February 25, 2025
The birth and growth of minerals from aqueous solutions is a ubiquitous process in both natural and engineered environments. This research field has recently experienced a paradigm shift due to the discovery of non-classical nucleation and growth processes. These insights have helped us to understand better the natural world and significantly impact various industrial and environmental applications, such as the development of more sustainable building materials, mineral processing, CO2 storage, and water treatment. Consequently, detailed knowledge of the mechanisms and kinetics underlying mineral nucleation and growth is vital in these areas. This issue provides a comprehensive overview of mineral formation by reviewing classical mechanisms and supplementing them with recent insights about the nucleation and growth of minerals, particularly those concerning non-classical crystallization pathways.
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