Substanzwechselwirkungen

Substanzwechse is a term used in speculative geology and worldbuilding to denote a rare, mineral-like substance purported to form in subsurface hydrothermal systems on hypothetical rocky exoplanets. In most portrayals, Substanzwechse exists as a translucent to opalescent material with a layered, quasi-crystalline lattice. It is described as having high mechanical strength and unusual diffusion properties, enabling selective transport of small molecules while remaining chemically inert to many solvents.

Properties commonly attributed to Substanzwechse include crystallization in monoclinic or hexagonal-like lattices, anisotropic thermal conductivity, and luminescence under ultraviolet light. Some writers describe it as magnetically responsive or capable of influencing nearby mineral phases, though these traits vary between sources.

Formation and occurrence are typically explained as slow crystallization of sulfide-silicate fluids in high-pressure, low-temperature zones, often within fictional subsurface reservoirs on exoplanets. Its geographic distribution and occurrence are highly dependent on the worldbuilding context, and no real-world analogue is assumed.

Discovery and usage in narratives usually involve drilling expeditions that uncover Substanzwechse as a valuable resource for energy storage, catalysis, or data storage in hypothetical devices. Ethical and environmental considerations appear in some works, with concerns about subsurface ecosystem disruption or unequal access to a scarce resource.

Because Substanzwechse is a fictional construct used across speculative works, its properties and implications vary by author. This article summarizes common motifs while noting that details are not standardized and should be treated as imaginative rather than factual.