Dr John MacDonald

  • Lecturer in Earth Sciences (School of Geographical & Earth Sciences)

Research interests

Postgraduate Research Opportunities

I don't have any funded PhD or MSc by Research projects available at the moment but I am always happy to hear from prospective students who wish to undertake an MSc by Research or PhD in my fields of interest (see below).

Research Interests

My main research interest revolves around carbon and carbonates. I use a range of analytical methods, from X-Ray Computed Tomography (XCT) to novel isotope geochemistry techniques such as clumped isotopes, to address a range of research questions:

  • atmospheric CO2 capture with slag and rocks
  • pollution from legacy industrial wastes
  • carbonate mineralisation in hydrothermal fluid flow and geothermal energy systems
  • carbonate hydrocarbon reservoir diagenesis

I have a particular interest in legacy industrial waste products, particularly the breakdown of iron and steel slags, both from their potential for capturing atmospheric CO2 as well as the challenges they pose with pollution.

Additionally, I retain an interest in Precambrian gneiss complexes which I studied during my PhD, ranging from mineral deposit formation to zircon geochemistry.

 

Image: reconstruction from XCT data of mineralised CO2 in pores in steel slag.

Biography

2015-present - Lecturer in Earth Sciences, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow

2013-2015 - PDRA in the Carbonate Research Group with Dr Cedric John, Dept. Earth & Environmenetal Science, Imperial College London

2008-2013 - PhD student with Professor John Wheeler, Dept. Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool

2004-2008 1st class BSc (Hons) in Earth Science, 

School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow

Find me online:

https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/john-macdonald/33/b72/b35

Twitter: @DrJohnMacUoG and @gusolidearth (research group account)

Instagram: @johnmacdonald181 and @gusolidearth (research group account)

http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=zmai3BEAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCiD: 0000-0002-8609-804X


Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2013
Number of items: 15.

2020

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., MacDonald, J. M. and Faithfull, J. W. (2020) The origin(s) and geodynamic significance of Archaean ultramafic-mafic bodies in the mainland Lewisian Gneiss Complex, North Atlantic Craton. Journal of the Geological Society, (doi: 10.1144/jgs2020-013) (Early Online Publication)

2019

MacDonald, J.M. , Faithfull, J.W. , Roberts, N.M.W., Davies, A.J., Holdsworth, C.S., Newton, M., Williamson, S., Boyce, A. and John, C.M. (2019) Clumped isotope palaeothermometry and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of lava-pile hydrothermal calcite veins. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 174, 63. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-019-1599-x)

2018

Faithfull, J. W. , Dempster, T. J. , MacDonald, J. M. , Reilly, M. and EIMF, (2018) Metasomatism and the crystallization of zircon megacrysts in Archaean peridotites from the Lewisian complex, NW Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 173, 99. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-018-1527-5) (PMID:30930466) (PMCID:PMC6404683)

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., Schlatter, D. M., Goodenough, K. M., MacDonald, J. M. and Faithfull, J. W. (2018) Assessing the validity of negative high field strength-element anomalies as a proxy for Archaean subduction: evidence from the Ben Strome Complex, NW Scotland. Geosciences, 8(9), 338. (doi: 10.3390/geosciences8090338)

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., MacDonald, J. M. , Blenkinsop, T. G., Goodenough, K. M., Faithfull, J. W. and Gooday, R. J. (2018) Re-evaluating ambiguous age relationships in Archean cratons: implications for the origin of ultramafic-mafic complexes in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex. Precambrian Research, 311, pp. 136-156. (doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2018.04.020)

Lu, Y.-C., Song, S.-R., Taguchi, S., Wang, P.-L., Yeh, E.-C., Lin, Y.-J., MacDonald, J. and John, C. M. (2018) Evolution of hot fluids in the Chingshui geothermal field inferred from crystal morphology and geochemical vein data. Geothermics, 74, pp. 305-318. (doi: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.11.016)

MacDonald, J. M. , John, C. M. and Girard, J.-P. (2018) Testing clumped isotopes as a reservoir characterization tool: a comparison with fluid inclusions in a dolomitized sedimentary carbonate reservoir buried to 2-4 km. In: Lawson, M., Formolo, M.J. and Eiler, J.M. (eds.) From Source to Seep: Geochemical Applications in Hydrocarbon Systems. Series: Geological Society, London, Special Publications (468). Geological Society of London, pp. 189-202. (doi:10.1144/SP468.7)

2017

Lu, Y.-C., Song, S.-R., Wang, P.-L., Wu, C.-C., Mii, H.-S., MacDonald, J. , Shen, C.-C. and John, C. (2017) Magmatic-like fluid source of the Chingshui geothermal field, NE Taiwan evidenced by carbonate clumped-isotope paleothermometry. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 149, pp. 124-133. (doi: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2017.03.004)

MacDonald, J.M. , Magee, C. and Goodenough, K.M. (2017) Dykes as physical buffers to metamorphic overprinting: an example from the Archaean–Palaeoproterozoic Lewisian Gneiss Complex of NW Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 53(2), pp. 41-52. (doi: 10.1144/sjg2017-004)

MacDonald, J. , Milicich, S., Davies, A., Holdsworth, C., Newton, M., Williamson, S., Faithfull, J. , McNamara, D. and John, C. (2017) Fingerprinting the Temperature and Fluid Source of Fracture-Filling Calcite in Geothermal Systems Using Clumped Isotopes. Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France, 13-18 Aug 2017.

