Mg6ZnAl crystallizes in the orthorhombic Amm2 space group. There are six inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. In the second Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. In the third Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(4); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form MgMg10Al2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra. In the fourth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. In the fifth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. In the sixth Mg site, Mg(4) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form MgMg10Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra. Zn(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(4); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form ZnMg10Al2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra. Al(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form AlMg10Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra.
Mg6ZnAl crystallizes in the orthorhombic Amm2 space group. There are six inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. There is one shorter (3.03 Å) and one longer (3.15 Å) Mg(1)-Mg(1) bond length. There is one shorter (3.10 Å) and one longer (3.12 Å) Mg(1)-Mg(2) bond length. Both Mg(1)-Mg(3) bond lengths are 3.10 Å. Both Mg(1)-Mg(4) bond lengths are 3.08 Å. Both Mg(1)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 3.05 Å. There is one shorter (3.06 Å) and one longer (3.16 Å) Mg(1)-Al(1) bond length. In the second Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. There is one shorter (3.10 Å) and one longer (3.12 Å) Mg(1)-Mg(2) bond length. Both Mg(1)-Mg(3) bond lengths are 3.10 Å. Both Mg(1)-Mg(4) bond lengths are 3.08 Å. Both Mg(1)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 3.05 Å. There is one shorter (3.06 Å) and one longer (3.16 Å) Mg(1)-Al(1) bond length. In the third Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(4); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form MgMg10Al2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra. Both Mg(2)-Mg(4) bond lengths are 3.07 Å. All Mg(2)-Mg(3,3) bond lengths are 3.07 Å. Both Mg(2)-Al(1) bond lengths are 3.09 Å. In the fourth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. There is one shorter (3.05 Å) and one longer (3.14 Å) Mg(3)-Mg(3) bond length. There is one shorter (3.10 Å) and one longer (3.12 Å) Mg(3)-Mg(4) bond length. There is one shorter (3.08 Å) and one longer (3.14 Å) Mg(3)-Zn(1) bond length. Both Mg(3)-Al(1) bond lengths are 3.06 Å. In the fifth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), two equivalent Zn(1), and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with ten Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra. There is one shorter (3.10 Å) and one longer (3.12 Å) Mg(3)-Mg(4) bond length. There is one shorter (3.08 Å) and one longer (3.14 Å) Mg(3)-Zn(1) bond length. Both Mg(3)-Al(1) bond lengths are 3.06 Å. In the sixth Mg site, Mg(4) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form MgMg10Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra. Both Mg(4)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 3.09 Å. Zn(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(4); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Al(1) atoms to form ZnMg10Al2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra. Both Zn(1)-Al(1) bond lengths are 3.06 Å. Al(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2); four Mg(1,1); four Mg(3,3); and two equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form AlMg10Zn2 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; corners with six equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; corners with eight Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; edges with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; edges with eight Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Mg(2)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Zn(1)Mg10Al2 cuboctahedra; faces with two equivalent Al(1)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(1,1)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; faces with four Mg(3,3)Mg8Al2Zn2 cuboctahedra; and faces with six equivalent Mg(4)Mg10Zn2 cuboctahedra.