The molecular structure of the borate mineral inderite Mg(H4B3O7)(OH)-5H2O - a vibrational spectroscopic study.

Abstract

We have undertaken a study of the mineral inderite Mg(H4B3O7)(OH)_5H2O a hydrated hydroxy borate mineral of magnesium using scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and vibrational spectroscopic techniques. The structure consists of ½B3O3ðOHÞ5_2_ soroborate groups and Mg(OH)2(H2O)4 octahedra interconnected into discrete molecules by the sharing of two OH groups. Thermogravimetry shows a mass loss of 47.2% at 137.5 _C, proving the mineral is thermally unstable. Raman bands at 954, 1047 and 1116 cm_1 are assigned to the trigonal symmetric stretching mode. The two bands at 880 and 916 cm_1 are attributed to the symmetric stretching mode of the tetrahedral boron. Both the Raman and infrared spectra of inderite show complexity. Raman bands are observed at 3052, 3233, 3330, 3392 attributed to water stretching vibrations and 3459 cm_1 with sharper bands at 3459, 3530 and 3562 cm_1 assigned to OH stretching vibrations. Vibrational spectroscopy is used to assess the molecular structure of inderite.