Information
The DTTG is pleased to announce the 12th Mid-European-Clay Conference (MECC 2026) to be held at ETH Zurich, Campus Zentral, from 06 to 11 September 2026. The conference will be organized by the DTTG and ETH Zurich under the auspices of Dr. Michael Plötze.
More information regarding the conference and invited speakers, the organizing committee and the program will be provided here soon.
For more information feel free to contact us at mecc2026@dttg.org.
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Programme
The Scientific Committee has reviewed all the session proposals submitted and is pleased to present a variety of interesting topics covering the wide range of modern clay research. We will announce the start of the abstract submission process here and through our social media channels soon. So don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn
Abstracts
The submission of abstracts will begin shortly.
Please make a note that May 31 will be the deadline for abstract submission!
Registration
The registration process will be handled by the ETH Conference Office. As soon as the registration is open, you will find the link here.
Venue
The conference will be held in the main building (HG) of the Zentrum Campus of ETH Zurich, which is located in the heart of Zurich. For more information about how to reach the venue and detailed site plans please visit the link above.
Accommodation
Information about hotels will be provided here...
Field Trips & Workshops
So far we have planned exciting field trips and a preconference Rietveld workshop for you. More information regarding costs and maximum participants will follow soon.
Field Trips
Dinosaurs and clay pit "Gruhalde" (Frick, Aargau)
Late Triassic to Lower Jurassic terrestrial and marine clay-rich sediments and a major find spot for large Triassic dinosaurs. Includes a visit to the dinosaur museum Frick.
Visit to the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory
Guided tour and insights into the world-renowned underground research laboratory for geological and environmental studies.
Clay pits in N-Switzerland
This excursion will provide an insight into the mining and use of clays in the region. Participants will be guided along the Geo Hiking Trail from the clay pit "Passhöhe Staffelegg" (contact zone between Staffelegg formation and Opalinus clay) to the gypsum pit "Riepel" (contact zone between Gipskeuper and Staffelegg formation).
Workshops
Advanced Rietveld Refinement and Clay Mineral Modeling with Profex
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Organized by the German-Austrian-Swiss Clay Group (DTTG)
This specialized workshop provides an in-depth exploration of quantitative phase analysis and the structural characterization of clay minerals using BGMN/Profex. Participants will gain comprehensive insights into the software’s capabilities, ranging from fundamental principles to sophisticated modeling techniques. The curriculum covers the core aspects of Quantitative Phase Analysis (QPA), including the determination of amorphous content. A significant focus is placed on advanced crystallographic challenges, such as the treatment of turbostratically disordered phases and the application of recursive methods for several layered structures. Furthermore, the workshop delves into specialized 1D modeling for key clay minerals of both discrete as well as interstratified phases. This includes modeling of data in both air-dried and ethylene glycol-saturated states.
Participants are encouraged to follow the talks and live demonstrations on their own laptops. The Software and some examples to discuss in the workshop will be given in advance.
Sponsors
Our official sponsors will be announced soon! If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, please contact us at mecc2026@dttg.org and we will send you information about the different sponsorship packages.