aluminosilicatessuch

Aluminosilicates are a broad class of minerals and synthetic materials built from a framework of silicon and aluminum oxoanions. They contain aluminum substituting for some silicon in the silicate lattice, which creates a negative framework charge balanced by interstitial cations such as sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium. This combination yields a diverse set of structures, including three‑dimensionally connected frameworks and layered structures, with a wide range of chemistries and physical properties.

In natural systems, aluminosilicates form through crystallization from silicate melts, alteration of preexisting minerals, or weathering of rocks. They include framework silicates like feldspars (for example albite, orthoclase, and anorthite), which are common in the Earth's crust; zeolites, which are porous and support exchange of cations; and layered phyllosilicates such as clays and micas, which have varying layer charges and swelling behavior.

Major groups and examples span feldspars, zeolites, clays (kaolinite, montmorillonite), and micas. Feldspars are abundant in igneous rocks; zeolites are notable for their porosity and ion-exchange capacity; clays are widespread in soils and sediments and play a key role in adsorption and rheology. Synthetic aluminosilicates, including engineered zeolites and mesoporous materials, are widely used in catalysis, adsorption, and separation technologies.

Industrial and environmental relevance stems from their structural features and chemistry. The ability to exchange cations, adsorb molecules, or act as molecular sieves makes aluminosilicates important in ceramics and glass production, cement chemistry, water treatment, soil conditioning, and catalytic processes. Their properties depend on the Si/Al ratio, degree of polymerization, and the presence of water or other interlayer species.