Critical Mineralogy
Rare-metal mineralogy from crust to atomic-scale: New Frontiers in Tomorrow’s Technology Metals
Co-Conveners
Lei Xie, Nanjing University
Xudong Che, Nanjing University
Robert Linnen, Western University
The accelerating demand for Li, Be, Nb-Ta, W, Sn and other critical metals demands a next-generation understanding of (1) the mineralogical carriers that control metal behavior and (2) the geodynamic, magmatic and hydrothermal processes that create viable ore systems. This session integrates micro-analytical, petrologically experimental and ore-forming tracing perspectives to understand the rare-metals better and build predictive metallogenic models for rare-metal deposits.
Key Themes
• Mineralogical repositories of rare metals: advanced analytical techniques, thermodynamic modelling, and machine learning analysis. New mineral descriptions are especially encouraged.
• Magmatic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic pathways: LCT pegmatites, metaluminous-peraluminous granites, carbonatite-related polymetallic systems.
• Geodynamic drivers and their role in metal fertility: collision and extension.
• From fingerprinting to forecasting: linking trace-element and isotope signatures in minerals to regional-scale mineralized indicators.
• Case studies of emerging rare-metal provinces: contributions that integrate mineralogy with petrologically experimental aspects.
Session Format
• 2 keynote talks (20 min each)
• 8 oral presentations (15 min)
• poster presentations, with dedicated 1-minute “flash poster” introductions.
Submit 250-word abstracts with up to five keywords and an optional 1-slide graphical summary by 1 March 2026
