The　use　of　natural　aluminosilicate　minerals　as　the　low-cost　starting　materials　for　zeolite　synthesis　is　a　field　of　current　interest.　However,　impurities　existing　in　these　minerals　greatly　affect　the　purity　of　final　products.　Herein,　we　describe　a　cheap　and　green　route　for　synthesizing　pure-phase　zeolite　beta　from　natural　aluminosilicate　minerals　via　a　modified　nanoscale　depolymerization-reorganization　approach.　The　physicochemical　and　catalytic　properties　of　the　synthesized　zeolite　beta　were　systematically　characterized　and　assessed,　respectively.　The　results　indicate　that　the　resulting　zeolite　beta　possesses　more　moderate　Brönsted　acid　sites　compared　with　the　reference　one,　and　thus　exhibits　higher　catalytic　activity　in　the　esterification　of　acetic　acid　with　ethanol.　This　methodology　demonstrates　great　perspective　for　the　low-cost　and　environmentally-benign　synthesis　of　zeolite　beta　that　avoids　the　use　of　aluminum-　and　silicon-containing　inorganic　chemicals,　eliminates　the　interference　of　impurities,　and　reduces　the　usage　of　the　organic　template.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.