High-pressure synthetic (Na_0.97Mg_0.03)(Mg_0.43Fe_0.17³⁺Si_0.40)Si₂O₆, with six-coordinated silicon, isostructural with P2/n omphacite

The title compound, (sodium magnesium) [magnesium iron(III) silicon] disilicate, (Na_0.97Mg_0.03)(Mg_0.43Fe_0.17³⁺Si_0.40)Si₂O₆, is isotypic with ordered P2/n omphacite. Its structure is characterized by single chains of corner-sharing SiO₄ tetra­hedra, extending along the c axis, which are crosslinked by bands of edge-sharing octa­hedra (site symmetry 2), statistically occupied by (Mg²⁺ + Fe³⁺ + Si⁴⁺). Between the bands built up of the octahedra are two non-equivalent highly distorted six-coordinated sites (site symmetry 2), statistically occupied by (Na + Mg). In contrast to omphacites, the great differences in size and charge between Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ result in complete, rather than partial, ordering of Mg and Si into two distinct octa­hedral sites, whereas Fe³⁺ is disordered between the two sites. The octa­hedron filled by (Mg + Fe) is larger and markedly more distorted than that occupied by (Si + Fe). The average (Mg + Fe)-O and (^VISi + Fe)-O bond lengths are 2.075 and 1.850 Å, respectively.