Magnesium silicate compositions and process for making

A porous crystalline magnesium silicate having a three dimensional lattice and a composition according to the following formula in terms of the molar ratios of oxide on a dry basis:

• (M.sub.2/n O).sub.p (MgO).sub.x (R.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.y (SiO.sub.2).sub.z
• wherein M is at least one ion-exchangeable cation having a valence n;
• R is a trivalent element or mixture thereof which is not ion-exchangeable by conventional means;
• x/z.gtoreq.0;
• y/z.gtoreq.0;
• p/n.gtoreq.y;
• and p, x, z are positive numbers with p being from about 0.1 to about 4, x being from about 0.01 to about 2, z being from about 90 to about 96 and y being zero or a positive number from about 0 to about 3 further characterized by an X-ray diffraction trace having at least those interplanar d spacings listed in Table III of the specification and further provided that nonion-exchangeable cation and further provided that nonion-exchangeable magnesium is contained in the lattice and further characterized by infrared analysis in that said analysis exhibits at least two peaks in the 1200-980 cm.sup.-1 region.