SINGLE-CRYSTAL X-RAY STUDIES OF CATION-DEFICIENT MAGNETITE

Site preference of cation vacancy and the effect of cation deficiency on the structure parameters have been investigated for synthetic magne tite specimens by means of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method s. The cation vacancies are selectively formed at the octahedral catio n sites even in the specimen quenched from 1793 K. The effects of cati on deficiency are found as increase of atomic mean square displacement s and decrease of anisotropy in thermal motions of the octahedral site cations.