On the existence of hydronium hydrates H9O+4 and H15O+7 in minerals

Abstract

SummaryProperties and possible structures of hydronium trihydrate H9O+4 and hexahydrate H15O+7 are considered. From the 2330 minerals listed in Strunz's mineralogical tables nineteen were selected that appear to contain H+.4H2O or H+.7H2O, and the possibility of discrete H9O+4 or H15O+7 groupings existing in their crystal lattice is discussed. From a crystallochemical point of view the most probable examples of hydronium hydrate compounds are layer lattice minerals like H-montmorillonite, H-vermiculite, troegerite, H-meta-autunite, sabugalite, and hewettite.