Formation of carnallite type double salts by grinding mixtures of magnesium and alkali halides with the same anions

The formation of carnallite type double salts by grinding mixtures of hydrated magnesium halide and alkali halides with the same anions was investigated by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Carnallite (KMgCl₃·6H₂O), cesium-carnallite (CsMgCl₃·6H₂O), bromo-carnallite (KMgBr₃·6H₂O) and cesium-bromo-carnallite (CsMgBr₃·6H₂O) were formed by grinding mixtures of MgCl₂·6H₂O with KCl or CsCl and MgBr₂·6H₂O with KBr or CsBr, respectively. Hydrated solid solutions of magnesium in potassium or cesium halides were obtained from that portion of potassium and cesium halides which did not take part in the formation of the double salt.