This book provides a comprehensive review of gem corundum origins worldwide, highlighting the enduring value of rubies and sapphires despite synthetic alternatives. By delving into natural corundum origins and associated minerals, this knowledge boosts corundum prices and intensifies market trade. The book explores formation conditions and key evidence such as trace elements, mineral inclusions, and stable isotopes. These findings elucidate corundum’s origin, linking to the rock types and geological occurrences. Drawing from high-impact journals, books, and the author’s research, it offers valuable insights into synthetic processes and treatments. Catering to mineralogists, geologists, gemmologists, students, and gem traders, the book serves as a valuable reference for identifying gemstone origins. Its rarity in the market makes it particularly valuable for enthusiasts and professionals. As researches in this field continue to grow, this book bridges the gap by making complex terminology accessible to a wide audience.

Gems have been used in the manufacture of jewellery and as ornaments since antiquity. Considering gems, recent statistics have shown that about 15 billion Euros are annually at stake. Nowadays, gemmology, i.e., the study of gem materials, is one of the most expanding fields in the earth sciences, positioned between academia and industry. As an applied science, in gemmology, the instruments used should be non- or microdestructive, and their cost should be reasonable both in terms of equipment and time consumption. Gemmology can also be used contribute to the development of pure science and in some cases, destructive techniques may have to be used. Taking into account the fact that gems are albeit rarely available for scientific research, this compilation of 20 articles by around 100 researchers from over 30 different institutions situated in 20 countries from around the globe, presented in the Special Issue entitled “Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Gems”, offers very good examples on the application of various methods for their study which will hopefully contribute to our better understanding of gem formation in general and will enhance scientific debates attracting more scientists from various disciplines to get involved in this field.

Ruby, red corundum, is a gem mineral with mineral properties, gem characteristics and chemistry that are reliant on critical trace element substitutions in its aluminum oxide crystal structure. Ruby has attracted scientific and economic interest. It has already been studied extensively regarding its widespread global distribution and the diversity of its geological associations, as revealed by exploration and exploitation. Researchers are becoming increasingly aware that geographic typing of ruby characteristics and its host assemblages may guide further exploration and provide checks on reputed sources of both rough and cut stones. Genetic pointers, based on fluid and solid mineral inclusions, oxygen and other isotope values and pressure and temperature estimates, have already yielded much genetic information. Rare ruby in mantle xenoliths, TP ~1100o C, 2GPa, epitaxial diamond in ruby and ruby in diamond have special interest. Amid the present extensive documentation on this singular gem mineral, new insights and co-existing associations remain to be discovered. Although ruby largely appears in metamorphic and metasomatic source rocks, newer studies suggest it may also arise from magmatic sources. Age-dating of a range of mineral inclusions in ruby now allows more precise modelling of ruby genesis. Tectonic aspects of ruby genesis related to early collisional plate events on Earth are also a frontier for further understanding. In addition, ruby growth remains an important phase in metamorphic studies of events in some young collisional zones. This Special Issue planned for Minerals aims to attract further studies on this multi-origin gem mineral. Investigations at the ‘economic border’ of ruby and sapphire nomenclature and relevant treatments affecting ruby color will be considered.

This extensively updated new edition of the widely acclaimed Treatise on Geochemistry has increased its coverage beyond the wide range of geochemical subject areas in the first edition, with five new volumes which include: the history of the atmosphere, geochemistry of mineral deposits, archaeology and anthropology, organic geochemistry and analytical geochemistry. In addition, the original Volume 1 on "Meteorites, Comets, and Planets" was expanded into two separate volumes dealing with meteorites and planets, respectively. These additions increased the number of volumes in the Treatise from 9 to 15 with the index/appendices volume remaining as the last volume (Volume 16). Each of the original volumes was scrutinized by the appropriate volume editors, with respect to necessary revisions as well as additions and deletions. As a result, 27% were republished without major changes, 66% were revised and 126 new chapters were added. In a many-faceted field such as Geochemistry, explaining and understanding how one sub-field relates to another is key. Instructors will find the complete overviews with extensive cross-referencing useful additions to their course packs and students will benefit from the contextual organization of the subject matter Six new volumes added and 66% updated from 1st edition. The Editors of this work have taken every measure to include the many suggestions received from readers and ensure comprehensiveness of coverage and added value in this 2nd edition The esteemed Board of Volume Editors and Editors-in-Chief worked cohesively to ensure a uniform and consistent approach to the content, which is an amazing accomplishment for a 15-volume work (16 volumes including index volume)!

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Essential resource covering the field of LIBS, with respect to its fundamentals, established and novel applications, and future prospects Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), presents in two comprehensive volumes a thorough discussion of the basic principles of the method, including important recently available data which can lead to a better characterization of the LIBS plasma. This extensive work contains detailed discussions on the lasers, spectrometers, and detectors that can be used for LIBS apparatuses and describes various instrumentation, ranging from basic setups to more advanced configurations. As a modern resource, the work includes the newest advances and capabilities of LIBS instruments, featuring the recent developments of Dual-Pulse LIBS, Femtosecond LIBS, and Micro-LIBS as well as their applications. Throughout, the contributions discuss the analytical capabilities of the method in terms of detection limits, accuracy, and precision of measurements for a variety of samples. Lastly, an extensive range of applications is presented, including food technology, environmental science, nuclear reactors, nanoscience and nanotechnology, and biological and biomedical developments. Sample topics covered within the work include: iagnostics of laser induced plasma (LIP): LIBS plasma and its characteristics, factors affecting the LIBS plasma, methods of enhancing LIBS sensitivity, and LTE/non-LTE plasmas Instrumental developments in LIBS: light collection system and spectral detection systems, handheld LIBS, deep sea LIBS, and industrial sorters and analyzers Femtosecond laser ablation: laser-matter interaction, laser absorption, energy transport, ablation mechanisms and threshold, and plasma characterization Micro-analysis and LIBS imaging: microjoule laser sources, scaling libs to microjoule energies, micrometer scaling, advanced applications, and future prospects Spectroscopic and analytical scientists working with LIBS will find this wide-ranging reference immensely helpful in developing LIBS instrumentation and applications. Researchers and students in natural sciences and related programs of study will be able to use the work to acquire foundational knowledge on the method and learn about cutting-edge advancements being made in the field.