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Jeff Wilson

Staff picture: Jeff Wilson
Honorary Fellow
Honorary Fellow
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

Sadly, Jeff passed away on 20th July 2023. Jeff had a career of 40 years as a clay mineralogist and was Head of the Division of Soils and Soil Microbiology at the Macaulay Institute from 1982 until he retired in 1997. He influenced the careers of many scientists and will be very much missed.

I was previously Head of the Division of Soils and Soil Microbiology at the Macaulay Institute, and am now an Honorary Research Fellow, with over 40 years experience in research on the chemistry and mineralogy of soils and rocks in relation to properties and behaviour from both agricultural and environmental points of view. I have published over 200 papers and compiled and edited four books in these areas. I have a wide experience of soils in many different countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, both from working visits and collaboration with visiting research workers. I was awarded the first Schlumberger Medal for excellence in mineralogical research and its applications by the Mineralogical Society in 1990 and gave the 4th George Brown Lecture to the Society in 2003. In June 2005 I received the Bailey Award of the Clay Minerals Society of America and was made a Distinguished Member of the Society. The Bailey Award is the premier award of the Clay Minerals Society and is given only on grounds of scientific excellence. I am currently writing a text book on clay minerals which will be published by the Geological Society of London as part of the series on Rock Forming Minerals compiled by Deer, Howie and Zussman.

I taught soil mineralogy at BSc and MSc levels for over 10 years at the University of Aberdeen where I was an Honorary Reader. I am an Honorary Professor of Zhejiang Agricultural University in Hangzhou, China. I taught a soil mineralogy course to MSc students at the University of Naples and contributed to Summer Schools for students under the aegis of the British Council and EUROLAT (a network of European scientists interested in research on laterites). I have also taught a course on clay mineralogy and its application to the oil industry for a major oil service company in Aberdeen

I was awarded the degree of DSc from the University of Wales in 1983 and was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1985.

Current research interests

My special interests as noted above include the mineralogy of soils and rocks, particularly clay minerals, in relation to the properties and behaviour of these materials. For this reason I am very interested in the way clay mineralogy can be applied in different spheres of life, recent examples being the clay mineralogy of geophagic rocks and soils and the development of a course to be given in the Institute on the application of clay mineralogy to the petroleum industry.

Bibliography

  • Campbell, L.C.; Dawson, J.J.C.; Paton, G.I.; Wilson, M.J. (2006) Identification of environmental factors limiting plant uptake of metaldehyde seed treatments under field conditions., Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 3646-3650.

  • Wilson, M.J. (2013) Rock Forming Minerals (eds. A. Deer, R.A. Howie and J. Zussman). Volume 3C, Sheet Silicates: Clay Minerals., 2nd edition, Geological Society of London.
  • Wilson, M.J. (2006) Factors of soil formation: parent material as exemplified by a comparison between granitic and basaltic soils., In: Factors of soil Formation and Degradation (eds. G. Certini and R. Scalemnghe). Cambridge University Press, Chapter 9, pp113-129.
  • Baligar, V.C., Fageria, N.K., Eswaran, H., Wilson, M.J. and He, Z.L. (2004) Nature and properties of red soils of the world., In: Wilson, M.J., He, Z. & Yang, X. (eds.). The Red Soils of China: Their Nature, Management and Utilization, Springer, The Netherlands, pp7-27.
  • Zhang, M.; Wilson, M.J.; He, Z. (2004) Mineralogy of red soils in southern China in relation to their development and charge characteristics., In: Wilson, M.J.; He, Z. & Yang, X. (eds.). The Red Soils of China: Their Nature, Management and Utilization, Springer, The Netherlands, pp35-61.
  • Zhang, M.; He, Z.; Wilson, M.J. (2004) Chemical and physical characteristics of red soils from Zhejiang Province, Southern China., In: Wilson, M.J.; He, Z. & Yang, X. (eds.). The Red Soils of China: Their Nature, Management and Utilization, Springer, The Netherlands, pp63-87.
  • Wilson, M.J. (2000) Soil quality, sustainable development and environmental security: introduction to general concepts., In: Soil Quality, Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Security in Central and Eastern Europe (eds. M.J. Wilson and B. Maliszewska-Kordybach). NATO Science Series, Kluwer Academic, ppxi-xv.
  • Zhang, M., He, Z.L. and Wilson, M.J. (1997) Development of soil profile in relation to mineral transformation in subtropical hilly region., In: Soil Chemistry Research and Application. (Ed. C. Huang). Environmental Science Publisher, Beijing. pp122-128. (In Chinese).
  • Wilson, M.J. (ed.). (1994) Clay Mineralogy: Spectroscopic and Chemical Methods (ed M. J. Wilson). Chapman and Hall, London. 350pp.,
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The sensitivity of soils to acidification taking land-use into account. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The likely occurrence of surface water acidification in Scotland. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) Areas of critical load exceedance based on the most sensitive soil within each 20 km grid for Scotland. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) Exceedance of critical Load of acid deposition to scottish soils based on 75% of soil within each 20km grid. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The sensitivity of soils to acidification in Scotland. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The sensitivity of groundwater to acidification in Scotland. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The critical loads of Scottish soils based on parent material, soil, topography and land-use. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) The critical loads of Scottish soils based on parent material, soil and topography. Map, scale 1:1 million., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. (Restricted circulation).
  • Wilson, M.J., Smith, B.F.L. and Mitchell, B.D. (1990) Some aspects of mineral weathering in relation to nutrient inputs in Scottish hill and upland mineral soils., In: Field Methods in Terrestrial Ecosystem Nutrient Cycling (eds. A.F. Harrison, P. Ineson and O.W. Heal), pp11-25.

