Coupled substitution

Coupled substitution is the geological process by which two elements simultaneously substitute into a crystal in order to maintain overall electrical neutrality and keep the charge constant. In forming a solid solution series, ionic size is more important than ionic charge, as this can be compensated for elsewhere in the structure.

Ionic size

To make a geometrically stable structure in a mineral, atoms must fit together in terms of both their size and charge. The atoms have to fit together so that their electron shells can interact with one another and they also have to produce a neutral molecule. For these reasons the sizes and electron shell structure of atoms determine what element combinations are possible and the geometrical form that various minerals take. Because electrons are donated and received, it is the ionic radius of the element that controls the size and determines how atoms fit together in minerals.

Examples

Coupled substitutions are common in the silicate minerals where substitutes for in tetrahedral sites.

For example, when a plagioclase feldspar solid solution series forms, albite can change to anorthite by having replace. However, this leaves a negative charge that has to be balanced by the substitution of for.

Despite being nicknamed fool's gold, pyrite is sometimes found in association with small quantities of gold. Gold and arsenic occur as a coupled substitution in the pyrite structure. In the Carlin–type [gold deposit]s, arsenian pyrite contains up to 0.37% gold by weight.
The possible replacement of by in Corundum.
and in Haematite
→ Diopside → Jadeite: Si₈O₂₂, replaces then can go into a site that is normally vacant to maintain charge balance. This new mineral would then be edenite a variety of hornblende.
Bityite’s structure consists of a coupled substitution it exhibits between the sheets of polyhedra; the coupled substitution of beryllium for aluminium within the tetrahedral sites allows a single lithium substitution for a vacancy without any additional octahedral substitutions. The transfer is completed by creating a tetrahedral sheet composition of Si₂BeAl. The coupled substitution of lithium for vacancy and the beryllium for the tetrahedral aluminium maintains all the charges balanced; thereby, resulting in the trioctahedral end member for the margarite sub-group of the phyllosilicate group.
Ferrogedrite is related to anthophyllite amphibole and gedrite through coupled substitution of for and Al for Si.