Carbonate Systems: Petrography, Geochemistry and Resource Effect

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of Minerals, we are pleased to announce the launch of our Special Issue entitled, "Carbonate Systems: Petrography, Geochemistry and Resource Effect", and extend a warm invitation to you to submit your contributions. This Special Issue focuses on carbonate rocks and sediments across continental–marine settings and all geological ages, with a core focus on the tripartite relationship between their petrological characteristics, geochemical signatures, and resource effects. Carbonate formations, primarily shaped by environmental CO₂-driven processes, act as the largest carbon reservoir in the Earth’s lithosphere—underpinning global carbon cycling. More importantly, their petrological textures and geochemical properties directly control resource potential (e.g., hydrocarbon reservoirs, mineral deposits), making integrated research on these three dimensions critical for both fundamental geoscience and applied exploration.

Recent years have witnessed synergistic advances in carbonate petrology, geochemistry, and resource effect research. Petrological studies have refined the classification of diagenetic textures, while geochemical tracing (e.g., isotopes, trace elements) has decoded their formation environments. Concurrently, breakthroughs in high-resolution analytical techniques—such as in situ mineralogy, micro-area isotopic analysis, and 3D pore structure imaging—have bridged petrological–geochemical features with resource effects. These advances not only clarify how diagenesis modifies carbonate textures and geochemistry but also enable quantitative evaluation of resource potential (e.g., reservoir porosity prediction, mineralization prospecting) from micro to macro scales.

This Special Issue aims to compile original research and review articles that advance the tripartite integration of carbonate petrology, geochemistry, and resource effects. We seek contributions that cover diverse themes—from stratigraphic–sedimentary frameworks, petrological diagenesis, and geochemical environmental records to (paleo)climate–oceanography implications—with a mandatory link to resource-related effects. Specifically, we welcome work that deciphers how petrological textures (e.g., pore networks) and geochemical signals (e.g., Sr/Ca ratios) constrain resource formation, preservation, and exploitation. Thematic reviews synthesizing cutting-edge progress in this integrated field and specialized studies with innovative methods are equally encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Architectural characteristics and geological interpretation of carbonate outcrops and subsurface sections.
2. Diagenetic processes and geochemical controls and their impacts on carbonate formation and preservation.
3. Carbonate rocks/sediments as archives of ancient and recent (paleo)environmental and (paleo)climatic changes.
4. The role of carbonates in (paleo)oceanography and global carbon cycling, and their resource effect linkages (e.g., karst carbon sink potential and geological storage).
5. Distinction between primary carbonate signatures and diagenetic overprints, and their geological and resource significance.
6. Carbonates as source and reservoir rocks for hydrocarbons: petrological–geochemical controls on reservoir quality and hydrocarbon accumulation.
7. Mineral resource potential of carbonates (e.g., magnesite, celestite) and geochemical indicators for prospecting.
8. Resource effects of carbonate diagenesis: formation mechanisms of secondary pores, fractures, and their implications for groundwater and geothermal resource development.
9. Advanced analytical techniques applied to carbonate research and their innovative applications in resource effect assessment.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Hao Tang
Dr. Stephen Kershaw
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.

• carbonate rocks and/or sediments
• carbonate texture
• mineralogical and/or geochemical composition of carbonates
• carbonate petrology
• carbonate diagenesis
• carbonate weathering
• (paleo)environmental changes
• carbon cycle
• continental or marine carbonates
• carbonate hydrocarbon reservoirs
• carbonate primary and secondary pores