MgSiO

MgSiO is a chemical formula that denotes a magnesium–silicon–oxide composition. It is not, by itself, a widely recognized discrete mineral with a fixed structure; rather, it represents a stoichiometric possibility within the broader family of magnesium silicates that include more specific and well-characterized compounds. The most familiar magnesium silicates are enstatite (MgSiO3) and forsterite (Mg2SiO4), which form extended silicate structures in rocks and minerals. The simple 1:1:1 ratio implied by MgSiO can occur in various contexts—gas-phase molecules, clusters, or components of solid-solution silicate lattices—depending on conditions such as temperature, pressure, and composition.

In geology and materials science, magnesium silicate systems are important for their high melting points, chemical durability, and roles in mantle and crustal minerals as well as in ceramics and refractories. In planetary science and astrochemistry, researchers study magnesium–silicon–oxygen species as potential constituents of silicate dust and as clues to dust formation around stars. While MgSiO itself is not a standard mineral, its concept helps frame discussions of how magnesium, silicon, and oxygen combine to form a variety of solid, liquid, and gaseous phases.

See also: enstatite, forsterite, diopside, silicates.