The Department of Soil Sciences and Water Resources at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences organized a seminar entitled “Fundamentals of Clay Minerals and Their Distinctive Properties.” The seminar was presented by M.Sc. student Zainab Ali Ibrahim and attended by the Head of the Department, Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Abdulwahab Abdulridha, along with faculty members and graduate students.
The seminar covered the structural composition of clay minerals and their main types, including kaolinite, montmorillonite, and illite. It highlighted the differences between 1:1 and 2:1 clay minerals and explained how these structural variations influence the physical and chemical properties of soils. The presentation also addressed the role of clay minerals in nutrient retention and reviewed key laboratory identification methods, particularly X-ray diffraction (XRD).
The seminar aimed to emphasize the scientific and practical importance of clay minerals and to enhance graduate students’ understanding of mineral composition and its relationship to soil properties and agricultural behavior. Such knowledge contributes to improving soil management practices and addressing soil-related challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