  • Wilson, M.J.; Langan, S.J. (1999) Mineralogy and weathering rates for FAO soil types., Final Contract Report for the Stockholm Environment Institute, Macaulay Research and Consultancy Services, Aberdeen, April 1999.
  • Wilson, M.J. and He, Z. (1997) Characterization, management and utilization of red soil resources in Southern China - annual progress report 1996-1997., European Commission.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1995) Final report on the work on critical loads for Scottish soils and their use in indicative forestry strategies., Contract Report to Scottish Office Environment Department, Central Research Unit, 71pp.
  • Wilson. M.J. and Duthie, D.M.L. (1993) The Clay Mineralogy of Selected Soils from Northern Ireland., A report to the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1992) The Sir Walter Scott Monument. Mineralogical and Chemical Characteristics of the Fresh, Weathered and Polluted Stone., A report for a Public Local Inquiry to Historic Scotland.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1992) Interstratified Chlorite/Serpentine in North Sea Sandstones., A report for Statoil, Stavanger, Norway.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) Critical Loads of Acid Deposition on the Soils of the Upper Halladale Catchments, Sutherland., A report to the Halladale Fisheries Board.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) Critical loads of acid deposition to Scottish soils., Report (Part A)to The Scottish Office.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1991) Predicting the occurrence of surface water acidification in Scotland using an approach based on geology, soils and land use., Final Report for the Scottish Development Department (Part B), Critical Load Contract, January 1991, 36pp.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1990) Critical Loads of Acid Deposition on Scottish Soils., Final Report for Scottish Development Department (Part A), 31pp.
  • Wimaladasa, G.D., Wilson, M.J. and Sinclair, A.H. (1989) Observation cell for observing interactions of roots and soil., Innovation, 15, 20.

