Special Issues

Minerals publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Sulfide Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2nd Edition submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 286 | Submission Open
Keywords: sulfides; sulfide mineralogy; sulfide geochemistry; ore deposits; trace elements; crystal structure; biomineralization and biominerals; mineral processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Advances in Precious and Critical Mineral Beneficiation and Extraction submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 10 articles | Viewed by 35757 | Submission Open
Keywords: precious and critical minerals; complex ore bodies; physical separation and beneficiation; biomining; hydrometallurgy; electrometallurgy; solvent extraction and ion exchange; wastes and secondary metal sources; recycling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Structure and Origin of Gold Mineralization: From Primary to Placer Gold Deposits submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 10 articles | Viewed by 28867 | Submission Open
Keywords: gold prospecting; biogeochemistry of gold; geochemical analysis; gold deposits; geophysical survey; remote sensing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Tailings Dams: Design, Characterization, Monitoring, and Risk Assessment, 2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 28042 | Submission Open
Keywords: characterization of tailings deposits; geotechnical and condition monitoring of tailings dams; design issues and parameters of tailings dams; geotechnical and managerial risk assessment of tailings projects; case histories of failures or good design practices; modeling and simulation of tailings flows resulting from dam failure; dewatering technologies; closure of mine tailings dams; standards and guidelines; innovative tailings management approaches; environmental issues related to active/closed dams (such as dust emission; etc.)
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Advances in Mantle–Crust Interactions for Petrogenesis and Ore-Forming Processes
edited by Feng Huang, Liang Guo, Xiyao Li, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 15 articles | Viewed by 21266 | Submission Open
Keywords: mantle– crust interactions; petrology; geochemistry; magmatic evolution; mineralization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Characterization and Reuse of Slag
edited by Eduardo Junca, Felipe Fardin Grillo and Jorge Luís Coleti
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 11 articles | Viewed by 15219 | Submission Open
Keywords: slag valorization; circular economy; slag processing; metallurgical byproduct
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Waste Valorization: Recycling and Recovery of Critical and Strategic Metals
edited by Elif Emil Kaya, and Duygu Yilmaz
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 14586 | Submission Open
Keywords: recycling and utilization of waste and industrial by-product; extraction of critical and strategic metals from mineral waste; EoL products; and industrial by-products; hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; electrometallurgy; leaching; precipitation; solvent extraction; melting; hydrogen/metallothermic reduction; thermodynamical modeling and process simulations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Selected Papers from the 7th National Youth Geological Congress
edited by , , Hu Peng and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 19 articles | Viewed by 12403 | Submission Open
Keywords: regional geology; mineralization; strategic mineral resources; mineral exploration; deep engineering; mineral and ore genesis; environmental impact of mineral resources; environmental geochemistry; geo-environment and mineral resources
Petrology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Modeling and Mapping of Volcanic/Igneous Reservoirs and Analog Volcanoes submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 12096 | Submission Open
Keywords: reservoir classification; reservoir characterization; reservoir exploration; reservoir inversion; reservoir space; facies architecture; petrophysics; volcanology; volcanostratigraphy; modelling; mapping
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Recent Advances in Deep Ore Prospecting
edited by and Juzhi Deng
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 11549 | Submission Open
Keywords: deep ore prospecting; advances in geophysics exploration; 3D geological modelling; mineral system exploration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Applied to Determination of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 8946 | Submission Open
Keywords: REE detection; laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; in situ analytical techniques; i.e.; LIBS; atomic emission spectroscopy; rare earth element determination; material characterization techniques; LIBS applications for REEs
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Application of Machine Learning in Mining, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
edited by , and Pia Lois-Morales
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7290 | Submission Open
Keywords: machine learning applied to mining; mineral processing; and extractive metallurgy; predictive modeling of mining and metallurgical processes; machine learning-based control of mining and metallurgical processes; machine learning-based water and energy optimization in mining; machine learning-based optimization of mining and metallurgical processes; predictive maintenance of equipment and components; optimization strategies and modeling of metallurgical process performance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Risks Assessment, Management and Control of Mining Contamination, 2nd Edition
