Modern Gem Crystals: Synthesis, Characterization, Genesis, and Intelligent Analysis

Dear Colleagues,

The field of gemology is undergoing rapid transformation, evolving from classical mineralogical observation into a data-driven, high-precision science. The growing complexity of the gemstone market—driven by the emergence of novel synthetic materials, sophisticated enhancement treatments, and the critical need for geographic origin traceability—requires equally advanced analytical solutions.

This Special Issue, "Modern Gem Crystals: Synthesis, Characterization, Genesis, and Intelligent Analysis", aims to highlight the intersection of fundamental mineralogy and cutting-edge technology. We seek to gather research that not only explore the geological genesis and physical properties of gem materials but also pioneer the application of digitization and artificial intelligence in the industry.

We invite researchers to contribute original papers and reviews covering, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Advanced Characterization: Application of modern spectroscopic (Raman, FTIR, PL, UV-Vis) and chemical (LA-ICP-MS, EDXRF, LIBS) techniques in gem identification.
• Genesis and Traceability: Research on geological formation, inclusion analysis, and chemical fingerprinting for geographic-origin determination.
• Synthetics and Treatments: Detection mechanisms for laboratory-grown gems and novel enhancement processes (e.g., heat treatment, irradiation, diffusion).
• Digitalization and Intelligence: The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), machine-learning algorithms, and big-data analysis in gemstone grading, spectral matching, and automated screening.
• New Discoveries: Mineralogical studies of rare gem varieties and characterization of new deposits.

This issue aspires to present a comprehensive overview of how modern technology is reshaping our understanding and evaluation of gemstones.

Dr. Ye Yuan
Prof. Dr. Guanghai Shi
Dr. Fei Liu
Guest Editors

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