A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation comprising viscosifying a cement composition comprising a metal oxide and a soluble salt, placing the viscosified cement composition in the wellbore, and allowing the composition to set. A method of cementing a wellbore comprising preparing a cement composition comprising magnesium oxide, a chloride or phosphate salt, and a quaternary material, placing the cementitious composition into the wellbore, and allowing the cementitious composition to set. A method of viscosifying a Sorel cement comprising contacting the cement composition with quaternary material.