edited by , and Brian Keith Normabuena
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 6463 | Submission Open
Keywords: mining; heavy metal contamination; tailings; mine reclamation; mining risks; acid mine drainage; artificial intelligence; machine learning; data analytics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Green Mining Solutions for the Sustainability of Mine Tailings Management submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5257 | Submission Open
Keywords: co-disposal; dewatering; filtration; dry stacking; underground mine backfilling; in-pit disposal; mitigation of dust emission; climate change adaptation; circular economy; green reprocessing; reduce; reuse; and recycle; phytoremediation; landscape rehabilitation; sustainable mine closure; socio-environmental rehabilitation; post disaster remediation; sustainable geochemical management; geo-environmental issues
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Granitoids and Their Importance in the Identification of Tectonic Environments, Geodynamic Evolution and Crustal Growth: Mineralizations, Geochronology, Elemental and Isotope Geochemistry
edited by , Nilson Francisquini Botelho and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 4573 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineralogy; petrology; geochemistry; isotopic composition; geochronology; mineral and rocks; ore deposits; tectonic setting; supercontinent; crustal growth
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sediments
edited by and Mathieu Le Meur
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3916 | Submission Open
Keywords: sediment inorganic and organic geochemistry; geochemical signatures and fingerprints; contamination and pollution behavior; sediment mineralogy and weathering; emerging organic contaminants; natural and anthropogenic processes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) in Non-Conventional Waters: Innovative Circular Economy Solutions for Mineral Formation, Environmental Remediation, and Sustainable Energy Production submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3519 | Submission Open
Keywords: Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP); non-conventional waters; bioremediation; mineral recovery; wastewater treatment; urease
(This special issue belongs to the Section Biomineralization and Biominerals)
Mineralogical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Building Stone
edited by Ana Maričić, Uroš Barudžija and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2661 | Submission Open
Keywords: natural building stone; determination of properties; durability to weathering; decoration of natural stone; application of natural stone
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Large Igneous Provinces, Carbonatites, Kimberlites, and Associated Ore Deposits of Africa
edited by , , , Andrea Marzoli and Andrey Bekker
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2436 | Submission Open
Keywords: large igneous provinces (LIPs) in Africa; silicic LIPs (SLIPs) and associated carbonatites and kimberlites in Africa; dyke swarms (mafic; ultramafic; and felsic) of all settings in Africa; LIPs as a tool in paleogeographic reconstructions; LIPs through time and their links with climate change events; LIPs; carbonatites; and kimberlites through time and their links with metallogeny; petrology and geochronology; LIP architecture and insights into the magmatic plumbing system from geochemistry and geophysics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Reservoir and Geochemistry Characteristics of Black Shale, 2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2412 | Submission Open
Keywords: facies models and sedimentation processes; event sedimentology and paleoclimate transitions; paleoenvironment on organic matter enrichment; lithological; mineralogical; and geochemical analysis; diagenesis and pore structure evolution
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz
edited by , , and Yehao Huang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2065 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-purity quartz; quartz purification/processing; trace element characterization; semiconductor materials; photovoltaic applications; quartz mineralogy/deposits; critical raw materials; advanced material purification; silicon-based technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Mineral Chemistry: Tool for Vectoring towards Mineral Deposits
edited by Ivan Belousov, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1908 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral chemistry; vectoring; fertility; porphyry Cu; IOCG; orogenic Au; VHMS; LA ICP MS
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Critical Minerals for Energy Transition: Advancing Energy Security and Sustainable Manufacturing
edited by , and Shalini Verma
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1792 | Submission Open
Keywords: critical minerals; energy transition; green energy; low-carbon economy; sustainable supply chains; mineral recycling and circular economy; energy security; emission reduction; renewable energy; integration; material efficiency; geopolitical risks; circular economy; sustainable environment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Digital Exploration and Assessment of Mineral Resources: Theories, Methods and Achievements, 2nd Edition
edited by Yongqing Chen, Jie Zhao and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 773 | Submission Open
