Unveiling the Depths: Advances in Kimberlite Research as Windows into Earth’s Evolution and Resource Potential
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 740
Special Issue Editor
2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
Interests: geochronology; early earth processes; meteorites; alkaline/ultrapotassic magmatism; Precambrian ores; critical minerals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Kimberlites and related rocks provide unparalleled access to the Earth’s deep interior, serving as natural archives and offering a window into mantle processes, crustal evolution, and the genesis of strategic mineral resources through geological time. These magmas host most of the world’s diamond deposits and act as pathways for rare and critical elements that are essential for modern technological advancements. The study of kimberlites integrates scientific inquiry with economic significance, making this field pivotal for Earth sciences and resource exploration.
This Special Issue invites groundbreaking contributions that unravel the complexities of kimberlites and related rocks, emphasizing their geological, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics; their role in Earth's evolutionary history; and their potential to reveal new mineral deposits. Contributions will address diverse topics, including the genesis and evolution of kimberlites, innovations in micro-analytical and geochronological techniques, and spatial and temporal patterns of occurrence, from the Precambrian era to the present day. Further focus will be provided to advancements in classification, petrogenesis of associated resources, and environmental considerations, such as the repurposing of kimberlite tailings.
This Special Issue will include five core thematic sessions:
- Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Kimberlites;
- Advances in Analytical Techniques and Classification;
- Regional Kimberlite Studies: A Global Perspective;
- Kimberlites Age, Provenance, and Contributions to Deep-Earth Water Research;
- Economic and Environmental Implications of Kimberlites;
By bridging interdisciplinary fields—geology, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, gemology, and more—this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of mantle dynamics, lithosphere interactions, and mineral resource exploration. We invite geologists, mineralogists, and researchers across Earth sciences to contribute cutting-edge studies, innovative reviews, and case reports that illuminate the transformative role of kimberlites in shaping Earth’s history. From the depths of the mantle to the impact of kimberlites on surface processes, this collection aspires to inspire and advance scientific discovery and industrial applications.
Dr. Debora Rios
Guest Editor
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
- kimberlites
- diamond mineralization
- mineral resources
- precambrian magmatism
- earth evolution
- space-temporal distribution
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