Ahmed Abd Elmola
Ahmed Abd Elmola joined the James Hutton Institute in 2023 as an XRD Clay Mineralogist. He brings extensive experience in the field of clay minerals and X-ray diffraction (XRD), with over five years of successful collaboration with prominent mining and oil companies. His expertise in clay minerals and XRD was first developed during his international master's degree specializing in Advanced Clay Science, which he obtained from renowned institutions in France and Greece.
Furthermore, Ahmed's doctoral research, conducted at the University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in France in collaboration with the University of Bern (Switzerland), focused on utilizing clay minerals as thermochronological tools for dating tectonic activities, estimating deformation conditions, and reconstructing fluid/rock interactions. Following the completion of his Ph.D. degree, Ahmed spent four years as a postdoctoral researcher working in academic-industrial settings at the University of Poitiers and Orano Mining Company (France).
At the James Hutton Institute, Ahmed actively contributes to both commercial and research projects, driven by his enthusiasm for advancing the characterization of clay minerals.
Current research interests
Clay minerals are essential components of the Earth's crust and play a pivotal role in various geological processes. Therefore, studying them contributes to a deeper understanding of geological systems. One of Ahmed's key research endeavors is centered around advancing the characterization and quantification of clay minerals through XRD and SEM. Ahmed's current research interests include:
- Development of Clay Mineral Polytype Quantification using XRD.
- Contribution to the advancement of Radiometric Dating using K-bearing clay minerals such as illite and muscovite.
Ahmed is enthusiastic about collaborating with researchers and scientists who share a passion for these research areas as well as other research ideas.
If you are interested in discussing potential collaborations, or research opportunities, or simply wish to connect and share insights with Ahmed, please feel free to contact him.
Past research
Ahmed has collaborated on previous research projects that involved various aspects, including estimating paleoenvironment and redox conditions in sandstone and carbonate rocks. He used clay minerals as proxies for source rock maturation, evaluated reservoir quality, reconstructed fluid/rock interaction, and applied radiometric dating techniques to date tectonic activities. Additionally, Ahmed has explored the role of clay minerals in fossil preservation.
Bibliography
- Azzam, F.; Blaise, T.; Dewla, M.; Patrier, P.; Beaufort, D.; Abd Elmola, A.; Brigaud, B.; Brigaud, B.; Portier, E.; Barbarand, J.; Clerc, S. (2023) Role of depositional environment on clay coat distribution in deeply buried turbidite sandstones: Insights from the Agat field, Norwegian North Sea, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 155, Art. 106379
- Azzam, F.; Blaise, T.; Dewla, M.; Patrier, P.; Beaufort, D.; Abd Elmola, A.; Brigaud, B.; Brigaud, B.; Portier, E.; Barbarand, J.; Clerc, S. (2023) Role of depositional environment on clay coat distribution in deeply buried turbidite sandstones: Insights from the Agat field, Norwegian North Sea, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 155, Art. 106379
- J. N. g. Ikouanga; C. Fontaine; F. Bourdelle; A. Abd Elmola; J. Aubineau; O. M. Bankole; L. Reisberg; A.-C. Pierson-Wickmann; A. Riboulleau; A. Trentesaux; C. Laforest; A. Meunier; A. El Albani (2023) Taphonomy of early life (2.1 Ga) in the francevillian basin (Gabon): Role of organic mineral interactions, Precambrian Research
- M. Ghnahalla; O. M. Bankole; A. Abd Elmola; M. Poujol; C. Fontaine; M. S. Sabar; A. Trentesaux; C. Tu; T. W. Lyons; A. El Albani (2023) Tracing the sedimentary provenance of the Mesoproterozoic rocks from Taoudeni Basin ( 1.1 Ga) Mauritania: Evidence from Sm/Nd and elemental geochemistry, Precambrian Research
- F. Azzam; T. Blaise; M. Dewla; P. Patrier; D. Beaufort; A. Abd Elmola; B. Brigaud; E. Portier; J. Barbarand; S. Clerc (2023) Role of depositional environment on clay coat distribution in deeply buried turbidite sandstones: Insights from the Agat field, Norwegian North Sea, Marine and Petroleum Geology
- M. Ghnahalla; A. El Albani; A. Abd Elmola; O. M. Bankole; C. Fontaine; M. S. Sabar; A. Trentesaux; C. Laforest; A. Meunier; C. Boissard (2022) Post-depositional transformations in sedimentary rocks and implications for paleoenvironmental studies: evidence from the Mesoproterozoic ( 1.1 Ga) of the Taoudeni Basin, Mauritania, American Journal of Science
- F. Azzam; T. Blaise; P. Patrier; A. Abd Elmola; D. Beaufort; E. Portier; B. Brigaud; J. Barbarand; S. Clerc (2022) Diagenesis and reservoir quality evolution of the Lower Cretaceous turbidite sandstones of the Agat Formation (Norwegian North Sea): Impact of clay grain coating and carbonate cement, Marine and Petroleum Geology
- H. Matoussi Kort; R. Hinrichs; A. Abd Elmola; N. Laridhi Ouazaa; E. A. Lalla; A. Ben Saleh; S. Ben Alaya; M. Saidi (2021) Influence of hydrothermal activity on the mineralogical-petrophysical properties of an atypical doleritic reservoir rock: A case study of the Gabes Gulf (north Africa, Tunisia), Journal of African Earth Sciences
- H. Matoussi Kort; A. Abd Elmola; N. Laridhi Ouazaa; D. Sgheir; A. Ben Saleh (2021) Maturity of potential Cretaceous source rocks at the Isis field, offshore eastern Tunisia: Influence of hydrothermal fluids, Journal of Petroleum Geology
- B. Becker-Kerber; A. El Albani; K. Konhauser; A. Abd Elmola; C. Fontaine; P. S. G. Paim; A. Mazurier; G. M. E. M. Prado; D. Galante; P. B. Kerber; A. L. Z. da Rosa; T. R. Fairchild; A. Meunier; M. L. A. F. Pacheco (2021) The role of volcanic-derived clays in the preservation of Ediacaran biota from the Itajaí Basin (ca. 563 Ma, Brazil), Scientific Reports
- B. Becker-Kerber; A. Abd Elmola; A. Zhuravlev; C. Gaucher; M. G. Simões; G. M. E. M. Prado; J. A. Gámez Vintaned; C. Fontaine; L. M. Lino; D. Ferreira Sanchez; D. Galante; P. S. G. Paim; F. Callefo; G. Kerber; A. Meunier; A. El Albani (2021) Clay templates in Ediacaran vendotaeniaceans: Implications for the taphonomy of carbonaceous fossils, GSA Bulletin
- A. Abd Elmola; A. Asaad; P. Patrier; D. Beaufort; M. Ballini; M. Descostes (2020) Clay mineral signatures of fault-related fluid flows in a sandstone reservoir: A case study from the Teloua Formation, Tim Mersoї Basin, Niger, Journal of African Earth Sciences
- A. Abd Elmola; M. Buatier; P. Monié; P. Labaume; P. Trap; D. Charpentier (2018) 40Ar/39Ar muscovite dating of thrust activity: a case study from the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees, Tectonophysics
- A. Abd Elmola; D. Charpentier; M. Buatier; P. Lanari; P. Monié (2017) Textural-chemical changes and deformation conditions registered by phyllosilicates in a fault zone (Pic de Port Vieux thrust, Pyrenees), Applied Clay Science
