Steve Hillier

Soil Mineralogist
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
T: +44 (0)1224 395336

Steve Hillier is a mineralogist by training, he studied for his PhD at Southampton University and undertook post docs at the Laboratoire de Geologie de L'Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, and subsequently at the Geologisches Institut, Universitat Bern. Steve makes extensive use of X-ray powder diffraction in his work and his research interests revolve around a mixture of clay, soil and environmental mineralogy. Clay minerals are his specialty and he is a former Chairman of the Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.  He set up and maintains the 'Images of Clay' archive a free to use for teaching purposes - clay mineral image gallery.  Clay minerals are extremely varied and soil clay minerals are amongst the most difficult of all minerals to study and characterise.  Many of the properties of soils are controlled by the clay minerals they contain, but understanding how mineralogy controls properties requires accurate techniques for clay mineral identification, characterisation and quantification.  Steve's research is aimed at developing methods for clay mineral identification and quantification in soils and linking this to an understanding of soil properties and behaviour.

Biography

The innovation of the XRPD quantitative methods developed by Steve is world renowned through his consistent success in the Reynolds Cup, and many of the same methods are offered as commercial services to industry via www.claysandminerals.com.  Ian Phillips, Helen Pendlowski and Nia Gray, all work together with Steve on various projects revolving around clay minerals.

Steve is a visiting Professor in the Department of Soil and Environment at the Swedish Agricultural University in Uppsala, and has collaborated with several colleagues there for many years.  Steve was also Chair of the scientific and organising committee for Euroclay 2015 in Edinburgh see the archived conference website for more details.

Research

My interests revolve around many aspects of clay, soil, and environmental mineralogy.  At present I am focused on promoting the concept and vision of ‘digital mineralogy’.  I also have an ongoing interest in the mineralogy of halloysite nano tubes also know as HNTs.

Past research

You can view all my publications on my Web of Science Researcher ID page or at my Google Scholar page.

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Dawson, L.A.; Campbell, C.D.; Hillier, S.; Brewer, M.J. (2008) Methods of characterising and fingerprinting soils for forensic application., In: Tibbett, M. & Carter, D.O. (eds.). Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 271-315.
  • Hillier, S. (2006) Formation and alteration of clay materials., In: Clay Materials Used in Construction (eds. G. M. Reeves, I. Sims and J. C. Cripps). Engineering Geology Special Publications 21, Geological Society, London, pp29-71. ISBN: 978-1-86239-184-0
  • Hillier, S.J. (2003) Chlorite in sediments., In: Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks (eds. G.V. Middleton, M.J. Church, M. Coniglio, L.A. Hardie and F.J. Longstaffe). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp123-127.
    Encyclopaedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks.
  • Hillier, S. (2003) Clay mineralogy., In: Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks (eds. G.V. Middleton, M.J. Church, M. Coniglio, L.A. Hardie and F.J. Longstaffe). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp139-142.
    Encyclopaedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks.
  • Hillier, S.J. (1999) Environmental interactions of clays., Mineralogical Magazine. Edited by A.Parker and J.E. Rae.
  • Hillier, S. (1995) Erosion, sedimentation and sedimentary origin of clays., Clays and the Environment (ed. B. Velde). Chapter 4.

Technical / contract reports

  • Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Dawson, L.A. (2008) Micro-scale Approaches to Soil Evidence (micro – ASE)., Science and Technology Facilities Council: SRS Experiment Report 2008.
  • Nolan, A.J.; Hillier, S.; Hough, R. (2008) Sampling and analysis of lead mine spoil, Tyndrum, Argyll, and implications in relation to the expansion of visitor access., Forestry Commission, Scotland.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Delbos, E.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M. (2007) Analytical investigation on soils from Roman finds., Report for National Museums of Scotland, May 2007.
  • Miller, D.R.; Lund, J.; Towers, W.; Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S. (2003) Dr Miller’s toolkit for countryside change: a contribution towards “public understanding of science”., SALSA Regional Workshop RR30, The Moorings Hotel, Fort William, 24 May 2018, 14pp.
  • Hillier, S. (2003) Spray drying kit for the preparation of random powder samples for x-ray powder diffraction., Operation and Instruction Manual for Spray Drier. Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen. Version 1.3. May 2003.
  • Hillier, S. (1999) Spray-drying kit for the preparation of random powder samples for x-ray powder diffraction., Manual for spray driers sold under MRC115.
  • Hillier, S. (1998) Report on the validation of the “Methods for quantitative analysis by XRD of clay minerals in orientated specimens” (Method J022)., Internal technical report for the purposes of NAMAS accreditation.
  • Hillier, S. (1998) Report of the validation of the “Methods for quantitative phase analysis by XRD of random powder samples” (Method J024)., Internal technical report for the purposes of NAMAS accreditation.