Keywords: ore-prospecting information from geology; geochemistry; geophysics; and remote sensing survey; ore-forming anomaly; ore-forming system; nonlinear geosciences; mineral potential mapping; machine learning and geoscience
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Innovation in Solvent Extraction for Metal Recovery submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 549 | Submission Open
Keywords: selective solvent extraction; synergistic extraction; extraction stoichiometry; ion exchange; kinetic and thermodynamic in ion exchange; sustainable recovery of metals; molecular design; extractive metallurgy; purification of metals; critical minerals/metals; deep eutectic solvent; ionic liquids; new reagents; spent catalyst; technological waste
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Mineralogic Analysis, Size Distribution and Environmental Impacts of Mine Dust
edited by Johanna von Holdt, Jennifer Broadhurst and Conchita Kamanzi
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 396 | Submission Open
Keywords: mine dust; mineral composition; size distribution; dust characterization; environmental impacts; toxicity; air quality; health outcomes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Metallogenic Enrichment in Orogenic Systems: Processes Linking Crustal Evolution to Ore Genesis
edited by Miao Yu
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 218 | Submission Open
Keywords: crustal evolution (continental and oceanic); metallogenic enrichment processes; orogenic systems; ore genesis; geochronology; isotope geochemistry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Application of Biomodified Mineral Amendments in Industrial, Environmental and Agricultural Engineering
edited by and Dong Liu
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 522 | Submission Open
Keywords: clay minerals; biomodification of clay minerals; mineral amendments; remediation of contaminated soils; physicochemical and structural properties of clays
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Organic Petrology and Geochemistry: Exploring the Organic-Rich Facies
edited by and Qian Zhang
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 5141 | Submission Open
Keywords: organic-rich facies; organic petrology; organic geochemistry; inorganic geochemistry; palynofacies; biomarkers; scanning electron microscopy; stable isotope geochemistry; kerogen; thermal maturation; depositional paleoenvironment; basin analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Advances in the Theory and Technology of Biohydrometallurgy
edited by Yan Jia and He Shang
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3056 | Submission Open
Keywords: biohydrometallurgy; bioleaching; bio-oxidation; biomining; microbe-mineral interaction; microbial communities; genomics/metabolomics/transcriptomics; sulfide minerals; secondary resources; leaching kinetics; process modeling; reactor design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Advances in Mine Backfilling Technology and Materials, 2nd Edition
edited by , Xun Chen and Yuan Li
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 2357 | Submission Open
Keywords: backfill mining method; cemented tailing backfill technology; filling materials; mine waste; binding material; cemented tailing backfill; mechanical properties of cemented tailing backfill; rheological properties of filling slurry; mathematical modeling; numerical simulation; in situ measurement
Gem Deposits Through Geological Time: Exploration and Formation Processes
edited by and Martin Feely
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1144 | Submission Open
Keywords: genesis and geological setting of gemstones; economic geology; gemstones; mineralogy; geochemistry; inclusions; geochronology of gemstones; exploration geology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Advances in Electron Microanalysis and Microscopy
edited by
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 442 | Submission Open
Keywords: electron probe microanalysis and microscopy; scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy; microanalysis standards and reference materials; analytical procedures; characterization of minerals and related synthetic materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Long-Term Radionuclide Immobilization by Minerals: Applications in Environmental Remediation and Waste Disposal
edited by and Angel Jimenez
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 338 | Submission Open
Keywords: spent nuclear fuel; engineered barriers; geological disposal; containment strategies; radionuclide absorption
(This special issue belongs to the Section Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials)
Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Polymetallic Deep-Sea Deposits
edited by Yachun Cai and Christian Millo
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 252 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymetallic deep-sea deposits; ferromanganese nodule; ferromanganese (cobalt-rich) crusts; seafloor massive sulfides; rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY)-rich sediments; metal resources; deep-sea mining
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Gravity, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic (GME) Geophysical Data Interpretation for Mineral Exploration and Crustal Structure Investigation
edited by Sheng Jin, Letian Zhang, Zhaoxi Chen and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 11 articles | Viewed by 13264 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral exploration; crustal structure investigation; geophysical data interpretation; gravity and magnetic method; electrical and electromagnetic method
