Publication Ethics
The editorial policy of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” is based on generally recognized principles of academic integrity, publication ethics, and international standards of scholarly publishing. Ethical standards apply at all stages of the editorial and publishing process and govern interactions among authors, members of the editorial board, editors, and reviewers.
The editorial board of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” follows the recommendations of Elsevier (Publishing Ethics) and adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), aimed at ensuring the quality of scholarly publications, preventing unethical practices, and maintaining high standards of academic culture
The regulatory framework for implementing the principles of academic integrity in publishing activities in Ukraine includes:
– the Civil Code of Ukraine;
– the Law of Ukraine “On Copyright and Related Rights”;
– the Law of Ukraine “On Education” and sector-specific laws in the field of education;
– the Law of Ukraine “On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity”;
– regulatory legal acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and central executive authorities;
– internal regulations of the founding scientific institutions of the journal.
In accordance with Article 42 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education,” academic integrity is defined as a set of ethical principles and legally established rules to be followed by participants in the educational and research process in order to ensure trust in research results.
The editorial office ensures adherence to the principles of objectivity, impartiality, confidentiality, and transparency in the consideration of manuscripts and takes measures to prevent plagiarism, falsification, and fabrication of research results.

Compliance with Academic Integrity Adherence to the principles of academic integrity in the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” is mandatory for all participants in the editorial and publishing process.

Responsibilities of Authors
Uthors are required to:
– ensure an objective presentation of the results of their own scientific research in gemology, mineralogy, and related disciplines;
– submit for publication only original research results (except for review articles and “hypothesis and theory” papers);
– comply with the applicable legislation of Ukraine in the field of copyright;
– provide accurate information on research methods, data sources, and results;
– properly cite sources when using ideas, results, or texts of other authors;
– acknowledge, where appropriate, individuals and institutions that contributed to the research (technical, financial, organizational support, expert consultations, etc.).

Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are required to:
– adhere to the principles of scientific rigor, objectivity, and professional ethics;
– conduct impartial and well-reasoned evaluations of manuscripts;
– ensure the confidentiality of reviewed materials;
– participate in double-blind peer review conducted by two independent experts;
– decline to review manuscripts if they lack sufficient expertise in the subject area;
– provide authors with constructive comments and recommendations for improving their work.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board
The editorial board ensures:
– the organization of independent peer review of submitted materials;
– screening of manuscripts for textual overlap (anti-plagiarism checks);
– collective decision-making regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts;
– referral of manuscripts for additional review in cases of conflicting reports;
– the application of sanctions in cases of confirmed violations of academic integrity (including temporary bans on publication).

Violations of Academic Integrity
Violations of academic integrity include:
– academic plagiarism — presenting others’ results as one’s own or using texts without proper citation;
– self-plagiarism — reuse of one’s own previously published materials without proper attribution;
– exceeding the permissible level of textual overlap (more than 15%) or self-plagiarism (more than 20%);
– fabrication — making up data;
– falsification — deliberate manipulation of research data;
– submission of inaccurate or misleading information;
– biased or improper peer review;
– any undue influence on the manuscript evaluation process.

Procedure for Handling Complaints on Violations of Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics
The editorial office of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” considers only substantiated and identifiable complaints supported by relevant evidence.
In the event of a complaint concerning poor-quality research, plagiarism, or misappropriation of results in an article published in the journal:
– a commission is established from among members of the editorial board (2–3 members) to review the case;
– the publication is examined (including checks for plagiarism and the quality of peer review);
– the complainant receives confirmation of receipt of the complaint;
– additional materials may be requested, if necessary.
If a violation is confirmed:
– the author is required to provide a written explanation;
– sanctions may be imposed by editorial decision (including refusal of future publications and notification of the author’s institution);
– a reviewer may be removed if negligence is established;
– an appropriate statement is published in the journal.
If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with independent members of the editorial board. An appeal may be submitted within 14 days.
The editorial office guarantees confidentiality, impartiality, and proper documentation at all stages of the review process..

