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The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources organized a specialized training course entitled “Petrographic and Palynological Studies for Rock Characterization, Age Determination, and Thin Section Preparation,” with the participation of a number of ministry employees. The course was held as part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the scientific and technical capabilities of its staff in the fields of earth sciences and geological analysis.

The training was delivered by geologist Montaha Sabahin, geologist Ali Al-Samadi, and laboratory technician Hanadi Al-Jallad. It focused on enhancing participants’ skills in rock analysis, thin section preparation, and the application of modern techniques in geological studies.

The course covered the procedures for preparing thin sections and introduced petrography as one of the fundamental branches of geology. Petrography is concerned with the study of rocks and the analysis of their mineral composition, physical properties, and optical characteristics through the use of polarized microscopes and thin-section examination.

Participants were also introduced to the importance of petrographic studies in rock classification and in understanding various geological environments. The course included practical applications involving a range of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, including basalt, granite, gabbro, marble, and schist, with detailed explanations of their characteristics under polarized light microscopy.

The training concluded with practical exercises and assessments using polarized microscopes, aimed at strengthening participants’ technical competencies and enabling them to conduct petrographic studies in accordance with modern scientific standards.

This course forms part of a series of internal knowledge-transfer workshops organized by the Ministry under its Tacit Knowledge Transfer Project, which is supervised by the Knowledge Management and Innovation Division. The initiative seeks to preserve institutional expertise and promote the exchange of specialized knowledge among ministry staff.