Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) has launched the Section “Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology”. This Section invites contributions that focus on all areas relating to the investigation of the chemical composition of minerals, radiometric age dating of minerals, and characterization of geologic, environmental, and anthropogenic samples. We seek studies that will provide new insights into the conditions of mineral formation/paragenesis at various temperature and pressure regimes, including interactions of minerals with the geosphere (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere). Studies may use novel or standard analytical, imaging, diffraction, microscopic, spectroscopic, synchrotron, and computer modeling techniques. Geochronological investigations reporting novel age determinations for various minerals and bulk samples or breakthroughs in analytical methods are welcome; these may employ various analytical methods and instrumentation (HR-ICP−MS, MC-ICP−MS, quadrupole ICP−MS, SIMS, and TIMS). We also encourage the submission of studies reporting multi-laboratory, round robin investigations, and those that propose new standard reference materials that improve the accuracy and precision of trace element data and age determinations.

We are pleased to present the 2021 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from “Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology”:

“Low-Temperature Chlorite Geothermometry and Related Recent Analytical Advances: A Review”
by Franck Bourdelle
Minerals 2021, 11(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020130
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/130

“Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy”
by Livia Vittori Antisari et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020219
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/219

“Theoretical Study on Thermal Release of Helium-3 in Lunar Ilmenite”
by Hongqing Song et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11030319
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/3/319

“Thermodynamic Constraints on Smectite and Iron Oxide Formation at Gale Crater, Mars: Insights into Potential Free Energy from Aerobic Fe Oxidation in Lake Water–Groundwater Mixing Zone”
by Sakiko Kikuchi et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(4), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11040341
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/4/341

“Numerical Modelling of Radiogenic Ingrowth and Diffusion of Pb in Apatite Inclusions with Variable Shape and U-Th Zonation”
by Daniil V. Popov et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(4), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11040364
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/4/364

“Geochemical Occurrence of Rare Earth Elements in Mining Waste and Mine Water: A Review”
by Konstantina Pyrgaki et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(8), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080860
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/8/860

“Merging Perspectives on Secondary Minerals on Mars: A Review of Ancient Water-Rock Interactions in Gale Crater Inferred from Orbital and In-Situ Observations”
by Rachel Y. Sheppard et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(9), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11090986
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/9/986

“Wildfires as a Weathering Agent of Carbonate Rocks”
by Nurit Shtober-Zisu et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(10), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101091
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1091

“A Crystal Mush Perspective Explains Magma Variability at La Fossa Volcano (Vulcano, Italy)”
by Simone Costa et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(10), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101094
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1094

“Apatite U-Pb Thermochronology: A Review”
by David M. Chew et al.
Minerals 2021, 11(10), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/10/1095

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted to Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X). We would appreciate it if you would circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

Submitting a manuscript:
This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=minerals;

Launching a Special Issue:
You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/minerals;

Joining the Editorial Board:
If you are an active researcher in the field of clays and engineered mineral materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).