vodite

Vodite is a hypothetical mineral commonly used in mineralogy education and in thought experiments to illustrate the effects of hydration on silicate minerals. It represents a hydrated silicate with flexible composition, designed to demonstrate how water incorporation can influence structure and stability. The name vodite is derived from the root voda, meaning water in several Slavic languages, combined with the usual mineral suffix -ite.

Composition and structure for educational purposes describe vodite as a hydrated silicate with a framework that can accommodate diverse metal cations. In classroom models its formula is often represented in general terms as a hydrous silicate with variable water content, reflecting a range of possible compositions. The crystal structure is typically depicted as layered or framework-based, with water molecules occupying interlayer orVoid sites.

Physical properties in teaching contexts place vodite as blue to blue-green, with a vitreous to glassy luster. It is described as having a Mohs hardness of about 5–6, and a transparent to translucent appearance. Specific gravity is given as a moderate value within the silicate range.

Occurrence and formation for vodite rely on its status as a hypothetical material; there is no confirmed natural occurrence. In educational materials it is said to form under hydrothermal conditions with high hydration or as a theoretical product of metamorphic reactions that release water. It is used to illustrate the influence of water on mineral stability and phase diagrams.

Applications and significance include serving as a didactic example in mineralogy, petrology, and materials science to help learners reason about hydration, variable composition, and mineral nomenclature.