative minerals.