A　general　solution-phase　strategy　is　developed　to　synthesize　nanostructure　niobates　such　as　MnNb2O6,　SnNb2O6　and　ZnNb2O6　on　natural　mineral　diatomite　for　water　environmental　remediation.　(NH4)(2)C2O4　aqueous　solution　is　the　key　to　achieve　a　scalable　and　controllable　synthesis　of　niobate/diatomite　hybrid　systems,　which　generates　NH3　center　dot　H2O　for　surface　etching　activation　of　diatomite,　and　H2C2O4　for　complexation　dissolution　of　Nb2O5,　enabling　the　heterogeneous　crystallization　process　to　proceed　with　controllable　growth　kinetics.　First　principle　calculations　indicate　that　both　niobium　atom　and　niobiumoxygen　species　have　the　lowest　adsorption　energy　on　SiO2　surface,　and　then　induce　the　nucleating　process　of　Nb-O-Mn　(or　Zn,　Sn)　networks.　Cr(VI),　Fe(III),　and　Pb(II)　ions　are　taken　as　target　pollutants　to　evaluate　the　water-cleaning　ability　of　the　niobate-modified　diatomite.　Possible　mechanisms　for　the　photoreduction　of　Cr(VI),　physical　adsorption　of　Fe(OH)(3)　colloids,　and　chemisorption　of　Pb(II)　ions　are　proposed　on　the　basis　of　experimentally　investigations.　The　possibility　of　combining　the　advantages　of　natural　mineral　diatomite　and　nanostructured　niobates　provides　a　highly　robust　and　potential　material　system　with　versatile　functionalities　of　heavy　metal　ion　removal,　demonstrating　great　promise　for　a　wide　range　of　water　purification.