Dr Steve Hillier

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 currently Chairman of the Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Research Interests

Clay, soil, and environmental mineralogy.

Steve's highlighted publications

• A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., Dawson, L.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, B., (In press) International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2nd-4th November 2010. Invited keynote speaker.

• Use of soil fingerprinting approaches for ascertaining change over time., Dawson, L.; Hillier, S.; Duff, B.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Brewer, M.; Mayes, R.W.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C., (In press) ASA, CSSA and SSSA 2010 International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, California, 31st October - 4th November 2010.

• Measurement of soil characteristics for forensic applications., Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S., (2010) Surface and Interface Analysis, 42, 363-377.

Steve's most recent publications

• Assessing potassium reserves in northern temperate grassland soils: A perspective based on quantitative mineralogical analysis and aqua-regia extractable potassium., Andrist Rangel, Y.; Hillier, S.; Oborn, I.; Lilly, A.; Towers, W.; Edwards, A.C.; Paterson, E., (In press) Geoderma.

• Fabric anisotropy induced by primary depositional variations in the silt: clay ratio in two fine-grained slope fan complexes: Texas Gulf Coast and Northern North Sea., Day-Stirrat, R.J.; Dutton, S.; Milliken, K.L.; Loucks, R.G.; Aplin, A.C.; Hillier, S.; van der Pluijm, B.A., (2010) Sedimentary Geology, 226, 42-53.

• Aqua regia extractable selenium contents of some Scottish topsoils measured by ICP-MS and the relationship with mineral and organic components., Shand, C.A.; Balsam, M.; Hillier, S.J.; Hudson, G.; Newman, G.; Arthur, J.R.; Nicol, F., (2010) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90, 972-980.

• Differences and commonalities in physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of Zanzibari geophagic soils., Young, S.; Wilson, M.J.; Hillier, S.; Delbos, E., (2010) Journal of Chemical Ecology, 36, 129-140.

• Chemical profiling of soil for forensic application., Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.; Robertson, A.H.J., (2009) Royal Society of Chemistry, 42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry Solutions, SECC, Glasgow, 2nd -7th August 2009.

• XANES speciation of P in environmental samples: an assessment of filter media for on-site wastewater treatment., Eveborn, D.; Gustafsson, J.P.; Hesterberg, D.; Hillier, S., (2009) Environmental Science and Technology, 43, 6515-6521.

• Mineralogical and chemical characterization of some vermiculites from the Mozambique Belt of Tanzania for agricultural use., Marwa, E.M.M.; Hillier, S.; Rice, C.M.; Meharg, A.A., (2009) Clay Minerals, 44, 1-17.

• Effect of EDTA on the fractionation and uptake by Taraxacum officinale of potentially toxic elements in soil from former chemical manufacturing sites., Mossop, K.F.; Davidson, C.M.; Ure, A.M.; Shand, C.A.; Hillier, S.J., (2009) Plant and Soil, 320, 117-129.

• Micronutrient management strategies in organic systems - How to utilize local and site specific resources for improved product quality from crops and livestock?, 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) Nordic Agricultural Conference, Estonia, 27-29 August 2009.

• Micronutrient management strategies in organic systems - How to utilize local and site specific resources for improved product quality from crops and livestock?, 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) Proceedings, 10th, ICOBTE 2009, Chihuahua, Mexico, 13-16th July 2009.