Rm. Hazen et al., Crystal chemistry of high-pressure BaSi4O9 in the trigonal (P3) barium tetragermanate structure, AM MINERAL, 84(5-6), 1999, pp. 987-989
Crystals of BaSi4O9 synthesized at 4 GPa and 1000 degrees C were determined
to be isostructural with barium tetragermanate [trigonal, space group P3,
a =11.2469(11) and c = 4.4851(6) Angstrom, V = 491.3(1) Angstrom(3)]. The s
tructure (R = 2.4%) features a corner-linked framework of three-member sili
cate tetrahedral rings, which are cross-linked by isolated silicate octahed
ra. Ba cat-ions occupy tenfold-coordinated sites in channels defined by the
silicate framework. This structure is 4.2% denser than the topologically s
imilar benitoite form of high-pressure BaSi4O9, which was produced by grind
ing the barium tetragermanate-type crystals described in this report.