  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh , N.C.; Oborn, I.; Wilson, M.J. (2010) Assessing exposure to cadmium in a metal recycling community in Vietnam., International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, 15th, Gdansk, Poland, 19-23 September 2010.
  • Pavlova, L.A., Kuprienko, P., Maes, A., Wilson, M.J., Savina, N.A. and Roitman, S. (1998) Targeted modification of Ukrainian clays for water purification from organic pollutants., Scientific Israel-Technical Advantages. 1, Materials and Environmental Engineering, pp43-53.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1998) Acid deposition, critical loads and soil minerals: a historical review with cautionary comments., World Congress of Soil Science, Montpellier, France. Introductory paper to Symposium No.24 on "Soils Minerals and Acidification". 5pp.
  • Zhang, M., He, Z., Chen, G., Huang, C. and Wilson, M.J. (1995) Formation and water stability of different aggregate siz classes in red soils as affected by organic matter., Proceedings of the International Symposium on Integrated Exploitation and Sustainable Development in Red Soil Area. Nanchang, China, 235-243.
  • Bodkin, H.; Albon, S. (1995) Preliminary observations on the mineralogy of some derived red soils from various parent materials in Zhejiang Province, China., Proceedings of the International Symposium on Integrated Exploitation and Sustainable Development in Red Soil Area.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1993) Pedologic factors influencing the distribution and properties of soil smectites, Trends in Agricultural Sciences, 1, 199-216.
  • Langan, S.J.; Wilson, M.J. (1993) The application of Stokloster critical load classes to the soils of Scotland., In: Critical Loads: Concepts and Applications. ITE Symposium No. 28, pp. 40-47. HMSO.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1993) Tertiary latertic weathering in Scotland: its influence on the mineralogical composition of Scottish soils., In: EUROLAT. Proceedings of a Summer School on Laterites, Orleans, pp212-272.
  • Young, M.E., Andrew, C.A., MacDonald, J., Thomson, B.W., Tonge, K.H. Urquhart, D.C.M. and Wilson, M.J. (1993) Stone cleaning in Scotland., In: Alteracion de Granitos y Rocas Afines (eds. M.A. Vicente Henandez, E.M. Ballesteros and V.R. Arnau). CSIC, Madrid.pp173-176.
  • Wilson, M.J. and Langan, S.J. (1991) Mapping critical loads of acid deposition on Scottish soils and predicting the susceptibility of surface water acidification in Scotland., In: Proceedings of the International Conference, Wageningen, Netherlands, March 1991 (eds. N.H. Batjes and E.M. Bridges), pp. 135-141.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1990) Clay mineralogy and mineral weathering: their significance in 'acid rain' and catchment studies., In: Lectures at the 6th Meeting of the European Clay Groups, Sevilla, Spain (Eds. J.L. Perez Rodriguez and E. Galan), pp167-184.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1990) Fundamental particles and interstratified clay minerals: current perspectives., Mineralogia Petrographia Acta, 33, 5-14.
  • Wilson, M.J.; Cresser, M.S.; Lilly, A.; Nolan, A.J. (1989) Vulnerable soils and their distribution., Proceedings of a Symposium on Acidification in Scotland, 1988. Organised by SDD, pp. 60-70.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1989) The mineralogy, properties and behaviour of lateritic soils: implications for land use., In: EUROLAT. Proceedings of a Summer School on Laterites, Strasbourg, 65pp.
  • Jones, D., Wilson, M.J. and McHardy, W.J. (1988) Effects of lichens on mineral surfaces., In: Proceedings of the International Biodeterioration symposium, 7th, Cambridge, 1987. (eds. D.R. Houghton, R.N. Smith and H.O.W. Eggins), Elsevier/Applied Science, London. pp129-134.
  • Wilson, M.J. and Jones, D. (1985) Biological weathering of minerals., Proceedings of metting Society International Italian Science, Suolo/AIPEA (Italian Group), Stresa, 1985, pp57-65.

