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Steve Hillier

Staff picture: Steve Hillier
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Soil Mineralogist
stephen.hillier@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1224 395336

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

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.

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 is also Chair of the scientific and organising committee for Euroclay 2015, which will bring together the various European clay mineral groups, The Clay Minerals Society, and the International Natural Zeolite Association in a joint meeting in Edinburgh see the conference website for more details. 

Current research interests

My interests revolve around many aspects of clay, soil, and environmental mineralogy. 

Past research

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

Bibliography

  • 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.

  • 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.; Fraser, T.; Roe, M. (1999) Mineralogical analysis of pore-lining chlorite in the Tiljc Formation, Smorbukl field, offshore, mid Norway., STATOIL, Confidential report.
  • 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.

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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.