Conference papers

  • Walker, R.L.; Oborn, I.; Bertilsson, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Coull, M.C.; Dahlin, A.S.; Edwards, A.C.; Eriksson, J.; Frankow-Lindberg, B.E.; Hillier, S.; Lindstrom, B.; Linse, L.; Ramezanian, A.; Lumsdon, D.G.; Shand, C.; Sinclair, A.H.; Watson, C.A.; Wivstad, M. (2010) Micronutrient strategies in organic systems: using local and site specific resources to improve crop and livestock quality., Proceedings of 15th World Fertilizer Congress of the International Scientific Centre for Fertilizers (CIEC), Romania, 29 August – 2 September 2010.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, R.W. (2010) A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
  • Oborn, I.; Bertilsson, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Dahlin, A.S.; Edwards, A.C.; Eriksson, J.; Frankow-Lindberg, B.E.; Hillier, S.; Lindstrom, B.; Linse, L.; Ramezanian, A.; Sinclair, A.H.; Watson, C.A.; Wivstad, M. (2009) Micronutrient management strategies in organic systems – How to utilize local and site specific resources for improved product quality from crops and livestock?, Proceedings International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE 2009), 10th, Chihuahua, Mexico, 13-16 July 2009.
  • Oborn, I.; Bertilsson, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Dahlin, A.S.; Edwards, A.C.; Eriksson, J.; Frankow-Lindberg, B.E.; Hillier, S.; Lindstrom, B.; Linse, L.; Ramezanian, A.; Sinclair, A.H.; Watson, C.A.; Wivstad, M. (2009) Micronutrient management strategies in organic systems – How to utilize local and site specific resources for improved product quality from crops and livestock?, Nordic Agricultural Conference, Estonia, 27-29 August 2009.
  • Delbos, E.; Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Thornton, B. (2008) Traces of soil from archaeological artefacts: a multidisciplinary approach., International Crime Science Conference 2008, London, 17-18 July 2008.
  • Hillier, S.; Dawson, L.A.; Robertson, J, Delbos, E.; Shiels, J.; Campbell, S.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M. (2007) Provenancing archaeological objects using traces of soil., Conference Proceedings, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
  • Farmer, J.G.; Hillier, S.; Lumsdon, D.G.; Graham, M.C.; Bewley, R.J.F. (2007) The assessment and remediation of chromite ore processing residue at former disposal sites, Glasgow, Scotland: current status., In: Geotechnics of Waste Management and Remediation (eds. M.V. Khire, A.K. Alshawabkeh and K.R. Reddy), ASCE Geotech. Spec. Pubn. No. 177, 740-747.
  • Kleeberg, R.; Monecke, T.; Hillier, S. (2006) Some aspects of the preparation of samples suitable for quantitative XRD analysis., Annual Meeting of the Ton- und Tonmineralgruppe fur Deutschland (DTTG) Valkenburg (near Aachen), 4-5 October 2006.
  • Graham, M.C.; Farmer, J.G.; Anderson, J.; Paterson, E.; Hillier, S.J.; Lumsdon, D.G. and Bewley, R.J.F. (2005) Calcium polysulfide remediation of hexavalent chromium contamination from chromite ore processing residue., Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health Conference, Glasgow, 2005. Oral presentation.
  • Oborn, I.; Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Simonsson, M.; Andersson, S.; Hillier, S. (2004) Hog lerhalt ingen garanti for gott kaliumtillst?nd., Jordbrukskonferensen Ultuna, 23-24 November 2004, pp36-37. In Swedish
  • Hillier, S. (2003) Detection limits in XRPD: a practical approach and some practical applications., Durham X-ray Conference ( Invited Plenary Lecture).
  • Shand, C.A.; Cheshire, M.V.; Hillier, S.J.; Newbauer, C. and Rosen, K. (1998) Plant availability of radiocaesium in contaminated organic soils., Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Conference, Bordeaux, 8th Annual Meeting, 14-18 April 1998, p61.
  • Hillier, S. (1997) State of the art and routine quantitative clay mineral analysis., 25 Year Jubilee Meeting of the German Clay and Clay Mineral Group on Quantitative Clay Mineral Analysis, Trier, 18-20 Sept. 1997.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Bishop, J.L.; Rampe, E.B.; Baker, L.L.; Bish, D.L.; Abidin, Z.; Henmi, T.; Hillier, S. (2011) Spectral properties of natural and synthetic allophanes, imogolites, hydrated silica and phyllosilicates and applications to Mars., AGU (American Geophysical Union) Fall Meeting 2012, San Francisco, California, 7 December 2012. Abstracts, 1, 3pp.
  • McKeown, N.K.; Bishop, J.L.; Amador, E.; Cuadros, J.; Hillier, S.; Makarewicz, H.; Parente, M.; Silver, E.A. (2010) Spectral mixtures of clays and their impact on crism mineral identifications., Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Conference Abstracts, 41, 2510.
  • McKeown, N.K.; Bishop, J.L.; Cuadros, J.; Hillier, S.; Parente, M. (2010) Hydrated silica at Mawrth Vallis and implications for past environment., AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 1, 4.
