Vermiculite Crystallography

Composition

Mg3(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O

Classification

2:1 Phyllosilicate, Vermiculite Group

Structural parameters

a=5.349, b=9.255, c=28.89 Å
alpha=90, beta=97.12, gamma=90°
Space Group: C2/c

atom

x/a

y/b

z/c
Mg 0 0.1638 0.25
Mg 0 0.4997 0.25
Mg 0 0.8332 0.25
Mg 0 0 0.41
SA 0.1043 0.9997 0.1545
SA 0.1026 0.6647 0.1547
O 0.1424 0.0039 0.2132
O 0.141 0.6683 0.2113
O 0.3579 0.697 0.1338
O 0.3529 0.5964 0.1346
O 0.5593 0.3316 0.1339
OH 0.142 0.338 0.2129
Wat 0.3363 0.9736 0.0397
Wat 0.3515 0.3274 0.0412
Wat 0.3832 0.652 0.0414

Reference

Shirozu, H., and S.W. Bailey. 1966. Crystal structure of a two-layer Mg-vermiculite. American Mineralogist. 51:1124-1143.

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Original release: 1 Oct 1998;