The new mineral species freitalite, C₁₄H₁₀, corresponding to the aromatic hydrocarbon anthracene, has been discovered on the mine dump of the Königin Carola shaft (Paul Berndt Mine), Freital, near Dresden, Saxony, Germany. Freitalite is a product of pyrolysis of coal and was formed by sublimation from a gas phase. The mineral was identified by several analytical methods.

The anomalous shapes of Michigan copper crystals are well known by mineral collectors and are curated in museums worldwide. Still, their particular habits remain enigmatic. These anomalous crystals do not seem to follow the standard crystal shape theories, maybe due to the presence of oxygen impurities. This new find is of great importance in shape-dependent catalysis, sensor characteristics, or other properties of material such as nanocrystals.

The knowledge of physical properties of quartz as an abundant rock-forming mineral in the Earth’s crust allows for a better understanding of its dynamic processes. The thermal transport properties of single-crystal quartz are studied between –120 °C and 800 °C using a laser flash method. First, low-temperature data as well as the role of the low-to-high quartz phase transition (e.g. a transition-related non-ballistic radiative transfer) and size effects on thermal diffusivity are discussed.

Water plays an important role in the physical properties (i.e., diffusivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, sound velocity, and rheology) of olivine, wadsleyite, and ringwoodite. Remarkably, there are numerous discrepancies and debates between experimental and theoretical studies. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the recent advances in the influence of water on the physical properties of olivine, wadsleyite, and ringwoodite, together with their applications.

How, and how fast, does hydrogen move through crystals? We consider this question by adding hydrogen, by diffusion, to synthetic crystals of olivine doped with trace amounts of chromium. Even in a highly simplified system, the behaviour of hydrogen is complex. Hydrogen can move into and through the crystal using various pathways (different defects within the crystal) and hop between these pathways too.