Special Issues

Minerals publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Igneous Rocks as Archives of Earth's Geological History: Magma Processes and Continental Crust Evolution
edited by Takeshi Hasegawa, Indranova Suhendro and Kazuya Shimooka
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 834 | Submission Open
Keywords: igneous rock; continental crust; magma process; geochronology; volcanism; plutonism
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Geochronology of W-Sn Polymetallic Deposits, 2nd Edition
edited by , Rongqing Zhang and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 767 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineralization-related granite; scheelite; cassiterite; wolframite; in situ analysis; W-Sn deposits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Innovations in Adsorption Processes and Adsorbent Materials for Mineral Recovery and Environmental Remediation
edited by and Dison S. P. Franco
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 545 | Submission Open
Keywords: adsorption processes; adsorbent materials; mineral recovery; environmental remediation; sustainable technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Adsorption Properties of Clay and Its Applications in Buildings submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 423 | Submission Open
Keywords: bio and mineral stabilization of clay-based materials; clay-based building products; earth construction; alkali activation of clays; hygrothermal regulation; moisture adsorption; mineralogy of clays; pollutant adsorption; reusability; recyclability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials)
Scientific Disposal and Utilization of Coal-Based Solid Waste
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 396 | Submission Open
Keywords: environmental impact; mining wastewater; mine waste; solid waste disposal; sustainable development; environmental assessment; recycling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Geochemistry, Petrogenesis and Exploration of Li-Rich Granite-Pegmatite Systems
edited by , Benedikt Steiner and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 342 | Submission Open
Keywords: granite and pegmatite; lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT); residual melts; highly evolved peraluminous silicic melts; high-grade metamorphism; anatexis; greisen alteration; spodumene– petalite– lepidolite– zinnwaldite; incompatible elements; rare metal exploration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Optimization and Kinetics of Selective Extraction and Recovery of Gold from Primary and Secondary Resources
edited by , Atefeh Azizitorghabeh and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 297 | Submission Open
Keywords: gold extraction; gold recovery; optimization gold extraction; kinetics and modeling; gold primary resources; gold secondary resources; sustainable practices; gold mineral processing; environmental impact; bio-oxidation pretreatment; refractory gold-bearing ores
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Feature Papers in Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications 2025
edited by
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 287 | Submission Open
Keywords: geochemical surveys; geological surveys; geophysical surveys; mineral exploration; remote sensing; rock physics; mineral deposits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Critical Mineral Exploration: Innovations, Challenges and Future Directions
edited by Chad D. Deering
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 209 | Submission Open
Keywords: critical minerals; mineral exploration; economic geology; strategic resource assessment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Heavy Metal and Rare Earth Element Pollution in Soil and Water: Sources, Geochemical Behaviors and Ecological Effects, 2nd Edition submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 171 | Submission Open
Keywords: HM and REE pollution; soil and water ecosystem; health risk assessment; environmental loads; speciation distribution; modelling of pollutant transportation; geochemical background; weathering and soil-water interaction; municipal and mining waste; remediation technique
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Tectonic Setting and Provenance of Sedimentary Rocks submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 146 | Submission Open
Keywords: tectonic setting; provenance; chemostratigraphy; geochemistry; geochronology; sedimentary rocks
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Recent Progress in the Processing of Rare-Earth Ore
edited by Fang Zhou, Yuefei Zhang and Zhao Cao
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 94 | Submission Open
