Dear colleagues,

the 22nd meeting of the International Mineralogical Association will be held in Melbourne, Australia, from 13th to 17th of August, 2018, with a very rich program which includes nine plenary lectures and 43 thematic sessions. I would like to invite you consider submitting an abstract for the sessions “Modular Aspects of Mineral Structures”, of which I am convenor.

Modular structures are built by modules (blocks, rods, layers) which differ either in the chemistry or in the crystallographic orientation / position. They include polytypes and OD structures, polysomatic and homologous series, cell-twins, as well as twins and epi/syntaxies as limiting cases. The structure-building principle allows fine tuning of both structure and chemical composition and can be seen as the rationale behind the well-known phenomenon of morphotropism which dates back to von Groth. It represents one of the most outstanding mechanisms by which Nature produces a wide range of minerals from a relatively limited number of building blocks. The understanding of the features of these minerals represents thus a challenge both for the experimental mineralogist and for the theoretician, and opens a huge horizon for crystal engineering of natural materials as well as man-made materials for which minerals are used raw ans starting material.

The call for abstract is open until February 28th, 2018. The abstract submission page is available at the address https://www.ima2018.com/call-for-abstracts/

Looking forward to seeing you in Melbourne next year.

Prof. Dr. Massimo Nespolo
CRM2 UMR - CNRS 7036
Institut Jean Barriol, FR 2843
Université de Lorraine
Faculté des Sciences et Technologies
BP 70239, Boulevard des Aiguillettes
54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
Phone: 03.72.74.56.46
Fax: 03.72.74.52.18
massimo.nespolo@univ-lorraine.fr
http://www.crystallography.fr/pages_perso/Nespolo/
https://twitter.com/CRM2_CNRS_UL