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Minerals
Special Issues
Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials
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Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials

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: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 2970

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nuno Leal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GeoBioTec Research Center, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: salt fog experiments and data analysis and interpretation; geo-archaeology studies; identification of lithic materials, involving original rock alteration processes analysis; conservation and restoration of artworks; bioreceptivity and biodeterioration of rocks; physical and chemical deterioration of dimension stone; chemical and mineralogical characterization of geological materials involved in the manufacturing of ceramics, glass, mortars, and plasters; inorganic pigments used in paintings
Dr. Amélia Dionísio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
DER/CERENA, Técnico Lisboa, ULisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: exploration geophysics; cultural heritage; environment; geochemistry; environmental microbiology; minerals; heritage; sedimentology; culture; cloning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joaquim Simão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GEOBIOTEC and Earth Sciences Department, NOVA School of Science & Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: mineralogy; petrology; geochemistry; rocks; building heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cultural heritage holds immense significance for our society, as it reflects both the past and the present of humanity, acting as a bridge between generations and ensuring that invaluable legacies remain for both present and future generations. Therefore, preserving cultural heritage is essential to safeguard these relics for future generations.

Cultural heritage objects are made of a variety of materials such as stone, metals, ceramics, glass, organic materials, pigments, mortars, among others, each with specific unique uses and vulnerabilities requiring tailored conservation approaches and strategies. Mineralogical and geochemical studies are crucial for diagnosing the composition, degradation patterns, and alteration processes affecting cultural heritage materials, providing a scientific basis for conservation decisions. These studies help to select compatible and sustainable materials and techniques, ensuring the long-term preservation and resilience of heritage artifacts. This Special Issue aims to gather a wide range of contributions that support the preservation of cultural heritage. Submissions may explore the characterization of original and degraded materials, as well as the mechanisms and processes responsible for their deterioration. Together, these studies will contribute to the advancing conservation science, promoting sustainable practices, and honoring the legacy of human creativity.

Dr. Nuno Leal
Dr. Amélia Dionísio
Dr. Joaquim Simão
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

