Natural zeolites obtained from various regions of Turkey and their iron-exchanged forms were characterised by XRD, BET, H-2-TPR and NH3-TPD methods. Transient experiments with N2O showed that the iron introduced into natural zeolites have appreciable oxygen deposition capacity due to isolated iron species involved. Atomic surface oxygen species in these zeolites are formed at 250 degrees C, which is released through increasing the temperature until 900 degrees C, similar to Fe-containing ZSM-5 zeolite. The steady-state experiments indicate that the iron-containing zeolite of the Yavu-Sivas region, in particular, has high activity in selective catalytic reduction of N2O With NH3 as a consequence of isolated cationic and/or dimeric iron content. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.