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of Zn-Pb Ore Deposits: Insights into Their Genesis, Implications for Exploration, and Environmental Issues submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 11919 | Submission Open
Keywords: characterization of Zn-Pb ore deposits; genesis of Zn-Pb ore deposits; ore mineralogy; ore geochemistry; sphalerite; critical metals; fluid inclusions; stable and radiogenic isotopes; ore exploration; Zn-Pb mineral resources; sustainable mining; environmental mineralogy and geochemistry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Sustainable Extraction and Reuse of Metallurgical Wastes: Towards Circular Practices submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 10380 | Submission Open
Keywords: metallurgical waste; circular economy; sustainable mining; waste management; metal recovery; recycling; bioleaching; hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; environmental impact assessment; life cycle analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Graphite Minerals and Graphene, 2nd Edition
edited by , and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 10176 | Submission Open
Keywords: graphite ores; graphite crystal growth; graphitic carbon; graphite structural properties; graphene preparation; applications of graphite and graphene
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Novel Methods and Applications for Mineral Exploration, Volume III
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 9944 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral exploration; economic geology; exploration methodology; geochemical exploration; geophysical exploration; novel exploration techniques; modern exploration techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
New Extraction Processes for Critical Metals from Non-Metallurgical Resources
edited by Rogério C.S. Navarro and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5655 | Submission Open
Keywords: electronic waste; battery metals; low-grade resources; metallurgical waste; pyrometallurgy; hydrometallurgy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Harnessing Surface Chemistry for Enhanced Mineral Recovery
edited by , Peilun Shen, Jia Tian and Ya Gao
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5095 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral processing; froth flotation; flotation reagents; flotation surface chemistry; flotation theory and technology; flotation separation and purification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Global Mineral Resource Exploration Using Multi-Sensor Satellite Data and Machine Learning Algorithms
edited by Muhammad Ahsan Mahboob and Iqra Atif
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4388 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral resource exploration; multi-sensor satellite data; machine learning algorithms; remote sensing; geospatial data; hyperspectral imaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Geochronological Methods Applied to the Exploration of Tectonic and Geological Processes submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4019 | Submission Open
Keywords: radiometric dating; structural geology; geoscience; radiation damage dating; applications; environmental change
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Geometallurgy Applied to Mine Planning
edited by , Julian Ortiz and Nelson Morales
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1388 | Submission Open
Keywords: mine planning including geometallurgical variables; deterministic and probabilistic mine planning modelling; tactical or strategic geometallurgy applied to mine planning; case studies using real or synthetic datasets
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Biogeochemical Cycling and the Fate of Heavy Metals in the Environment
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1332 | Submission Open
Keywords: source appointment; transfer mechanism; toxicity; plant uptake; bioaccumulation; advanced detection and monitoring; environmental and health implications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Serpentinization Processes and Their Kinetic, Metallogenic, and Environmental Effects
edited by , Xiaohui Li and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 153 | Submission Open
Keywords: serpentinization; hydrogen; methane; metal deposits; carbon sequestration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Clays in Soil Science and Soil Chemistry submission deadline 24 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 395 | Submission Open
Keywords: clay minerals; soil organic matter; organic-mineral interactions; soil pollutants; molecular modeling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials)
Role of Granitic Magmas in Porphyry, Epithermal, and Skarn Deposits submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5134 | Submission Open
Keywords: porphyry; epithermal; and skarn deposits; granitic magmas; magma evolution; geochemistry; ore genesis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Formation and Characteristics of Sediment-Hosted Ore Deposits
edited by , William Defliese and
submission deadline 27 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 611 | Submission Open
Keywords: formation; deformation; ore deposits; characteristics; stress field; mineralization; sediment-hosted
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
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