June 2026, Vol. 22, No. 3

Quartz is one of the most abundant and important minerals on Earth. Although silica (SiO₂) has a simple chemical composition, it exists in numerous crystal structures, making it one of the most fascinating mineral systems studied by geoscientists. As the most common natural silica polymorph, quartz is found throughout igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and plays a vital role in understanding Earth’s geological evolution.

Beyond geology, quartz is indispensable to modern technology. High-purity natural and synthetic quartz is used in semiconductors, solar panels, precision optics, satellite gyroscopes, refractory materials, silicon metal production, and many other advanced industrial applications that support today’s digital world.

This issue of Elements presents a comprehensive exploration of quartz, covering its occurrence in nature, its role in the global silica cycle, its technological importance, and its value as a gemstone. The issue also examines how quartz preserves a wealth of mineralogical and geochemical information, providing valuable insights into geological processes, Earth’s history, and ore-forming systems.

Why You’ll Love Quartz:

• Explore Earth’s Most Important Silica Mineral: Learn about quartz, its many crystal forms, and its role in the Earth’s crust and the global silica cycle.
• Discover Its Technological Impact: See how quartz enables modern innovations in electronics, photovoltaics, precision optics, satellites, and semiconductor manufacturing.
• Unlock Geological Clues: Discover how quartz records mineralogical and geochemical information that helps scientists reconstruct geological histories and understand ore-forming processes.
• From Nature to Industry: Gain insight into the remarkable journey of quartz from common rock-forming mineral to one of the most valuable materials in modern society.

Expand your understanding of one of Earth’s most remarkable minerals and discover how quartz continues to shape both our planet and the technologies that define the modern world.

April 2026, Vol. 22, No. 2

Understanding the physical and transport properties of minerals is fundamental to decoding the processes that shape Earth and other planetary bodies. Building on the early insights of Haüy, who first recognized the relationship between crystal structure and macroscopic behavior, modern mineral physics now uses advanced spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and magnetic techniques to study materials across all scales—from atomic structures to entire planetary interiors.

This issue of Elements explores how minerals respond to external physical fields and how these responses preserve information about their formation, evolution, and the dynamic processes that continue to operate within planetary interiors. By integrating key concepts in mineral physics with recent technological advances, researchers are uncovering new ways to interpret geophysical data and understand the evolution of Earth and other planets.

Why You’ll Love Mineral Physics Applied to Earth and Planetary Sciences:

• Planetary Interior Insights: Discover how mineral properties reveal the structure and dynamics of Earth and other planetary bodies.
• Advanced Analytical Techniques: Explore cutting-edge spectroscopic and physical methods used to study minerals at multiple scales.
• Understanding Planetary Evolution: Learn how mineral responses to external fields preserve clues about the history and ongoing processes of planetary formation.

Expand your understanding of planetary science and explore how mineral physics continues to transform our knowledge of Earth’s interior and the evolution of the solar system.

June 2025, Vol. 22, No. 1

Earth’s geological carbon cycle plays a vital role in maintaining the planet’s climate and supporting life. Often described as a natural “thermostat,” this complex system helps regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and prevents extreme global temperature fluctuations over geological timescales. Traditional models explain this balance through interactions between volcanic degassing, atmospheric CO₂, continental silicate weathering, and carbonate mineral formation.

However, new scientific discoveries reveal that Earth’s carbon cycle is far more dynamic and complex than previously understood. This issue explores emerging theories and alternative mechanisms that may significantly influence long-term climate regulation, including seafloor weathering, organic carbon cycling, ocean alkalinity dynamics, and variations in carbon degassing rates. Researchers continue to investigate the uncertainties surrounding the processes that control Earth’s life-support system and climate stability.

Why You’ll Love Earth’s Carbon Cycle Thermostat: Beyond the Textbook Model:

• Climate Regulation Insights: Discover how Earth’s carbon cycle helps stabilize global temperatures across millions of years.
• Beyond Traditional Models: Explore new scientific perspectives on carbon degassing, weathering, and ocean chemistry.
• Cutting-Edge Earth Science Research: Learn about the major unanswered questions surrounding the planet’s long-term climate and life-support systems.

Expand your understanding of Earth’s climate processes and uncover how modern research is reshaping our knowledge of the geological carbon cycle and planetary habitability.