Characterization of Geological Material at Nano- and Micro-scales

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 690

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research School of Physics, the Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Interests: geo-material characterisation; X-ray micro-CT; mineral processing

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Guest Editor
College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Interests: X-ray micro-CT; digitial rock physics; flow in porous media

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of geological materials is important for various reasons. Geological materials encompass valuable resources such as minerals, metals, fossil fuels, and groundwater. Understanding their distribution, occurrence, and properties is essential for effective exploration, extraction, and sustainable management. In mining operations, for instance, the comprehensive understanding of subsurface conditions and stability is vital to ensure safe practices. Additionally, geological materials significantly influence natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides. By studying their properties and behaviours, we can better assess and mitigate the associated risks.

Geological materials are studied across a wide range of length scales, from kilometres down to sub-nanometres. While each scale provides valuable insights, understanding these materials at the nano- and micro-scales is particularly critical. This is because properties and behaviours observed at larger scales are governed by characteristics at smaller scales. In this context, we dedicate this Special Issue to the characterisation of geological materials at the nano- and micro-scales.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances and innovative approaches in the characterization of geological materials. We welcome studies using conventional analytical and imaging techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction, neutron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy, and X-ray micro-CT scanning. We also encourage the application of new methods and techniques, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches. Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations based on model or natural materials are also strongly encouraged.

We invite original research papers, review articles, and case studies on a broad range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Mineralogical analysis and petrological studies.
  • Geochemical characterisation and elemental analysis.
  • Microstructural and textural analysis.
  • Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
  • Geophysical methods for material characterisation.
  • Mechanical properties and strength testing.
  • Hydrogeological properties and permeability studies.
  • Advances in analytical techniques and instrumentation.
  • Environmental impacts and applications of geological materials.
  • Case studies and practical applications in industry and academia.

Dr. Yulai Zhang
Dr. Chenhao Sun
Dr. Jianhua Zhao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • porosity
  • permeability
  • texture
  • breakage
  • mechanical properties
  • wettability
  • morphology
  • crystallography
  • diagenesis
  • mineralogical analysis
  • petrology
  • microstructural analysis
  • microscopy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

25 pages, 18430 KiB  
Article
Pore Structure and Heterogeneity Characteristics of Deep Coal Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Daning–Jixian Block on the Southeastern Margin of the Ordos Basin
by Bo Li, Yanqin Guo, Xiao Hu, Tao Wang, Rong Wang, Xiaoming Chen, Wentian Fan and Ze Deng
Minerals 2025, 15(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020116 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 251
Abstract
To clarify the micropore structure and fractal characteristics of the Danning–Jixian block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, this study focuses on the deep coal rock of the Benxi Formation in that area. On the basis of an analysis of coal [...] Read more.
To clarify the micropore structure and fractal characteristics of the Danning–Jixian block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, this study focuses on the deep coal rock of the Benxi Formation in that area. On the basis of an analysis of coal quality and physical properties, qualitative and quantitative studies of pore structures with different pore diameters were conducted via techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), low-pressure CO2 adsorption (LP-CO2A), low-temperature N2 adsorption (LT-N2A), and high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI). By applying fractal theory and integrating the results from the LP-CO2A, LT-N2A, and HPMI experiments, the fractal dimensions of pores with different diameters were obtained to characterize the complexity and heterogeneity of the pore structures of the coal samples. The results indicate that the deep coal reservoirs in the Danning–Jixian block have abundant nanometer-scale organic matter gas pores, tissue pores, and a small number of intergranular pores, showing strong heterogeneity influenced by the microscopic components and forms of distribution of organic matter. The pore structure of the Benxi Formation exhibits significant cross-scale effects and strong heterogeneity and is predominantly composed of micropores that account for more than 90% of the total pore volume; the pore structure is affected mainly by the degree of coalification, the vitrinite group, and the ash yield. Fractal analysis reveals that the heterogeneity of macropores is greater than that of mesopores and micropores. This may be attributed to the smaller pore sizes and concentrated distributions of micropores, which are less influenced by diagenesis, resulting in simpler pore structures with lower fractal dimensions. In contrast, mesopores and macropores, with larger diameters and broader distributions, exhibit diverse origins and are more affected by diagenesis, reflecting strong heterogeneity. The abundant storage space and strong self-similarity of micropores in deep coal facilitate the occurrence, flow, and extraction of deep coalbed methane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization of Geological Material at Nano- and Micro-scales)
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