The germanium serpentine, 3MgO·2GeO2·2H2O is
formed easily from intimate mixtures of very fine MgO
and the quartz form of GeO2 under conditions similar
to those under which the silicon analogue grows. The
decomposition temperature was found to be
520 ± 15°C at 10,000 psi. This phase gives a welldefined
powder X-ray pattern not showing the diffuseness
of the chrysotile pattern, and has a basal spacing
of 7.47 ? and a mean refractive index for the basal
section of 1.600.
These salts
are rare in nature and are only used to obtain the oxide,
GeO2, which is used in various electronic components
manufactured in industry.
