Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of Geological Materials, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 802

Editors


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Guest Editor
LNEG (National Laboratory for Energy and Geology), Mineral Resources and Geophysics Research Unit, Estrada da Portela, Apartado 7586, 2610-999 Amadora, Portugal
Interests: mineralogy; geochemistry; mineral resources; mining heritage; geoheritage; spectroscopy; XANES; synchrotron radiation
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Guest Editor
1. LNEG (National Laboratory for Energy and Geology), Mineral Resources and Geophysics Research Unit, Estrada da Portela, Apartado 7586, 2610-999 Amadora, Portugal
2. Mineral Resources Expert Group, EuroGeoSurveys, Rue Joseph II, 36-38, Box 7, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Interests: metallogeny of mineral deposits; mineralogy and mineral chemistry; geochemistry; critical and strategic raw materials; energy critical elements; synchrotron radiation; geoheritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Conservation and Restoration & CENIMAT/i3N, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: cultural heritage; mining heritage; mineralogy; crystallography; crystal chemistry; ceramics; glasses; mortars; rock weathering; synchrotron radiation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Building on the remarkable success of the previous two editions of this Special Issue, ‘Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of Geological Materials’, we are pleased to introduce this third edition. The enthusiasm and high-quality contributions we received in earlier volumes clearly demonstrate the vitality and relevance of this research domain, as well as its central role in addressing contemporary scientific and societal challenges.

The first (2025) and second (2026) editions brought together a broad spectrum of studies, spanning advanced mineralogical and geochemical characterization of natural and anthropogenic materials, innovative analytical methodologies, and interdisciplinary applications ranging from sustainable resource management to geoheritage conservation. These contributions not only advanced fundamental understanding, but also highlighted the growing importance of integrating innovative techniques, e.g., high-resolution spectroscopy, synchrotron-based analyses, and data-driven approaches, into geoscientific research.

This third edition aims to further consolidate and expand this momentum by fostering contributions that push the frontiers of mineralogy and geochemistry while addressing pressing global priorities. In particular, we seek to promote research that is aligned with sustainability goals, including the responsible exploration and management of critical raw materials, the valorization of secondary resources, and the advancement of circular economy strategies. With the increasing demand for raw materials and heightened environmental concerns, such contributions are essential for ensuring a balanced and resilient resource future.

For this third edition, we welcome studies that address environmental challenges, including soil contamination, acid mine drainage, and innovative remediation solutions, as well as investigations into the degradation of geological and heritage materials under evolving environmental conditions. Contributions in geoarchaeology, geoheritage, and industrial heritage, especially those linking mineral resources to cultural landscapes, are also strongly encouraged, reflecting the importance of geosciences in preserving both natural and cultural legacies.

Moreover, the integration of emerging technologies remains a central theme of this Special Issue. Submissions that integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics in mineral classification, geochemical modelling, and provenance studies are particularly welcome, as these approaches are transforming the way geological materials are analyzed and interpreted.

With this third edition, the management and commitment to promoting high-impact, interdisciplinary research will enhance our understanding of geological materials, support their sustainable management, and advance innovative analytical methodologies. We anticipate that this Special Issue will once again serve as a valuable platform for the dissemination of novel insights, best practices, and transformative ideas within the mineralogical and geochemical communities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to continuing this dynamic scientific dialogue.

Dr. Teresa Pereira da Silva
Dr. Daniel P. S. De Oliveira
Dr. João Pedro Veiga
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-anonymized 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

  • critical raw materials
  • ores, rocks, soils, minerals
  • mineral deposits and exhausted mines
  • geomaterials
  • mining
  • waste materials
  • acid mine drainage
  • mineral resources
  • secondary minerals
  • secondary raw materials
  • efflorescent minerals
  • ornamental stones
  • rock weathering
  • degradation phenomena
  • built heritage
  • mortars
  • geological tourism
  • mining heritage

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4845 KB  
Article
Color Depth Gradient in Color-Change Fluorite from Brazil: A Multi-Spectroscopic Study on the Coloration Mechanism
by Nan Jiang, Geng Li and Fabian Dietmar Schmitz
Minerals 2026, 16(8), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16080810 - 5 Aug 2026
Viewed by 245
Abstract
This study investigated twelve gem-quality color-change fluorite specimens exhibiting a purple–blue gradient from Nova Era, Brazil, using colorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, EDXRF, and DiamondView imaging to explore the relationship between color depth and coloration mechanism. Raman spectroscopy further revealed enhanced [...] Read more.
This study investigated twelve gem-quality color-change fluorite specimens exhibiting a purple–blue gradient from Nova Era, Brazil, using colorimetry, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, EDXRF, and DiamondView imaging to explore the relationship between color depth and coloration mechanism. Raman spectroscopy further revealed enhanced defect-related peaks in dark samples, indicating cumulative irradiation-induced lattice damage. EDXRF analysis revealed that the radioactive element Th was detected exclusively in dark samples, with the darkest specimen reaching 0.184 wt.% Th, confirming that long-term Th-induced irradiation is the primary driver of color deepening. In UV-Vis spectra, the ~583 nm plasmon resonance absorption band of calcium colloids progressively red-shifted and broadened with increasing color depth, indicating elevated colloid concentrations and enhanced aggregation that directly intensify body color. DiamondView fluorescence weakened with deepening color, attributed to the quenching effect of calcium colloids. Photoluminescence spectra showed that the Eu2+ emission peak intensified in dark samples, while the broad 700–900 nm emission band systematically blue-shifted, reflecting differential responses of luminescence centers to radiation damage. This study provides non-destructive spectroscopic criteria for the fluorite color-change mechanism without relying on micro-area compositional analysis, establishing an analytical paradigm linking color gradients with spectral characteristics. Full article
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15 pages, 8819 KB  
Article
Surface Chemistry and Surface Speciation of Palygorskite at Room Temperature
by F. Javier Huertas, Patrick V. Brady, Pablo Almarza and María Bentabol
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070734 - 13 Jul 2026
Viewed by 281
Abstract
Palygorskite exhibits a complex surface chemistry resulting from its fibrous morphology, modulated ribbon structure, and coexistence of silanol- and octahedral-derived reactive sites. Despite its industrial and environmental relevance, previous studies report contradictory point-of-zero-charge values and inconsistent surface speciation models. In this work, the [...] Read more.
Palygorskite exhibits a complex surface chemistry resulting from its fibrous morphology, modulated ribbon structure, and coexistence of silanol- and octahedral-derived reactive sites. Despite its industrial and environmental relevance, previous studies report contradictory point-of-zero-charge values and inconsistent surface speciation models. In this work, the surface chemistry of a natural Mg-rich palygorskite from Senegal was investigated through mineralogical and crystallochemical characterization combined with potentiometric titrations performed at ionic strengths of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 M KCl. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, BET and total surface area measurements, and TEM-EDX analyses indicate that the sample corresponds to a Type III magnesian palygorskite. Surface titration data were interpreted using a non-electrostatic surface complexation model implemented in PHREEQC. The results show that palygorskite surface charge is controlled by both permanent exchange charge and pH-dependent edge reactions. Three main reactive surface groups were identified from crystallographic and geochemical constraints: silanol (>SiOH), aluminol bridge sites associated with octahedral Al (>Al-O-Si), and Mg-coordinated edge water groups (>MgOH2). The point of zero net proton charge ranges from pH 8.19 to 8.30. The proposed model provides a crystallographically consistent description of palygorskite surface reactivity in aqueous systems. Full article
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