Gemstone Identification and Characterization: Advances, Technologies and Analytical Challenges in the Modern Gemstone Trade
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2025 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editors
Interests: gemstones; cultural heritage; amber; pearls; archaeometry; material characterization; minerals; diagnostic methods and protocols; non-invasive techniques
Interests: cultural heritage; archaeometry; geoanthropology; georesources; sustainable supply chains; sustainable development goals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: new techniques for the identification of synthetic and treated gems; advanced approaches in the analysis of mounted gems; gemstone traceability; the environmental impact of gemstone mining and sustainable solutions; the synthetic gemstone market and consumer perceptions; ethics and gemology: fair trade certification for the precious stone trade; price dynamics in the gemstone and diamond markets; advancements in HPHT and CVD diamond synthesis: market implications
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The gem and gemstone trade has had an indissoluble link with the evolution of human society since the Paleolithic period. Through the millennia, humans have learned where to find higher-quality gem materials, how to drill, carve, cut and treat them, and how to create synthetic and artificial materials to obtain rarer and more beautiful and durable gemstones. In the last few decades, new and interesting sources of gemstones for the trade have been discovered, and new treatments and synthesis techniques have been developed. Based on the exponential economic investments in gemstone technologies and interest in the trade, these advancements have occurred over a very short time scale. Thus, due to the rapid evolution of modern gemstone manipulation methods, international gemological laboratories, which identify and grade gem materials, cannot perform the appropriate diagnostics without a suitable background in scientific research and technology and the support of researchers and research institutes; whether a diamond or coloured stone, every possible case of synthesis or treatment must be correctly identified and reported using the proper nomenclature. Several protocols and diagnostic methodologies have been developed for this purpose, involving high-tech applications and research.
This Special Issue aims to present the latest research on gemstone characterization and grading and the identification of a material’s origin and possible treatments; case studies and new provenances for gemstone materials will also be discussed. We particularly welcome submissions concerning high-tech applications for the identification of the gemological, geochemical and spectroscopic characteristics of gem materials and innovative new techniques (such as the use of machine learning algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, etc.).
We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.
Dr. Maya Musa
Dr. Maria Pia Riccardi
Mr. Fabio D’Amico
Guest Editors
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. Minerals 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 2400 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
- proof of origin
- laboratory-grown diamond
- inclusions
- treatments
- nomenclature
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