Keywords: rare earth; rare-earth ore; leaching; swelling; seepage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Synthesis, Characterization and Utilization of Clay and Clay Composites: Knowledge in Practice, 2nd Edition
edited by , Adolph Anga Muleja and Thabo Falayi
submission deadline 1 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 265 | Submission Open
Keywords: clay and clay minerals; composite materials; removal of pollutants; toxic elements; physicochemical properties; geochemical characteristics; clay/waste composite materials; ceramics; cosmetics; construction materials; prediction techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials)
Tracing Precambrian Pathways: Neoproterozoic Rocks and Their Global Context
edited by Junyong Li, Jinlong Yao and Guangyi Wei
submission deadline 19 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3134 | Submission Open
Keywords: petrogenesis; supercontinent; deep-crust process; neoproterozoic orogenesis; climate and marine environment; neoproterozoic resource effects
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Advances on Fine Particles and Bubbles Flotation, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3648 | Submission Open
Keywords: fine particle flotation; microbubble flotation; bubble-particle flotation; bubble formation; bubble property; bubble modification; flocculation; agglomeration; interface
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Design, Modeling, Optimization and Control of Flotation Process, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 423 | Submission Open
Keywords: froth flotation processes; optimization tools; modelling and simulation; froth control; cell design; flotation kinetics; modification and improvement of flotation circuits; gas dispersion; RTD measurement and modelling; particle– bubble modelling; first principal modelling; experimental design; mechanical and column cells; pneumatic flotation cells; experimental design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Recent Advances in Separation Techniques for Critical Minerals/Metals, Circular Economy, and Sustainability
edited by , , and Mayumi Ito
submission deadline 25 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 7657 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral processing/beneficiation; physical separation; selective comminution; size/shape separation; gravity separation; magnetic separation; electrical separation; flotation; extractive metallurgy; leaching; purification; solvent extraction; precipitation; cementation; adsorption; critical minerals/metals; primary/secondary resources; recycling; circular economy; environment; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Volcanism and Oil–Gas Reservoirs—Geology and Geochemistry
edited by Zhiyong Ni, Zhonghong Chen and Yunfeng Zhang
submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2308 | Submission Open
Keywords: volcanic rock reservoir; volcanic rock facies; migration of oil and gas; geophysical exploration techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Sulfide Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2nd Edition submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 98 | Submission Open
Keywords: sulfides; sulfide mineralogy; sulfide geochemistry; ore deposits; trace elements; crystal structure; biomineralization and biominerals; mineral processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Advances in Precious and Critical Mineral Beneficiation and Extraction submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 8 articles | Viewed by 20791 | Submission Open
Keywords: precious and critical minerals; complex ore bodies; physical separation and beneficiation; biomining; hydrometallurgy; electrometallurgy; solvent extraction and ion exchange; wastes and secondary metal sources; recycling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Structure and Origin of Gold Mineralization: From Primary to Placer Gold Deposits submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 8 articles | Viewed by 19184 | Submission Open
Keywords: gold prospecting; biogeochemistry of gold; geochemical analysis; gold deposits; geophysical survey; remote sensing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Tailings Dams: Design, Characterization, Monitoring, and Risk Assessment, 2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 17099 | Submission Open
Keywords: characterization of tailings deposits; geotechnical and condition monitoring of tailings dams; design issues and parameters of tailings dams; geotechnical and managerial risk assessment of tailings projects; case histories of failures or good design practices; modeling and simulation of tailings flows resulting from dam failure; dewatering technologies; closure of mine tailings dams; standards and guidelines; innovative tailings management approaches; environmental issues related to active/closed dams (such as dust emission; etc.)