  • Walker, R.L.; Oborn, I.; Bertilsson, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Coull, M.C.; Dahlin, A.S.; Edwards, A.C.; Eriksson, J.; Frankow-Lindberg, B.E.; Hillier, S.; Lindstrom, B.; Linse, L.; Ramezanian, A.; Lumsdon, D.G.; Shand, C.; Sinclair, A.H.; Watson, C.A.; Wivstad, M. (2010) Micronutrient strategies in organic systems: using local and site specific resources to improve crop and livestock quality., Proceedings of 15th World Fertilizer Congress of the International Scientific Centre for Fertilizers (CIEC), Romania, 29 August – 2 September 2010. (Poster)
  • Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M.; Robertson, A.H.J. (2009) Chemical profiling of soil for forensic application., Royal Society of Chemistry, 42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry Solutions, SECC, Glasgow, 2 -7 August 2009.
  • Shand, C.A.; Hillier, S. (2009) Selenium content of agricultural soils from Scotland., British Geological Survey Medical Geology Meeting, BGS, Nottingham, 19-20 March 2009.
  • Meyer, E.E.; Aronson, J.L.; Nadeau, P.H.; Riediger, C.; Hillier, S. (2008) Dating the tectonic burial and maturation of the principal source rocks of the Alberta Tar Sands in the Western Canada sedimentary basin., 2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM, Houston, Texas, 5-9 October 2008.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Lilly, A.; Towers, W.; Edwards, A.C.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S.; Paterson, E. (2008) Mineralogical speciation of soil potassium – a basis for sustainable management options for grassland soils, Eurosoil 2008, Soil-Society-Environment. Session: Potassium, Liming and Wastes. Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria, 25-29 August 2008.
  • Shand, C.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Chudek, J.A. (2007) 31P NMR MAS and XRPD analysis of phosphorus in biosolids., Third International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, sponsored by American Academy of Sciences, Houston, Texas, 6-9 August 2007.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Simonsson, M.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S. (2006) Acid-extractable potassium from different mineral phases as assessed by differential XRD., World Congress of Soil Science, 18th, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 9-15 July 2006. Poster.
  • 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.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Simonsson, M.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S. (2006) Long term contribution of K from different mineral phases in agricultural soils as estimated by Differential XRD., World Congress of Soil Science, 18th, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 9-15 July 2006. Abstract.
  • Simonsson, M.; Andersson, S.; Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Hillier, S.; Mattsson, L.; Oborn, I. (2006) Potassium release and fixation in contrasting soil parent materials and K fertiliser application rates: estimates using soil balances and changes in the exchangeable pool., Field Crops Research.264, Article No. 108088.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Simonsson, M.; Andersson, S.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S. (2005) Potassium in Swedish agricultural soils – sources and sinks under present management., Focus on Soil Symposium “Managing Soils for the Future” (eds. A. Gardenas and E. Karltun), Uppsala, Sweden, 14-16 September 2005
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Simonsson, M.; Andersson, S.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S. (2005) Evaluating K status in agricultural soils – linking standard extraction methods to soil mineralogy and geochemistry., British Society of Soil Science, Young Scientists Meeting, Imperial College London 7-8 April 2005. Abstract
  • Dawson, L.A.; Moore, F.P.; Mayes, R.W.; Hillier, S.; Towers, W.; Campbell, C.D.; Malcolm, A.; Brewer, M.; Robertson, J.; Barclay, D. (2004) Integration of soil fingerprinting techniques for soil forensic applications (SOILFIT)., Forensic Science Society Annual Meeting, Bedfordshire, 5-7 November 2004.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Andersson, S.; Simonsson, M.; Oborn, I.; Hillier, S. (2004) Potassium status of agricultural soils – farming systems – measuring methods – soil mineralogy., EUROSOIL 2004, Freiburg, Germany, 4-12 September 2004.
  • Andrist-Rangel, Y.; Hillier, S.; Edwards, A.C.; Oborn, I. (2004) Potassium dynamics in ley production systems as related to farming system and soil mineralogy – a case study at three agricultural sites in South Sweden., Eurosoil 2004 Congress, Freiburg, Germany, 4-12 September 2004.

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