Study of mineral compositions, structures and properties.
A naturally occurring solid substance with a characteristic composition range and internal structure. Synthetic analogues can be engineered as hosts for selected waste constituents.
A mineral whose structure contains silicon–oxygen units. Different linkages give isolated groups, chains, sheets or extended frameworks. Refractory silicate grains are an important solid component of a protoplanetary disk.
A uranium titanate with ideal composition . It occurs in natural actinide-bearing minerals and can appear in titanate ceramic waste forms.
A calcium zirconium titanate with ideal formula . Its structural variants and substitution mechanisms are important in actinide-bearing ceramic waste forms.
A monoclinic zirconolite polytype with a four-layer repeat, observed in some actinide-substituted composition ranges.
