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Crystals
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Crystal Structure and Characterization of Minerals and Related Nanomaterials
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Crystal Structure and Characterization of Minerals and Related Nanomaterials

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineralogical Crystallography and Biomineralization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 562

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Milena Rosić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
“Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12-14, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: mineralogy; crystallography; material science; nanomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The characteristics of a mineral are shaped by the specific kind and precise arrangement of atoms or molecules within its crystal structure, highlighting the fundamental link between atomic organization and mineral properties. Recognizing the importance of crystal symmetry and structure can greatly enhance our understanding of the physicochemical properties of minerals. This Special Issue, “Crystal Structure and Characterization of Minerals and Related Nanomaterials”, aims to compile innovative research and accomplishments in this extensively studied field.

Crystal is a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes research covering the crystal structure and characterization of minerals and/or their corresponding structural (non-chemical) analogs, obtained experimentally and reduced to the nanoscale. We welcome cutting-edge research into new minerals and related nanomaterials; methods (e.g., XRD, neutron diffraction/diffraction, electron diffraction, atomic resolution techniques) used to determine the structure and microstructure of minerals and related nanomaterials; the behavior of impurities and trace metals in minerals; phase transformations; and mineral defects.

This Special Issue emphasizes not only crystal structures but also their associated properties.

It seeks pioneering scientific studies that investigate the relationships between structure and physicochemical properties, driven by significant interest in various technological applications in numerous fields such as microelectronics, catalysis, coatings, energy storage, and environmental protection. We encourage the submission of contributions that provide a comprehensive description of structural, chemical, spectroscopic, and morphological properties varied via the influence of synthesis procedures (if obtained experimentally). This Special Issue welcomes research papers, review articles, and perspectives, seeking contributions from both experimental and theoretical fields. In addition, it hopes to cover the latest scientific developments regarding new and existing mineral species and their related nanomaterials, providing opportunities and further insights for our authors, readers, and reviewers.

Dr. Milena Rosić
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mineral, crystal, crystal structure
  • new mineral species and mineral groups
  • crystal chemistry and properties of minerals and related nanomaterials
  • chemical variability
  • homogeneity
  • advanced minerals and nanomaterials characterization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2758 KB  
Article
Caysichite-(Y) from the Ploskaya Mountain (Kola Peninsula, Russia): Crystal-Structure Refinement and the Chemical Formula
by Sergey V. Krivovichev, Victor N. Yakovenchuk, Olga F. Goychuk and Yakov A. Pakhomovsky
Crystals 2025, 15(9), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15090799 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
The crystal structure of caysichite-(Y) from the Ploskaya Mt (Kola Peninsula, Russia) has been refined to R1 = 0.051 for 4472 unique observed reflections. The mineral is orthorhombic, Ccm21, a = 13.2693(3), b = 13.9455(4), c = 9.7384(2) Å, [...] Read more.
The crystal structure of caysichite-(Y) from the Ploskaya Mt (Kola Peninsula, Russia) has been refined to R1 = 0.051 for 4472 unique observed reflections. The mineral is orthorhombic, Ccm21, a = 13.2693(3), b = 13.9455(4), c = 9.7384(2) Å, V = 1802.06(8) Å3, Z = 4. There are two M sites predominantly occupied by Y, but also including Ca and other rare earth elements (REEs). Both M sites are coordinated by eight O atoms to form distorted bicapped trigonal prisms. The crystal structure is based upon a three-dimensional framework formed by columns of MO8 polyhedra and (CO3) groups and double-crankshaft chains of SiO4 tetrahedra running parallel to the c-axis. The topology of linkage of MO8 polyhedra understood in terms of the M–M links shorter than 5 Å corresponds to the M network with the paracelsian (pcl) topology. The channels in the network are occupied by double-crankshaft Si chains and H2O groups. The new general chemical formula of a caysichite-(Y)-type mineral can be written as [Y2+2x−y′Ca2−3x−y″☐x+y′+y″][Si4O10](HCO3)3y′+2y″(CO3)3−3y′−2y″·(4−z)H2O, where z ~ 0.2; x ≤ 2/3; y′ ≤ 2/3; y″ ≤ 1; 3y′+2y″ ≤ 2. This general formula allows for several end-member formulas according to different x, y′ and y″ values: (Y2Ca2)[Si4O10](CO3)3·4H2O (x = y′ = y″ = z = 0), (Y2Ca☐)[Si4O10](HCO3)2(CO3)·4H2O (x = y′ = z = 0; y″ = 1), (Y10/3☐2/3)[Si4O10](CO3)3·4H2O (y′ = y″ = z = 0; x = 2/3), Ca2Y4/3☐2/3)[Si4O10](HCO3)2(CO3)·4H2O (x = y″ = z = 0; y′ = 2/3). The samples studied in this work have the compositions (REE2.05Ca1.87☐0.18)[Si4O10](HCO3)0.11(CO3)2.89·3.8H2O (x = 0.025, y′ = 0, y″ = 0.055) and (REE2.25Ca1.52☐0.23)[Si4O10](HCO3)0.21(CO3)2.79·3.8H2O (x = 0.125, y′ = 0, y″ = 0.115). The end-member formula most close to these compositions is (Y2Ca2)[Si4O10](CO3)3·4H2O, which is different from the formula (Ca,Yb,Er)4Y4(Si8O20)(CO3)6(OH)·7H2O currently adopted by the International Mineralogical Association but is generally identical to the formula (Y,Ca)4Si4O10(CO3)3·4H2O proposed in the original study of the mineral. In order to resolve the problem of the caysichite-(Y) formula, additional studies of materials from different localities (and, especially, one from the holotype locality) are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystal Structure and Characterization of Minerals and Related Nanomaterials)
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