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Professional Journal Publishing

ICJN

For Authors

Before submission, please carefully read this guide to ensure your manuscript meets our requirements and standards.

1. Journal Introduction and Coverage

Journal Mission

China Lab is rooted in the core mission of “geological science and technology ensuring safety and sustainable development”, dedicated to publishing cutting-edge research findings that promote collaborative innovation in volcanic science, resource engineering, and disaster prevention and control. We not only focus on geological processes but also emphasize the development and utilization of volcanic resources and the mitigation of volcanic hazards.

Aims and Scope

China Lab welcomes submissions of interdisciplinary research findings on the following topics or other issues related to volcanic systems and Quaternary environmental evolution:

  • Volcanic Geological Processes and Mechanisms: including the dynamics of magma chambers, eruption mechanisms, and the evolution of volcanic structures.
  • Quaternary Volcano–Climate–Environment Interactions: research on the impact of volcanic activity on climate change, environmental evolution, and ecosystem responses.
  • Green Development Technologies for Volcanic Resources: high-value conversion and sustainable utilization of geothermal energy, volcanic minerals (e.g., perlite, zeolite), and construction materials.
  • Multi-Parameter Monitoring Methods for Volcanic Activity: development of novel geophysical, geochemical, and remote sensing techniques for volcano monitoring.
  • Disaster Risk Assessment Models: building and validating models for volcanic hazard mapping, risk assessment, and vulnerability analysis.
  • Prediction of Climatic Effects of Volcanic Eruptions: simulating and forecasting the short-term and long-term climatic impacts of major eruptions.
  • Basalt Fiber Preparation Techniques: research on the melting, fiber-forming processes, and optimization of basalt fiber production.
  • Composite Material Development and Engineering Applications: development and performance evaluation of basalt fiber-reinforced composites for construction, transportation, and other industries.
  • Full-Chain Research on Volcanic Systems: integrating the study from deep Earth processes to surface hazards and resource applications.
  • Safety of Major Engineering Projects in Volcanic Regions: assessing and mitigating geological risks for infrastructure development in volcanic areas.

2. Article Type and Writing Requirements

To meet the needs of disseminating different research findings, China Lab accepts various types of submissions. Please select the appropriate type based on the content of your research.

Research Article

Reports original research findings with authentic and reliable data, rigorous design, and significant originality that promotes disciplinary development. The work must present novel, unpublished results, with conclusions clearly supported by data.

  • Word Limit: 4,000–8,000 words
  • Figures and Tables: up to 8 (grouped charts count as 1)
  • Appendix: may include detailed methods, raw data tables, supplementary analyses, and other relevant materials.
  • Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Materials and Methods - Results - Discussion and Conclusion - References

Review Article

Systematically summarizes global advances, emerging trends, key challenges, and future directions in volcanic science, resource engineering, and disaster mitigation, providing objective, critical, and insightful guidance for researchers and practitioners.

  • Word Limit: 5,000–8,000 words
  • Figures and Tables: up to 6
  • Appendix: may include literature search strategies, list of included articles, etc.
  • Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Main body chapters (with subheadings) - Future perspective - Conclusion - Acknowledgements - References

Editorial

Shares forward-looking perspectives and academic viewpoints on key issues in volcanic science, disaster prevention, and resource engineering, guiding academic attention and disciplinary development.

  • Word Limit: 800–1,500 words
  • Figures and Tables: generally not included
  • Appendix: generally not included
  • Structure: Title - Body - Reference

Short Communication

Rapidly reports highly innovative preliminary findings, novel monitoring methods, or important field observations, emphasizing conciseness and core academic or application value.

  • Word Limit: 2,000–3,000 words
  • Figures and Tables: up to 4
  • Appendix: generally not included; simplified supplementary materials may be provided when necessary.
  • Structure: Title - Abstract (brief summary) - Keywords - Introduction - Methods - Results and Discussion (combined) - Conclusion - References

Commentary

Authoritative experts provide original, forward-looking, and guiding insights on major disciplinary events, policies, key technological breakthroughs, or controversial issues in volcanic science and disaster mitigation.

  • Word Limit: 1,500–2,500 words
  • Figures and Tables: up to 2
  • Appendix: generally not included
  • Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Introduction - Main body (can expand around the core argument) - Outlook and suggestions - References

Industry Updates

Focuses on the latest advances in volcanic monitoring, resource development, disaster prevention engineering, policies, standards, and industry‑academia‑research collaboration. Content must be accurate, timely, concise, and objective.

  • Word Limit: 500–1,000 words
  • Figures and Tables: 1–2 illustrative images may be included when necessary
  • Appendix: generally not included
  • Structure: Title - Body (Introduction, description, future developments, etc.) - Reference

Letter to Editor

Provides comments, questions, or supplements on recently published articles, or concise and incisive insights on research hotspots and academic controversies in volcanic science and disaster prevention.

