Gem Deposits: Mineralogical and Gemological Aspects

Dear Colleagues,

Gemstones have been widely used in the manufacture of jewelry and art crafts as early as 7000 years ago. As the demand for gemstones increases, numerous new gem deposits have been exploited and new gem species have infiltrated the market. However, the same species of gemstones that share similar qualities can possess a wide range of values in the market, as a result of their geographic origins. In the gem and jewelry trade, increasing attention is being paid to the geographic origin of gemstones. Collections from a reliable gem deposit play a vital role in determining the geographic origin of certain gemstones. This Special Issue aims to present the latest, cutting-edge advances in gem deposits in relation to mineralogy, petrology, and gemology. The combined researches of the related specific fields (for instance, geology, field gemology, geochemistry, geochronology, and spectroscopy) can provide important information concerning the formation of gemstones, enabling the comparison and geographic determination of gemstones worldwide.

The Special Issue invites submissions that include original scientific research relating to gem deposits from well-known and/or new localities worldwide. The Special Issue focuses on the following topics: 1) the geological background, occurrence, and genesis of gem deposits; 2) the mineralogical, gemological, geochemical, and spectroscopy characteristics of gemstones; and 3) the applications of combined studies to trace the provenance of gemstones and highlight the methods of identification for gemstones.

Prof. Dr. Andy H. Shen
Dr. Chaowen Wang
Dr. Bo Xu
Guest Editors

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