Inclusions in natural rocks are an invaluable asset for geoscientists because they provide information about processes in the Earth's history that are otherwise hidden or subsequently overprinted. In particular, these "impurities" that are remnants of geological processes frozen in the rock record have the potential to provide quantitative data necessary for quantifying a wealth of processes of great impact for all humankind. The field of inclusion studies has been revolutionized in the last 2 decades with the development of ever more precise microanalytical probes that allow us for the first time to characterize tiny inclusions, as well as with a parallel development in theory that now allows the new data measured on inclusions to be used to define the chemical and physical conditions at the time of their formation.

Papers are invited on all aspects of solid and melt inclusions, both reviews of methodologies and specific case studies applied to all fields of geology, so that the special issue provides a comprehensive view of the latest developments of this fertile field. If you wish to discuss potential topics for your submission, please contact the guest editors.