  • Hall, C.; Rhind, S.M.; Wilson, M.J. (2008) Effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on terrestrial molluscs., SETAC Young Researchers Meeting, Reading, July 2008.
  • Hall, C.; Rhind, S.M.; Wilson, M.J. (2008) 40 Ar/39 radiometric dating of thrust activity using synkinematic clay minerals: a case study from the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees, Proceedings of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Young Researchers Meeting, Reading, 3-4 July 2008.
  • Wilson, M.J.; Hillier, S. (2006) The widespread occurrence of tosudite as a diagenetic phase in old red sandstone (Devonian) sediments of Great Britain., International Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals, Pushchino, Russia, 26-30 June 2006.
  • Wilson, M.J.; Certini, G.; Hillier, S.; Campbell, C.D.; Anderson, I.C. (2006) Clay mineral formation in a trachybasaltic saprolite and the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi., Joint Meeting of Groupe Francaise des Argiles and the Clay Minerals Society of America, Oleron, France, 3-7 June 2006.
  • Wilson, M.J.; Certini, G.; Campbell, C.D.; Anderson, I.C.; Hillier, S. (2006) Doubts as to the effectiveness of ectomycorrhizal fungi as agents of mineral weathering and synthesizers of clay minerals., International Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals, Pushchino, Russia, 26-30 June 2006.
  • Fraser, A.R., Wilson, M.J., Roe, M.J. and Shen, Z. (2001) Use of hydrofluoric acid dissolution for the concentration of dickite and nacrite from kaolin deposits: an FTIR study., Mid-European Clay Conference, Stara Lesna, Slovakia, 9-14 September 2001.
  • Ying, Y., Hillier, S., Wilson, M.J. and Shen, Z. (2000) Mineralogy and quantitative analysis of industrial kaolins., Industrial Clays, Exeter, April 2000.
  • Hillier, S.; Ying, Y.; Wilson, M.J.; Zhengyue, S. (2000) Quantitative analysis by x-ray powder diffraction and the reference intensity ratio of kaolinite., Clay Minerals Society, 37th Annual Meeting, Chicago, 24-29 June 2000.
  • Wilson, M.J. (1999) Minerals and their interactions within the environment., La Scienza del Suolo in Italia, Annual Conference, 21-26 June 1999. Abstract.
  • Yong, X., Yang, M.J., Jioing, L.Y., Bacon, J.R., Paterson, E. and Wilson, M.J. (1999) Physiological responses of Elsholtzia splendens to copper supply levels., 17th European Conference of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
  • Ying, Y., Wilson, M.J., Hillier, S.J. and Zhangyue, S. (1999) Problems with quantitative analysis of plastic kaolinitic clays by XRD using a reference intensity ratio (RIR) method., Proceedings of Inter-Strait (China-Taiwan) Conference on Geology and the Environment, Taipei, 1999.
  • Kostic, N., Wilson, M.J., Zivkovic, M. and Bain, D.C. (1998) Mineralogy and geochemical speciation of heavy metals to some serpentine soils of Serbia., Proceedings of the World Congress of Soil Science, Montpellier.
  • Oborn, I., Edwards, A.C., Cook, Y., Bain, D.C., Hillier, S.J., Paterson, E. and Wilson, M.J. (1998) Soil potassium dynamics during a 30 year field experiment - contribution from mineral weathering., Proceedings of British Society for Soil Science Annual Conference, Belfast, September 1998. Abstract for poster.
  • Newey, S.; Fletcher, K.; Potts, J.; Iason, G. (1997) Soil quality, sustainable development and environmental security : general concepts., NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Soil Quality", Pulawy, Poland.
  • Wilson, M.J., Oyegoke, C. and Fraser, A.R. (1997) Occurrence of trioctahedral clay mica in some Nigerian alluvial soils., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
  • Song, Y., Moon, H.S., Wilson, M.J. and Lee, G.H. (1997) Existence of polar layers in phogopite and its weathered products after N-alkylammonium treatment and its implications for the nattive of vermiculitization., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
  • Song, Y., Wilson, M.J., Moon, H.S. and Bacon, J.R. (1997) Effect of the clay fraction on the distribution of Pb, Cd and Zn species in waste dumps, stream sediments and soils from a former goldmine, Korea., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
  • Wilson, M.J., Belzunce, M.J., Duthie, D.M.L. and Fraser, A.R. (1997) Clay mineralogy of the surface sediments of the San Simon Inlet, Ria de Vigo, Galicia., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
  • Wilson, M.J.; Meeussen, J.C.L. (1997) Weathering of a sandstone monument in a polluted environment : a case study., In: Suloysky, P. & Zeman, J. (eds.). ENVIWEATH 96 Environmental Aspects of Weathering Processes. Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Mas. Brun. Czech Republic., Geologia. Pp240.247.
  • Wilson, M.J., Zhen, M., Duthie, D.M.L. and He, Z (1997) Primary factors influencing the clay mineralogy of the red soils of Southern China., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.

Scientific Posters / Conferences


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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.