Mg14CuCdO16 is alpha Po-derived structured and crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/mmm space group. There are five inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(1), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(5) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; corners with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra; corners with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded to one O(4), one O(5), two equivalent O(1), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(3)O6 octahedra; corners with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-2°. In the third Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to one O(5), one O(6), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; corners with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. In the fourth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to one O(5), one O(6), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; corners with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. In the fifth Mg site, Mg(4) is bonded to two equivalent O(1), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one Cu(1)O6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one Cd(1)O6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent Mg(3)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 2-6°. Cu(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(4) and four equivalent O(1) atoms to form CuO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra, corners with four equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. Cd(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(6) and four equivalent O(2) atoms to form CdO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; corners with four equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra; and edges with eight Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. There are six inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(1) is bonded to one Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(4), and one Cu(1) atom to form OMg5Cu octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-2°. In the second O site, O(2) is bonded to one Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), and one Cd(1) atom to form OMg5Cd octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. In the third O site, O(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), and two equivalent Mg(4) atoms to form OMg6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-3°. In the fourth O site, O(4) is bonded to four equivalent Mg(2) and two equivalent Cu(1) atoms to form OMg4Cu2 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. In the fifth O site, O(5) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1); two equivalent Mg(2); and two Mg(3,3) atoms to form OMg6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, corners with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, corners with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. In the sixth O site, O(6) is bonded to four Mg(3,3) and two equivalent Cd(1) atoms to form OMg4Cd2 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted.
Mg14CuCdO16 is alpha Po-derived structured and crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/mmm space group. There are five inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(1), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(5) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; corners with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra; corners with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. Both Mg(1)-O(1) bond lengths are 2.14 Å. Both Mg(1)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.02 Å. Both Mg(1)-O(5) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded to one O(4), one O(5), two equivalent O(1), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(3)O6 octahedra; corners with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-2°. The Mg(2)-O(4) bond length is 2.15 Å. The Mg(2)-O(5) bond length is 2.16 Å. Both Mg(2)-O(1) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. Both Mg(2)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.16 Å. In the third Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to one O(5), one O(6), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; corners with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. The Mg(3)-O(5) bond length is 2.11 Å. The Mg(3)-O(6) bond length is 2.20 Å. Both Mg(3)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. Both Mg(3)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. In the fourth Mg site, Mg(3) is bonded to one O(5), one O(6), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; corners with four Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra; edges with two Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra; edges with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; and edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. The Mg(3)-O(5) bond length is 2.11 Å. The Mg(3)-O(6) bond length is 2.20 Å. Both Mg(3)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. Both Mg(3)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. In the fifth Mg site, Mg(4) is bonded to two equivalent O(1), two equivalent O(2), and two equivalent O(3) atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one Cu(1)O6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one Cd(1)O6 octahedra, edges with two equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent Mg(3)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 2-6°. Both Mg(4)-O(1) bond lengths are 2.13 Å. Both Mg(4)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.18 Å. Both Mg(4)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. Cu(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(4) and four equivalent O(1) atoms to form CuO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Cu(1)O6 octahedra, corners with four equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent Mg(2)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. Both Cu(1)-O(4) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. All Cu(1)-O(1) bond lengths are 2.16 Å. Cd(1) is bonded to two equivalent O(6) and four equivalent O(2) atoms to form CdO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent Cd(1)O6 octahedra; corners with four equivalent Mg(1)O6 octahedra; edges with four equivalent Mg(4)O6 octahedra; and edges with eight Mg(3,3)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. Both Cd(1)-O(6) bond lengths are 2.15 Å. All Cd(1)-O(2) bond lengths are 2.28 Å. There are six inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(1) is bonded to one Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(4), and one Cu(1) atom to form OMg5Cu octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-2°. In the second O site, O(2) is bonded to one Mg(1), two equivalent Mg(3), two equivalent Mg(4), and one Cd(1) atom to form OMg5Cd octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-5°. In the third O site, O(3) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2), two equivalent Mg(3), and two equivalent Mg(4) atoms to form OMg6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra,  an edgeedge with one O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, edges with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 0-3°. In the fourth O site, O(4) is bonded to four equivalent Mg(2) and two equivalent Cu(1) atoms to form OMg4Cu2 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. In the fifth O site, O(5) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(1); two equivalent Mg(2); and two Mg(3,3) atoms to form OMg6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, corners with two equivalent O(4)Mg4Cu2 octahedra, corners with two equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(1)Mg5Cu octahedra, and edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted. In the sixth O site, O(6) is bonded to four Mg(3,3) and two equivalent Cd(1) atoms to form OMg4Cd2 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent O(6)Mg4Cd2 octahedra, corners with four equivalent O(5)Mg6 octahedra, edges with four equivalent O(3)Mg6 octahedra, and edges with eight equivalent O(2)Mg5Cd octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedra are not tilted.