  • Word Limit: 1,500–2,500 words
  • Figures and Tables: generally not included
  • Appendix: generally not included
  • Structure: Title - Abstract - Keywords - Body (Opening, Argumentation, Closing) - References

3. Submission Guide

Authors may submit new manuscripts via https://srp.icjn.net/login.

The status of a submission can be checked at any time by logging into the submission platform and selecting the “My Submissions” section.

For any inquiries regarding submissions, please contact chinalab@icjn.net.

Please review the Submission Guide below before submitting the manuscripts.

Author Checklist

Cover Letter:

  • Submission title and Article Type (first submission or revision).
  • Summarize the key findings of the study in 3–5 short sentences (similar to "highlights").
  • All authors declare that they consent to the submission of the manuscript.
  • Statement that the manuscript has not been published or submitted in any form or place.
  • Declare that all reproduced charts and data have been authorized by the copyright owner.
  • Declare that the manuscript meets the word count requirements in this guideline.
  • Conflict of interest statement.
  • Main Manuscript File: contains the full text, figures, references, any statements relating to our ethics and integrity policies, which may include conflict of interest disclosure, permission to reproduce material, data availability statement, funding statement, etc.
  • Supplementary Materials (if applicable): include data, figures, methods, etc. that are non-essential for understanding the main text. All supplementary materials must undergo peer review.
  • Author Profile: name, affiliation, mailing address, and official email, along with a brief academic summary (typically including research focus and representative achievements, limited to 100–150 words).
  • All manuscripts must have at least one author providing an ORCID.

Text and Image Abstract

A text-and-image abstract is a visual representation of a text abstract. Similar to the textual abstract, it must strictly adhere to the paper's content and should not include any new data or information not found in the main text. The graphic must not contain photographs of individuals, national stamps, currencies, or trademark items (such as company logos).

To keep it concise, avoid repeating the text and images in the summary, and do not add titles, captions, or notes. The size should be within one-third of an A4 paper.

Check before submission:

  • Clarity: the resolution is correct, with no blur, stretching, or pixelation.
  • Format: .jpg or .tif, 300dpi
  • File: do not embed Word documents. Upload the original high-resolution file separately.
  • Copyright: if the content includes third-party copyrighted graphics, the original publisher or copyright holder must provide a license.

Manuscript Format and Structure (First Submission)

When submitting your first manuscript, insert all figures and tables near their first appearance to facilitate reviewers' reading, and assign continuous line numbers and page numbers to the manuscript. The manuscript should include the following sections in the specified order:

  1. Title: include a concise title, all authors' names, institutions, addresses, and the corresponding author's official email.
  2. Abstract: 200–300 words; structured format (background, purpose, methods, results, conclusions). References should not be cited.
  3. Keywords: up to 8.
  4. Introduction: investigates the research background, scientific questions, existing limitations, and objectives.
  5. Materials and Methods: A detailed description is required to ensure reproducibility of the experiment. Statistical analysis methods and ethical approval statements must be included where applicable.
  6. Results: the data were presented objectively, and the charts and text were complementary to avoid duplication with the discussion.
  7. Discussion: explain the significance of the results, compare with existing literature, point out the limitations of the study, and propose future prospects.
  8. Conclusion: the core findings and their value should be summarized concisely.
  9. Other Required Sections: include author contributions (CRediT), data availability, ethics approval statement, funding statement, conflict of interest, AI usage disclosure, acknowledgments, and references in order.
  10. Supplementary Materials (if necessary), Appendices, etc.

4. Authorship and Contribution Statement

Authorship

All listed authors should meet all four of the following criteria:

  • Made substantive contributions to the conception, design, or data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the study;
  • Drafted or made key revisions to important academic content in the article;
  • Final approval of the final version;
  • Agree to be responsible for all aspects of the work and to ensure that issues related to the accuracy or integrity of the work are properly investigated and resolved.

Individuals who only obtain funding, provide technical support, or offer general administrative assistance should not be listed as authors.

Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the primary contact for the journal throughout the peer review and publication process. Their core responsibilities include: maintaining full communication during all stages of submission, peer review, revision, and publication; coordinating and ensuring the completeness and compliance of key documents; confirming that all authors have reviewed and agreed to the final manuscript version; and assuming management responsibility for the authenticity of the author list and contributions.

Author Contribution

We encourage authors to use the CRediT taxonomy to clearly delineate the specific contributions of each author in the manuscript. The author's identity must satisfy the aforementioned authorship criteria.

