THE EIGHTEENTH TECHNICAL SESSION of the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium was held on 20 April 2001. Altogether, twenty-two abstracts were accepted, three were presented as posters, and sixteen were presented during the platform session moderated by Dr. Carl A. Francis. Submitted abstracts were reviewed by a committee consisting of Dr. Steven C. Chamberlain, Syracuse University; Dr. Carl A. Francis, Harvard University; Dr. William Kelly, New York State Geological Survey; Dr. Robert ...