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Advances in Mantle–Crust Interactions for Petrogenesis and Ore-Forming Processes
edited by Feng Huang, Liang Guo, Xiyao Li, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 13 articles | Viewed by 13808 | Submission Open
Keywords: mantle– crust interactions; petrology; geochemistry; magmatic evolution; mineralization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Petrology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Modeling and Mapping of Volcanic/Igneous Reservoirs and Analog Volcanoes submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9930 | Submission Open
Keywords: reservoir classification; reservoir characterization; reservoir exploration; reservoir inversion; reservoir space; facies architecture; petrophysics; volcanology; volcanostratigraphy; modelling; mapping
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Recent Advances in Deep Ore Prospecting
edited by and Juzhi Deng
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 9575 | Submission Open
Keywords: deep ore prospecting; advances in geophysics exploration; 3D geological modelling; mineral system exploration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Critical Metal Minerals, 2nd Edition
edited by , Ruoshi Jin, , , Yinhang Cheng, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 8738 | Submission Open
Keywords: critical metals; geologic characteristics and setting; geochemical exploration; statistical data analysis; mineral geochemistry; petrogenesis and ore genesis; 3D modeling; resource assessment; mineral processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Waste Valorization: Recycling and Recovery of Critical and Strategic Metals
edited by Elif Emil Kaya, and Duygu Yilmaz
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5826 | Submission Open
Keywords: recycling and utilization of waste and industrial by-product; extraction of critical and strategic metals from mineral waste; EoL products; and industrial by-products; hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; electrometallurgy; leaching; precipitation; solvent extraction; melting; hydrogen/metallothermic reduction; thermodynamical modeling and process simulations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy: Application for Hydrocarbon Exploration and Ore Deposits submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5457 | Submission Open
Keywords: environments and mineral resources; elemental geochemistry; whole rock mineralogy; reservoir mineralogical characteristics; ore mineralogical composition; source rock evaluation; hydrocarbon exploration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Applied to Determination of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5302 | Submission Open
Keywords: REE detection; laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; in situ analytical techniques; i.e.; LIBS; atomic emission spectroscopy; rare earth element determination; material characterization techniques; LIBS applications for REEs
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Green Mining Solutions for the Sustainability of Mine Tailings Management submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3104 | Submission Open
Keywords: co-disposal; dewatering; filtration; dry stacking; underground mine backfilling; in-pit disposal; mitigation of dust emission; climate change adaptation; circular economy; green reprocessing; reduce; reuse; and recycle; phytoremediation; landscape rehabilitation; sustainable mine closure; socio-environmental rehabilitation; post disaster remediation; sustainable geochemical management; geo-environmental issues
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Selected Papers from the 7th National Youth Geological Congress
edited by , , Hu Peng and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 9 articles | Viewed by 2956 | Submission Open
Keywords: regional geology; mineralization; strategic mineral resources; mineral exploration; deep engineering; mineral and ore genesis; environmental impact of mineral resources; environmental geochemistry; geo-environment and mineral resources
Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sediments
edited by and Mathieu Le Meur
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2116 | Submission Open
Keywords: sediment inorganic and organic geochemistry; geochemical signatures and fingerprints; contamination and pollution behavior; sediment mineralogy and weathering; emerging organic contaminants; natural and anthropogenic processes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Risks Assessment, Management and Control of Mining Contamination, 2nd Edition
edited by , and Brian Keith Normabuena
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2111 | Submission Open
Keywords: mining; heavy metal contamination; tailings; mine reclamation; mining risks; acid mine drainage; artificial intelligence; machine learning; data analytics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Recycling of Industrial Waste for the Development of Sustainable Materials
edited by Maura Fugazzotto, Laura Crespo-Lopez, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1746 | Submission Open
Keywords: recycling; circular economy; construction and demolition waste; innovative materials; green materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Petrology, Geochemistry and Geophysics of S-Type Granites and Migmatite Rocks
edited by Joana Ferreira and Gláucia Queiroga
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1624 | Submission Open
Keywords: anatexis; S-type granites; migmatites; geochemistry; geochronology; geophysics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Mineral Chemistry: Tool for Vectoring towards Mineral Deposits
edited by Ivan Belousov, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1133 | Submission Open
Keywords: mineral chemistry; vectoring; fertility; porphyry Cu; IOCG; orogenic Au; VHMS; LA ICP MS
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) in Non-Conventional Waters: Innovative Circular Economy Solutions for Mineral Formation, Environmental Remediation, and Sustainable Energy Production submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1037 | Submission Open
Keywords: Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP); non-conventional waters; bioremediation; mineral recovery; wastewater treatment; urease
