Volume 45 of Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry is a new and expanded update of Volume 4
from 1977. Most of the material in this volume is entirely new and Natural Zeolites:
Occurrence Properties Applications presents a fresh and expanded look at many of the subjects
contained in Volume 4.There has been an explosion in our knowledge of the crystal chemistry and
structures of natural zeolites (Chapters 1 and 2) due in part to the now-common Rietveld
method that allows treatment of powder diffraction data. Studies on the geochemistry of natural
zeolites have also greatly increased partly as a result of the interests related to the
disposal of radioactive wastes and Chapters 3 4 5 13 and 14 detail the latest results in
this important area. Until the latter part of the 20th century zeolites were often looked upon
as a geological curiosity but they are now known to be widespread throughout the world in
sedimentary and igneous deposits and in soils (Chapters 6-12). The application of natural
zeolites has greatly expanded since the first zeolite volume. Chapter 15 details the use of
natural zeolites for removal of ammonium ions heavy metals radioactive cations and organic
molecules from natural waters wastewaters and soils. Similarly Chapter 16 describes the use
of natural zeolites as building blocks and cements in the building industry Chapter 17
outlines their use in solar energy storage heating and cooling applications and Chapter 18
describes their use in a variety of agricultural applications including as soil conditioners
slow-release fertilizers soil-less substrates carriers for insecticides and pesticides and
remediation agents in contaminated soils.
