TY - JOUR KW - MAGNESIUM KW - TEMPERATURES KW - SULFATE KW - VOLCANISM KW - TENSOR N2 - Detailed neutron powder diffraction measurements have been carried out on two polymorphs of anhydrous magnesium sulfate, alpha-MgSO4 and beta-MgSO4. alpha-MgSO4 is orthorhombic, space group Cmcm (Z = 4); at 4.2 K the unit-cell dimensions are a = 5.16863 (3), b = 7.86781 (5), c = 6.46674 (5) angstrom, V = 262.975 (2) angstrom(3) [rho(calc) = 3040.16 (2) kg m(-3)], and at 300 K, a = 5.17471 (3), b = 7.87563 (5), c = 6.49517 (5) angstrom, V = 264.705 (2) angstrom(3) [rho(calc) = 3020.29 (2) kg m(-3)]. The axial and volumetric thermal expansion coefficients are positive at all temperatures and exhibit no unusual behaviour. Structures were refined at 4.2 and 300 K to R-P < 3%; less precise structural parameters were determined during warming from 4.2 to 300 K. beta-MgSO4 has a more complex structure, crystallizing in space group Pbnm (Z = 4); the unit-cell dimensions at 4.2 K are a = 4.73431 (8), b = 8.58170 (12), c = 6.67266 (11) angstrom, V = 271.100 (5) angstrom(3) [rho(calc) = 2949.04 (5) kg m(-3)], and at 300 K, a = 4.74598 (7), b = 8.58310 (10), c = 6.70933 (10) angstrom, V = 273.306 (4) angstrom(3) [rho(calc) = 2925.42 (4) kg m(-3)]. The thermal expansivities of the a and c axes, and the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient, are positive at all temperatures and normally behaved. However, the thermal expansion of the b axis is both very small and negative below similar to 125 K. Structural and thermal motion parameters for beta-MgSO4 as a function of temperature are also reported. ID - discovery100085 PB - BLACKWELL PUBLISHING TI - Crystal structures and thermal expansion of alpha-MgSO4 and beta-MgSO4 from 4.2 to 300 K by neutron powder diffraction AV - public Y1 - 2007/08// EP - 770 JF - Journal of Applied Crystallography A1 - Fortes, AD A1 - Wood, IG A1 - Vocadlo, L A1 - Brand, HEA A1 - Knight, KS UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0021889807029937 SN - 0021-8898 IS - 4 N1 - Copyright © International Union of Crystallography Author(s) of this paper may load this reprint on their own web site or institutional repository provided that the cover page is retained. Republication of this article or its storage in electronic databases other than as specified above is not permitted without prior permission in writing from the IUCr. VL - 40 SP - 761 ER -