The number of self-avoiding walks, u(n), in several zeolitic framework
s has been calculated up to distances n higher than 20 steps. This all
ows us to estimate the 'connective constant' or effective coordination
number of these structures as the limit of the ratio u(n)/u(n-1) for
large n. This parameter is correlated with the density of tetrahedra i
n the zeolite networks, and is shown to be very useful for characteriz
ing the network connectivity, as well as quantifying the influence of
the framework topology on the Si, Al atom ordering in these materials.