This special issue invites contributions that showcase innovative experimental approaches, cutting-edge techniques, and multidisciplinary research aimed at addressing the importance of experimental mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry in (bio)geological processes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, mineral phase transformations, fluid–rock interactions, biomineralization, the origin and evolution of life, the impact of mineralogical processes on climate, and the application of experimental techniques to exoplanetary research.

Overall, this special issue provides a platform for researchers to share their latest findings on, methodologies addressing, and insights into the fundamental role of experimental mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry in unravelling the complex workings of Earth and its potential for hosting life, as well as expanding our understanding of exoplanetary systems.

This special issue was initiated by Ferdinando Bosi, Chairman of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC). It is intended to support the community working not only on the discovery of new minerals but also on mineral nomenclature and classification. This community is at the core of mineralogy, and the European Journal of Mineralogy fully supports its work. Manuscripts submitted to this special issue will be published for free.

This volume mostly includes contributions presented during the 14th International Eclogite Conference (IEC-14) held in Paris and Lyon, France, from 10 to 13 July 2022 (https://iec14.sciencesconf.org/; iec14@ens-lyon.fr).

The collected papers aim at investigating (ultra)high-pressure rocks as well as the subduction and exhumation processes that they record, from the crystal scale to that of orogenic belts. As the IEC-14 marked the bicentenary of the creation of the word eclogite and the 40th anniversary of the first IEC, an effort will be made to highlight the evolution and especially the prospects for research in this field.

This special issue was initiated during the research workshop on Magma and Fluids, scheduled from 4 to 6 July 2022 at Orléans. This workshop was also an occasion to celebrate the prolific career of Michel Pichavant.

Magma and fluids play a crucial role in the Earth's dynamics by ruling mass and heat transfer from the innermost to the outermost regions of our planet. Capturing the ability of magma to convey heat requires its petrology to be tightly defined on the one hand and the mechanics of multiphase systems to be quantitatively addressed on the other hand. This approach can link intrusive to extrusive processes and is central to capturing the processes conducive to ore deposits. Magma is connected to fluids as it degases not only during volcanic processes but also during deep intrusions, as deep crystallization produces abundant fluids that can interact with the solids and mix with other fluids, building peri-magmatic hydrothermal systems and ore deposits.

In this special issue, we welcome contributions to the petrology, the transport properties, the geochemistry, and the mechanics of magma and fluids, as well as any studies connecting these two realms, using experimental, numerical, and field approaches to bridge the gap in knowledge on magma and fluids. We also welcome studies of high-temperature fluid–rock interactions.

Inclusions in natural rocks are an invaluable asset for geoscientists because they provide information about processes in the Earth's history that are otherwise hidden or subsequently overprinted. In particular, these "impurities" that are remnants of geological processes frozen in the rock record have the potential to provide quantitative data necessary for quantifying a wealth of processes of great impact for all humankind. The field of inclusion studies has been revolutionized in the last 2 decades with the development of ever more precise microanalytical probes that allow us for the first time to characterize tiny inclusions, as well as with a parallel development in theory that now allows the new data measured on inclusions to be used to define the chemical and physical conditions at the time of their formation.

Papers are invited on all aspects of solid and melt inclusions, both reviews of methodologies and specific case studies applied to all fields of geology, so that the special issue provides a comprehensive view of the latest developments of this fertile field. If you wish to discuss potential topics for your submission, please contact the guest editors.

Spectroscopic methods are a cornerstone of mineral studies. These methods have the capability to acquire information at multiple scales from atoms to molecules to chemical bonds, as well as to elucidate crystal structures, physical properties, and more.

This special issue addresses all aspects of the geosciences that focus on the investigation of mineralogical issues using the wide array of spectroscopic approaches. Such approaches include, but are not limited to, UV–Vis, IR, Raman, XAS, Mössbauer, EPR, NMR, MS, LIBS, Brillouin, and synchrotron-based spectroscopies as well as in situ and remote sensing spectroscopies. Contributions from investigations that involve other spectroscopic methods are also encouraged.

Spectroscopic research from all aspects of mineral sciences will be considered, including studies focused on sedimentary, metamorphic, plutonic, and deep Earth minerals, as well as applications to environmental issues, cultural heritage, gemology, soil science, planetary materials, meteorites, and more.