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies
The editorial board of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in modern research, particularly in the fields of gemology, mineralogy, and geology. The use of AI is permitted, including for:
– searching for scientific publications and compiling bibliographies;
– checking texts for grammatical accuracy and stylistic consistency;
– auxiliary data analysis and statistical processing;
– preparation of illustrative materials, provided they are properly verified.
At the same time, the editorial board establishes the following requirements and restrictions:
– authors must clearly disclose the use of AI or related tools in the preparation of the manuscript (text generation, data analysis, image generation, etc.);
– full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and scientific validity of the materials rests with the authors.
The use of AI is prohibited for:
– unauthorized copying of others’ scientific works;
– generation of fabricated or distorted data;
– producing research results without proper experimental, field, or analytical basis;
– AI tools may not be listed as co-authors of a scientific publication.
The editorial office reserves the right to screen submitted manuscripts for signs of unethical or excessive use of AI and, if violations are identified, to request revisions or reject the manuscript.

Retraction Policy for Published Articles
The editorial board of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” reserves the right to retract a published article in cases of significant violations of academic integrity, publication ethics, or upon establishing that false or unreliable scientific information has been submitted.
Retraction is applied in the following cases:
– identification of fabrication or falsification of research data;
– presence of academic plagiarism or improper citation of sources;
– identification of significant methodological errors or unjustified conclusions;
– violation of copyright or generally accepted ethical standards of scholarly publishing.
The retraction procedure may be initiated by members of the editorial board, the author(s), or third parties. In each case, the editorial office conducts a comprehensive review of the circumstances, involving independent experts where necessary, and obtains written explanations from the authors.
If grounds for retraction are confirmed, the editorial board adopts a formal decision, documented in the minutes of the meeting. The minutes specify the reasons for retraction and the date on which the decision takes effect.
Information about the retraction is published on the official website of the journal on the page of the respective publication. The full text of the article remains available in open access with a clear indication of its retracted status, ensuring transparency of scholarly communication and the possibility of appeal.

Compliance with the Principles and Recommendations of COPE, WAME, DORA, ICMJE
In its activities, the editorial office of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” adheres to the principles set forth in the recommendations of leading international organizations and initiatives in the field of scholarly publishing.

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
The editorial office ensures:
– application of high ethical standards to all publications;
– adherence to principles of academic integrity (prevention of plagiarism, falsification, and duplicate publication);
– a transparent and regulated procedure for handling complaints and appeals;
– transparency of submission, peer review (while maintaining reviewer anonymity), and publication processes;
– clear procedures for retraction, correction, and notification of errors.

World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
The editorial policy provides for:
– adherence to principles of editorial independence, impartiality, and confidentiality;
– prevention of conflicts of interest in the selection of reviewers;
– application of double-blind peer review;
– ensuring objective, unbiased, and professional evaluation of manuscripts;
– support for publications by early-career researchers, including postgraduate students.

San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
The editorial office:
– evaluates manuscripts based on their content, novelty, and scientific significance, rather than the status or bibliometric indicators of the authors;
– does not require authors to provide bibliometric indicators (impact factor, h-index), except for the ORCID identifier;
– supports publications presenting new experimental and analytical results, particularly in gemology, mineralogy, and related disciplines;
– promotes the development of interdisciplinary research..
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
The editorial office adheres to:
– clear authorship criteria (substantial contribution to the research and preparation of the manuscript);
– prevention of “honorary authorship” practices;
– principles of openness of research data and their proper preservation.

Other Contemporary Principles of Scholarly Communication
The editorial office also supports modern international initiatives:
– Open Science — promoting openness in scientific research;
– Open Access — ensuring free access to scholarly publications;
– Plan S — supporting policies for open access to research results;
– FAIR Data — ensuring the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of research data.
Adherence to these principles ensures a high level of trust in research outcomes, promotes the integration of the journal “Precious and Decorative Stones” into the international scholarly community, and meets contemporary requirements of the academic community.