The hydrothermal transformation of kaolinite to basic sodalite Na8[AlSiO4]6 (OH.H2O)2 and hydroxoborate sodalite Na8[AlSiO4]6 [B(OH)4]2 has been investigated at different temperatures (353 and 473 K). In the early stage of the reactions, the crystallization kinetics was studied by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. Besides the crystallization of the sodalites, no further intermediate phases were formed. MAS NMR of the 29Si nucleus has been found to be a versatile tool to follow the progress of reactions from the signal ratio of the initial material and the crystallization product because the differences in chemical shifts result in well-separated signals. From these measurements, the growth rates of the sodalites could be determined quantitatively even for the very early stages of crystallization. It was found that sodium carbonate impurities in the NaOH solution used for the synthesis has an important influence on the reaction kinetics.