Zeolites are a name for groups of minerals that commonly grow together (not all the time) details from "Superb Minerals" in the US
Minerals are inorganic, naturally-occurring chemical compounds or elements that form with an orderly internal structure. Most minerals result from drying liquid magma (lava that is beneath the surface), or primary or secondary hydrothermal solutions. Their ultimate formation depends highly on the environment — which elements and compounds are present, the temperature, and the pressure.
Some fun facts - The moisture- and odor-absorbing pellets of cat litter often consist of zeolites, as do breathing filters in the tanks of scuba divers and firefighters. In many labs, zeolites are used to dry and purify solvents, trapping water molecules while leaving larger solvent molecules outside. Due to their ability to trap the calcium and magnesium ions that make water hard, they also find use in water filters and laundry detergents. In refinery and petrochemical areas, products made from zeolites can dramatically improve both the efficiency and carbon footprint of processes.
Zeolites are crystalline minerals made from silicon, aluminum, and oxygen, along with alkaline-Earth metals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium. What really makes them special and what gives them their name is that water gets inside them. Axel Crondstedt, known for discovering nickel, coined the term zeolite, which means “boiling stones” in Greek. When heated, you can actually see zeolites bubble — but the minerals themselves don’t burn, and won’t melt until temps hit 1,000 degrees Celsius!
Some of the mineral names for zeolites that you'll hear are but not limited to;
Apophyllite, Stilbite, Heulandite, Okenite, Gyrolite, Calcite, Scolecite, Mesolite, Natrolite, Corrundum, Quartz, Epi-Stilbite, Chabazite
