Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) has launched the Section “Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials”. This Section covers various aspects of the mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of natural clay materials and other associated industrial minerals, with an additional interest in experimental and theoretical research on the structure, properties, and applications of broadly described natural and engineered layered and nanoporous minerals, including clays, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), zeolites, cementitious phases, and other related mineral materials. The Section focuses on linking together their detailed characterization using various diffraction, scattering, and spectroscopic techniques (X-ray, neutron, NMR, IR, Raman, AFM, etc.), computational multiscale modeling of their properties, and their diverse applications in geological and technological settings, such as mineral weathering, geological disposal of chemical and radioactive wastes, geological carbon sequestration, exploration of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources, catalysis, construction, health care products, etc.

We are pleased to present the 2022 Editor’s Choice Articles, a carefully curated list of high-quality articles from “Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials”:

• “Characterisation of the Hydration Products of a Chemically and Mechanically Activated High Coal Fly Ash Hybrid Cement”
  by Grizelda du Toit et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(2), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020157
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/157

• “Fabrication of Hydrotalcite-like Copper Hydroxyl Salts as a Photocatalyst and Adsorbent for Hexavalent Chromium Removal”
  by Chitiphon Chuaicham et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(2), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020182
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/182

• “Lime and Cement Plasters from 20th Century Buildings: Raw Materials and Relations between Mineralogical–Petrographic Characteristics and Chemical–Physical Compatibility with the Limestone Substrate”
  by Stefano Columbu et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(2), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020226
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/2/226

• “Preparation and Swelling Inhibition of Mixed Metal Hydroxide to Bentonite Clay”
  by Bowen Zhang et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12040459 
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/459

• “Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Cryo-Electron Microscopy Investigation of AOT Surfactant Structure at the Hydrated Mica Surface”
  by Daniel M. Long et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12040479
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/479

• “Effect of Structural Fe Reduction on Water Sorption by Swelling and Non-Swelling Clay Mineral”
  by Christos Vasilopanagos et al.
  Minerals 2022, 12(4), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12040453
  Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/4/453

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the research groups that submitted to Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X). We would appreciate it if you would circulate this document among your colleagues and network. Furthermore, the following opportunities for collaboration may be of interest:

• Submitting a manuscript:
  This Section is currently open for submissions. Papers may be submitted via the following link: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=minerals;

• Launching a Special Issue:
  You have the opportunity to propose hot topics and edit a Special Issue together with experts in the field: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/minerals;

• Joining the Editorial Board:
  If you are an active researcher in the field of clays and engineered mineral materials and are interested in joining the Editorial Board, please do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

Minerals Editorial Office