(This special issue belongs to the Section Biomineralization and Biominerals)
Geostatistical Methods and Practices for Specific Ore Deposits
edited by , , Abani R. Samal and Jeff Boisvert
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 889 | Submission Open
Keywords: geostatistics; mineral resource estimation; grade control; ore deposit types; geological modeling; drilling strategy; resource classification; ore characterization; sampling; database management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Large Igneous Provinces, Carbonatites, Kimberlites, and Associated Ore Deposits of Africa
edited by , Hassan Ibouh, , Andrea Marzoli and Andrey Bekker
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 819 | Submission Open
Keywords: large igneous provinces (LIPs) in Africa; silicic LIPs (SLIPs) and associated carbonatites and kimberlites in Africa; dyke swarms (mafic; ultramafic; and felsic) of all settings in Africa; LIPs as a tool in paleogeographic reconstructions; LIPs through time and their links with climate change events; LIPs; carbonatites; and kimberlites through time and their links with metallogeny; petrology and geochronology; LIP architecture and insights into the magmatic plumbing system from geochemistry and geophysics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Mineralogical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Building Stone
edited by Ana Maričić, Uroš Barudžija and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 761 | Submission Open
Keywords: natural building stone; determination of properties; durability to weathering; decoration of natural stone; application of natural stone
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals)
Critical Minerals for Energy Transition: Advancing Energy Security and Sustainable Manufacturing
edited by , and Shalini Verma
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 754 | Submission Open
Keywords: critical minerals; energy transition; green energy; low-carbon economy; sustainable supply chains; mineral recycling and circular economy; energy security; emission reduction; renewable energy; integration; material efficiency; geopolitical risks; circular economy; sustainable environment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Sedimentary Basins and Minerals
edited by Zhenhong Li
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 702 | Submission Open
Keywords: provenance analysis and geodynamic background of sedimentary basins; mineral characteristics and evolution stages of sedimentary basins; mineral geochronology of sedimentary basins; mineral geochemistry of sedimentary basins; mineral exploration methods of sedimentary basins
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Application of Geophysical and Geochemical Techniques in Mining Engineering
edited by , Faramarz Doulati Ardejani, and Mehrdad Soleimani
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 484 | Submission Open
Keywords: geophysical and geochemical model integration; mineral exploration methods; mining exploitation techniques; environmental geophysics in mining engineering; environmental geochemistry in mining engineering; application of AI techniques in data processing for geophysical and geochemical models
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Challenges of Groundwater Quality Degradation in the Past Decades: Clues from Water–Minerals Interaction, 2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 381 | Submission Open
Keywords: water– mineral interaction; groundwater; coal-mine water; environmental biogeochemistry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Geochemical, Isotopic, and Biotic Records of Banded Iron Formations
edited by , Caiyun Lan and Xiuqing Yang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 379 | Submission Open
Keywords: banded iron formations; carbon isotope; non-traditional stable isotope; paleoenvironment; oxygenic photosynthesis; Archean to Paleoproterozoic
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
Innovation in Solvent Extraction for Metal Recovery submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 375 | Submission Open
Keywords: selective solvent extraction; synergistic extraction; extraction stoichiometry; ion exchange; kinetic and thermodynamic in ion exchange; sustainable recovery of metals; molecular design; extractive metallurgy; purification of metals; critical minerals/metals; deep eutectic solvent; ionic liquids; new reagents; spent catalyst; technological waste
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Geometallurgical Approaches to Tailings Management and Resource Recovery
edited by Rosie Blannin, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 275 | Submission Open
Keywords: mine waste; tailings; geometallurgy; secondary prospectivity; critical minerals; process mineralogy; minerals processing; geoenvironmental characterization; acid and metalliferous drainage; desulphurization; geophysics; sampling; case studies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Mineralogic Analysis, Size Distribution and Environmental Impacts of Mine Dust
edited by Johanna von Holdt, Jennifer Broadhurst and Conchita Kamanzi
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 234 | Submission Open
Keywords: mine dust; mineral composition; size distribution; dust characterization; environmental impacts; toxicity; air quality; health outcomes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry)
Digital Exploration and Assessment of Mineral Resources: Theories, Methods and Achievements, 2nd Edition
edited by Yongqing Chen, Jie Zhao and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 141 | Submission Open
Keywords: ore-prospecting information from geology; geochemistry; geophysics; and remote sensing survey; ore-forming anomaly; ore-forming system; nonlinear geosciences; mineral potential mapping; machine learning and geoscience
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications)
Metallogenic Enrichment in Orogenic Systems: Processes Linking Crustal Evolution to Ore Genesis
edited by Miao Yu
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 135 | Submission Open
Keywords: crustal evolution (continental and oceanic); metallogenic enrichment processes; orogenic systems; ore genesis; geochronology; isotope geochemistry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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