Interstitiita

Interstitiita is a fictional mineral term used in speculative geology and science fiction to describe a hypothetical framework silicate containing sizable interstitial voids. The name derives from interstice, reflecting the characteristic cavities that lie within the crystal lattice and can host additional atoms or ions.

In the imagined models, interstitiita forms in hydrothermal or magmatic environments where silica-rich fluids interact with metallic vapors and fracture networks. The crystal structure is described as a porous framework with channels that enable rapid diffusion of cations, producing distinctive transport properties. Because it is a fictional concept, no standardized chemical formula exists; proposed descriptions often specify a silicate backbone with interstitial metal occupancy in variable proportions.

Reported properties in fictional sources include a hardness around 6–7 on the Mohs scale, a vitreous to subvitreous luster, and a pale blue to green coloration resulting from transition-metal ions occupying interstitial sites. Its opacity is usually described as translucent to transparent, with light often guided by the interstitial channels.

In narrative uses, interstitiita is imagined as a catalyst for complex organic syntheses, a medium for ion storage in microbatteries, or a decorative gemstone with unusual optical effects due to light scattering in the porous framework. It is not recognized by real-world mineral databases or geological literature, and no empirical measurements exist outside fictional contexts. The term is sometimes employed as a generic example in discussions of crystal chemistry and porosity.