AIPEA-Talk: News of the passing of Professor Selahattin Kadir

Dear Colleagues,

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing on March 27, 2025, of Professor Dr. Selahattin Kadir, lecturer in the Department of Geological Engineering at Osman Gazi University (Eskişehir Osman Gazi University). He was our esteemed colleague, who made a valuable contribution to the development of his university, devoting himself to the academic development of his students, and being a hardworking and effective leader.

On behalf of the Russian Clay and Clay Minerals Group, we sincerely express our condolences to his family and the entire community. Selahattin Kadir was a valuable member of our society, and he will be greatly missed. His colleague, Professor Dr. Asuman Günal Türkmenoğlu, provides some information and reflections in the attached obituary.

OBITUARY

PROF. DR. SELAHATTIN KADIR

1956-2025

Professor Selahattin Kadir was one of the founders and a long-standing member of the Executive Committee of the Clay Science Society. He worked for many years to ensure the success of our community in effectively achieving its goals.

A professor of mineralogy and petrography, he received his bachelor's degree in geology from Karadeniz Technical University, his master's degree from Ankara University, and his doctorate from Selçuk University. He worked at Phelps Dodge Corporation (1985-1987) on the expanded feasibility study of a Kuroko-type massive sulfide ore body development project, at Parsons Brinckerhoff International, Inc. (1987-1989) on a highway geological survey project, and at the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration of Turkey (1990-2004) as an exploration geologist. From 2004, he worked at Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU) as an academic staff member in the Department of Geological Engineering. He served as Director of the ESOGU Technological Research Center (2010-2014) and as Chair of the Faculty of Geological Engineering from 2015 to 2024.

His scientific career was mainly concerned with the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics and genesis of hydrothermal and diagenetic kaolinite, bentonite, and sepiolite-palygorskite deposits, lateritic Ni-Co deposits, and alterations in massive sulfide ores and gold deposits. He also worked on the interdisciplinary aspects of mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of calcretes, dolocretes, huntites, magnesites, paleosols, and evaporites in sedimentary rocks and soils. His research topics also included the link between asbestos and the development of potential mesothelioma cases. Selahattin successfully completed many scientific projects. He published over 70 peer-reviewed (SCI) articles, 7 international book chapters, and 80 oral presentations at international conferences.

Dr. Selahattin Kadir was the Secretary of Euroclay 2011 (Antalya) and served as an Associate Editor of the journal Clays and Clay Minerals from 2011. As a Guest Editor, he organized two special issues on pedology and soil morphology/micromorphology for Euroclay 2011 and Eurosoil 2016 in the Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences and Catena-Elsevier, respectively. He was a member of The Clay Minerals Society (USA) – the Source Clays Committee (2016-2017) and the Program Development Committee, as well as an Associate Editor of the journal "The Clays and Clay Minerals Journal". He was the General Chair of the conference "AIPEA-17th International Clay Conference, July 25-29, 2022, in Istanbul", co-organized by the Turkish and American Societies.