5. Data Availability Statement

To ensure the verifiability and transparency of the study. Your statement must be clear and verifiable. Please select or refer to one of the following templates based on your specific circumstances:

1. Fully open data (recommended)

The datasets generated and/or analyzed in this study have been deposited in [repository name], with the permanent identifier/login number: [DOI/accession No.].

2. Data can be requested

The de-identified raw data may be obtained from [corresponding author/third party name] upon obtaining ethics committee approval and signing a data usage agreement. The data is available for [number of years] starting from [date].

3. Data is restricted and cannot be published

Due to [privacy/ethics/commercial confidentiality/project ongoing], the data supporting the findings of this study cannot be publicly shared. Researchers meeting the access criteria may contact the [corresponding author/institutional review board] for consultation on eligibility.

6. Research Ethics

Human Research Ethics

Comply with the ethical standards of the relevant institutional or regional ethics committee and the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki (as amended in October 2024).

  • Ethical Approval: Written approval from the ethics committee must be obtained, and the full name of the committee, approval number, and approval date must be indicated in the manuscript.
  • Informed Consent: Written informed consent must be obtained from participants and provided as required.
  • Privacy Protection: The manuscript must not contain any information that could identify personal identity. All images must undergo complete de-identification.

Animal Research Ethics

All animal experiments must adhere to the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and the ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines. Approval from the Animal Ethics Committee (IACUC) is mandatory, with the committee name, approval number, and approval date specified in the manuscript.

7. Funding Statement

If this study has received financial support, please include an independent "Funding Statement" section at the end of the text and before the references, specifying the funding source. Please provide the full official name of the funding institution and project approval/grant number. Example:

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Approval No.: 42172345) and the European Research Council (Grant No.: ERC-2020-AdG-101021417).

8. Conflict of Interest

To ensure the objectivity and impartiality of research data and viewpoints, China Lab requires all authors involved in writing the paper to submit a declaration if there are any conflicts of interest, including employment relationships, consulting services, stock holdings, patents, or funding that may influence the conclusions.

9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

China Lab adheres to the guidelines of the International Committee on Publishing Ethics (COPE) regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

For the Authors

AI tools used solely for improving language expression need not be disclosed. If AI influences research outcomes (data analysis, experimental design, etc.), authors bear full responsibility for accuracy and originality. All AI-generated content must be rigorously reviewed.

For Editors and Reviewers

To protect manuscript confidentiality, editors and reviewers may not upload manuscripts or reviews to unauthorized AI tools.

10. Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments section should include funding agencies and individuals who contributed to the study but do not qualify as authors.

11. Reference Format

References must be publicly accessible, up-to-date, and critically relevant. Unpublished materials, abstracts, or personal communications are not allowed. Use Arabic numerals for numbering, e.g., [1][2]. Common examples:

  • Standard Journal Articles:
    Wang L, Zhang J, Li Y. Eruption dynamics and hazard assessment of the 2021 eruption of Volcano X. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 2023;35(2):891-902.
  • Group Authors:
    Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration. Quaternary volcanic activity and its climatic impact in the Changbai Mountain region. Quaternary Sciences. 2024;55(3):1123-1135.
  • Volume Includes:
    Chen X, Liu H, Wang S. Geothermal resource potential and exploration strategies in the Yunnan-Tibet volcanic belt. Acta Geologica Sinica. 2022;46(3):287-295.
  • No Volume or Issue Number:
    Global Basalt Fiber Market: Current Status and Trend Analysis. Advanced Materials Industry. December 2023:1-8.
  • Books:
    Cas, R.A.F., & Wright, J.V. (1987). Volcanic successions: Modern and ancient. Allen & Unwin.
  • Website:
    Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program. (2025). Volcanoes of the World. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://volcano.si.edu/

12. Open Access and Copyright Policy

China Lab is an open-access journal, and articles are freely accessible to global readers upon publication.

  • Copyright: The author retains full copyright of the article.
  • License Agreement: This article is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by default. Others may copy and distribute the work provided they credit the original author.

Advantages of Open Access Journal

  • Enhanced article visibility, impact, and citations
  • Free access for all researchers with no subscription
  • Avoidance of duplicate research
  • Wider indexing and easier retrievability
  • Greater public understanding of scientific research and accelerated innovation

13. Academic Misconduct and Its Handling

China Lab adheres to COPE guidelines and investigates any suspected ethical violations seriously.

  • Plagiarism Detection Criteria: Overall text similarity should be <20% (excluding common terms). Manuscripts exceeding this standard must be revised and resubmitted.
  • Handling Measures: Formal investigations will be conducted following COPE procedures, including contacting authors, institutions, and seeking expert opinions when necessary.

14. Preprint Policy

China Lab permits authors to post manuscripts on preprint servers (e.g., arXiv) before submission, during review, or after acceptance. Preprints must clearly indicate submission/acceptance by China Lab and shall not replace the final published version.