Ammonioborite: New Borate Polyion and Its Structure

Abstract

The mineral ammonioborite is monoclinic with unit cell dimensions (in angstroms): a = 25.27, b = 9.65, and c = 11.56; beta = 94 degrees 17', and the space group is C 2/c. Analysis of the crystal structure revealed the crystallo-chemical formula (NH(4))(3)B(15)O(20)(OH)(8).4H(2)O, with four such formula units in the unit cell. The basic structural unit is the double ring consisting of one BO(4) tetrahedron and four BO(3) triangles: in ammonioborite three of these units are connected to give trimeric ions [B(15)O(20)(OH)(8)](3-).