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Zeolite identification and geology

A large group of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals characterized by an open, cage-like crystal structure that can reversibly adsorb and release water molecules and exchange cations. Zeolites form in low-temperature geological environments—as cavity fillings in basalt as secondary minerals , in altered volcanic ash tuff , and in alkaline lake sediments. They have extensive industrial applications as molecular sieves, catalysts, and water softeners. Field: mineralogy. Example: Stilbite and heulandite zeolites fill vesicles and fractures in the Deccan Trap basalts of India, forming spectacular crystal-lined cavities that are among the world's finest zeolite mineral specimens.. Related terms: Amygdule, Volcanic, Framework silicate, Ion exchange.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.096023+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Zeolite mean in geology?
A large group of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals characterized by an open, cage-like crystal structure that can reversibly adsorb and release water molecules and exchange cations. Zeolites form in low-temperature geological environments—as cavity fillings in basalt as secondary minerals , in altered volcanic ash tuff , and in alkaline lake sediments. They have extensive industrial applications as molecular sieves, catalysts, and water softeners.
What is an example of Zeolite?
Stilbite and heulandite zeolites fill vesicles and fractures in the Deccan Trap basalts of India, forming spectacular crystal-lined cavities that are among the world's finest zeolite mineral specimens.
Which earth-science field uses the term Zeolite?
Zeolite is used in mineralogy.
Which terms are related to Zeolite?
Related terms in this reference are Amygdule, Volcanic, Framework silicate, Ion exchange.

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