  • cultural heritage
  • mineralogy
  • geochemistry
  • degradation
  • conservation
  • materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2535 KB  
Article
Chemical Characterization of Red Pigments Used in Funerary Practices in Northeastern Patagonia (Chubut, Argentina) During the Late Holocene
by Celeste Gurin, Marcia Mazzuca, Julieta Gómez Otero and Marta S. Maier
Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101055 - 5 Oct 2025
Viewed by 394
Abstract
In this study, we present the chemical characterization of red pigment samples and their associated sediments that were collected from three human burial sites in Northeastern Patagonia. Regarding their chronology, the La Azucena 1 site (880 14C years BP) corresponds to the [...] Read more.
In this study, we present the chemical characterization of red pigment samples and their associated sediments that were collected from three human burial sites in Northeastern Patagonia. Regarding their chronology, the La Azucena 1 site (880 14C years BP) corresponds to the period prior to European contact while the Loma Torta and Rawson sites date to periods following contact. These burials were discovered fortuitously. In the case of the La Azucena 1 site it was due to the impact of environmental conditions typical of this region, such as sparse vegetation and the effects of rain and wind, while for the Rawson and Loma Torta sites the burials suffered severe anthropic impact. Analysis of the red pigments and their sediments by a combination of analytical techniques using XRF, XRD, and ATR-FTIR revealed hematite as the chromophore responsible for the red color, together with large amounts of quartz in all the samples. The diffractogram of the red pigment from the La Azucena I site showed notable differences compared to those from the Loma Torta and Rawson sites, with calcite (CaCO3) and anorthite (Na0.45Ca0.56)(Al1.55Si21.5O8) as accompanying minerals and the presence of cristobalite, a high-temperature polymorph of silica (SiO2), which were not identified in the sediment sample. This suggests that minerals identified in this sample are characteristic of the pigment material rather than of the sediment where the bone remains were found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials)
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18 pages, 2069 KB  
Article
Colour Stability of Light-Sensitive Minerals Under UVA340nm Irradiation: Implications for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Museum Display Conditions
by Fabio Sitzia, Patricia Moita, Silvia Bottura-Scardina and Carla Lisci
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090999 - 20 Sep 2025
Viewed by 648
Abstract
Several minerals are known to undergo chromatic variations when exposed to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These phases, defined as photosensitive, exhibit colour change due to photochemical reactions. To understand this phenomenon, this study investigates the colour alteration in 26 common mineral phases, [...] Read more.
Several minerals are known to undergo chromatic variations when exposed to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These phases, defined as photosensitive, exhibit colour change due to photochemical reactions. To understand this phenomenon, this study investigates the colour alteration in 26 common mineral phases, aiming to better understand their behaviour under artificial ageing conditions. Each mineral was firstly chemically characterised by SEM-EDS to identify common chromophoric impurities. Subsequently, samples were exposed to UV radiation in the climatic chamber. The colour shifts were semi-quantitatively assessed in the CIEL*a*b* colour space after ageing. The results indicate that just 4 minerals out of 26 display negligible colour variation, whereas 22 show evident colour changes. These findings highlight the vulnerability of photosensitive minerals to UV-induced colour changes and raise concerns regarding their behaviour in artworks, historical surfaces, and cultural heritage objects. As such minerals are frequently found in the heritage field, understanding their photochemical responses is essential for developing informed preventive conservation strategies, particularly concerning light exposure in both museum and outdoor contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials)
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21 pages, 14576 KB  
Article
The 3D Visibility of Rust: Micro Computed Tomography Investigations of a Roman Iron Nail from Aguntum
by Gerald Degenhart, Simon Wagner, Peter Tropper, Ulrike Töchterle and Martin Auer
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090939 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 459
Abstract
The restoration of iron finds is still a particularly complex area within the science of archaeological conservation, as severe signs of corrosion occur from the moment of recovery and the associated radical change in environmental parameters. The results of this study show that [...] Read more.
The restoration of iron finds is still a particularly complex area within the science of archaeological conservation, as severe signs of corrosion occur from the moment of recovery and the associated radical change in environmental parameters. The results of this study show that it is possible to create three-dimensional models of an iron find using non-invasive µCT examinations to identify the different layers and phases of corrosion based on mineralogical investigations and thus to assess the state of preservation of the iron object. The resulting visibility of the corrosion zones provides an important basis for further treatment of iron artefacts after recovery (packaging, desalination, storage, etc.), since the goal is the long-term preservation of cultural heritage made of iron. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials)
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Review

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15 pages, 588 KB  
Review
Archaeometry of Ancient Mortar-Based Materials in Roman Regio X and Neighboring Territories: A First Review
by Simone Dilaria
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070746 - 16 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 925
Abstract
This review synthesizes the corpus of archaeometric and analytical investigations focused on mortar-based materials, including wall paintings, plasters, and concrete, in the Roman Regio X and neighboring territories of northeastern Italy from the mid-1970s to the present. Organized into three principal categories—wall paintings [...] Read more.
This review synthesizes the corpus of archaeometric and analytical investigations focused on mortar-based materials, including wall paintings, plasters, and concrete, in the Roman Regio X and neighboring territories of northeastern Italy from the mid-1970s to the present. Organized into three principal categories—wall paintings and pigments, structural and foundational mortars, and flooring preparations—the analysis highlights the main methodological advances and progress in petrographic microscopy, mineralogical analysis, and mechanical testing of ancient mortars. Despite extensive case studies, the review identifies a critical need for systematic, statistically robust, and chronologically anchored datasets to fully reconstruct socio-economic and technological landscapes of this provincial region. This work offers a programmatic research agenda aimed at bridging current gaps and fostering integrated understandings of ancient construction technologies in northern Italy. The full forms of the abbreviations used throughout the text to describe the analytical equipment are provided at the end of the document in the “Abbreviations” section. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical and Geochemical Insights into Cultural Heritage Materials)
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