Conveners:
Marco Merlini (università di Milano)
Francesco Di Benedetto (università di Ferrara)
This session welcomes contributions on the atomic- to nano-scale characterization of minerals and Earth materials, with emphasis on crystallography, crystal chemistry, and spectroscopic methods. Advanced experimental approaches, including large-scale facilities (e.g. synchrotron radiation and neutron sources), as well as innovative analytical and computational techniques, are particularly encouraged.
Studies of materials under variable environmental conditions (e.g. pressure, temperature, redox state, and chemical environment) are welcome, as they provide key constraints on the structure, dynamics, and stability of Earth and planetary materials. Other peculiar experimental approaches, as e.g. the operando settings, will also be welcome, opening windows on processes occurring at moderately fast time scales.
The session aims to highlight the links between atomic-scale structural features and dynamics and large-scale geological, geophysical, and geochemical processes, from Earth's surface to deep conditions, with implications for applied fields related to materials science, raw materials, energy resources, and sustainable development.