Mineral/Ore Growth: From the Ions to the Macrocrystals

Dear Colleagues,

How minerals/ores grow in high-temperature magmas or hydrothermal fluids from ions or compounds to the macrocrystals making up the deep Earth’s materials is one of the most fundamental problems in Earth science. The understanding of mineral/ore nucleation and growth is of great importance for explaining the composition and texture characteristics of the minerals/ores of interest (e.g., elemental or isotopic zoning, specific crystal shapes, and mineral/ore association), thus deciphering the complicated magmatic or hydrothermal processes correctly. Conventional crystal growth is thought to proceed via atom-by-atom addition, which involves two basic growth models (i.e., layer-by-layer growth and spiral growth). Besides the two classical models for crystal growth, some non-classical approaches—including Ostwald ripening, oriented attachment, and Kirkendall effect—have been proposed. These theories of particle aggregation and coarsening widen our field of vision and expand our knowledge of crystal growth, which contributes to the comprehensive and profound understanding of the formation of natural mineral/ore crystals derived by a variety of magmatic or hydrothermal processes.

Recent advances in high-temperature and high-pressure technology and high-precision analysis apparatus, combined with the development of experimental methods and pertinent analysis techniques (e.g., EMPA, SEM, TEM, μ-XRD, μ-XRF, Raman-AFM, LA-ICPMS, SIMS), have considerably helped to improve our ability to study mineral/ore growth. The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research papers and review articles that seek to address recent advances in mineral/ore growth and associated magmatism or hydrothermal processes so caused. Particular interest will be given to papers exploring or discussing mineral/ore growth processes, mechanisms, and controlling factors through experimental simulations or natural sample observation. Original, unpublished, high-quality contributions that are not currently under review by any other journals or peer-reviewed conferences are welcome.

Dr. Xing Ding
Dr. Junfeng Liu
Dr. Haibo Yan
Guest Editors

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