Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Methods suitable for measuring the extent of planar faulting in the framework structures of zeolites are considered. A simple method is outlined for simulating diffracted intensities from crystals containing coherent planar defects. The algorithm employed efficiently exploits the self-similar properties of extended faulting patterns. The simplicity of this recursion method makes it suitable for complex crystal structures such as those of zeolites, and its utility is illustrated by a study of faulting in zeolite beta. Powder diffraction pattern simulations, which are in excellent agreement with observed data, indicate a fault probability in the chiral zeolite beta stacking sequence of α ≈0.56.