2015

MacDonald, J. M. , Goodenough, K. M., Wheeler, J., Crowley, Q., Harley, S. L., Mariani, E. and Tatham, D. (2015) Temperature–time evolution of the Assynt Terrane of the Lewisian Gneiss Complex of Northwest Scotland from zircon U-Pb dating and Ti thermometry. Precambrian Research, 260, pp. 55-75. (doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2015.01.009)

MacDonald, J. , John, C. and Girard, J.-P. (2015) Dolomitization Processes in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: Insight from Geothermometry Using Clumped Isotopes. In: 11th Applied Isotope Geochemistery Conference AIG-11, Orléans, France, 21-25 Sep 2014, pp. 265-268.

2013

MacDonald, J. M. , Wheeler, J., Harley, S. L., Mariani, E., Goodenough, K. M., Crowley, Q. and Tatham, D. (2013) Lattice distortion in a zircon population and its effects on trace element mobility and U–Th–Pb isotope systematics: examples from the Lewisian Gneiss Complex, northwest Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 166(1), pp. 21-41. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-013-0863-8)

MacDonald, J. (2013) Zircon—Earth’s timekeeper. Geology Today, 29(3), pp. 113-117. (doi: 10.1111/gto.12011)

MacDonald, J. M. and Goodenough, K. M. (2013) The South Barra shear zone: a composite Inverian–Laxfordian shear zone and possible Terrane boundary in the Lewisian gneiss complex of the Isle of Barra, NW Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 49(2), pp. 93-103. (doi: 10.1144/sjg2011-463)

This list was generated on Thu Apr 9 16:02:33 2020 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Book Sections | Conference or Workshop Item | Conference Proceedings
Number of items: 15.

Articles

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., MacDonald, J. M. and Faithfull, J. W. (2020) The origin(s) and geodynamic significance of Archaean ultramafic-mafic bodies in the mainland Lewisian Gneiss Complex, North Atlantic Craton. Journal of the Geological Society, (doi: 10.1144/jgs2020-013) (Early Online Publication)

MacDonald, J.M. , Faithfull, J.W. , Roberts, N.M.W., Davies, A.J., Holdsworth, C.S., Newton, M., Williamson, S., Boyce, A. and John, C.M. (2019) Clumped isotope palaeothermometry and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of lava-pile hydrothermal calcite veins. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 174, 63. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-019-1599-x)

Faithfull, J. W. , Dempster, T. J. , MacDonald, J. M. , Reilly, M. and EIMF, (2018) Metasomatism and the crystallization of zircon megacrysts in Archaean peridotites from the Lewisian complex, NW Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 173, 99. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-018-1527-5) (PMID:30930466) (PMCID:PMC6404683)

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., Schlatter, D. M., Goodenough, K. M., MacDonald, J. M. and Faithfull, J. W. (2018) Assessing the validity of negative high field strength-element anomalies as a proxy for Archaean subduction: evidence from the Ben Strome Complex, NW Scotland. Geosciences, 8(9), 338. (doi: 10.3390/geosciences8090338)

Guice, G. L., McDonald, I., Hughes, H. S.R., MacDonald, J. M. , Blenkinsop, T. G., Goodenough, K. M., Faithfull, J. W. and Gooday, R. J. (2018) Re-evaluating ambiguous age relationships in Archean cratons: implications for the origin of ultramafic-mafic complexes in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex. Precambrian Research, 311, pp. 136-156. (doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2018.04.020)

Lu, Y.-C., Song, S.-R., Taguchi, S., Wang, P.-L., Yeh, E.-C., Lin, Y.-J., MacDonald, J. and John, C. M. (2018) Evolution of hot fluids in the Chingshui geothermal field inferred from crystal morphology and geochemical vein data. Geothermics, 74, pp. 305-318. (doi: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.11.016)

Lu, Y.-C., Song, S.-R., Wang, P.-L., Wu, C.-C., Mii, H.-S., MacDonald, J. , Shen, C.-C. and John, C. (2017) Magmatic-like fluid source of the Chingshui geothermal field, NE Taiwan evidenced by carbonate clumped-isotope paleothermometry. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 149, pp. 124-133. (doi: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2017.03.004)

MacDonald, J.M. , Magee, C. and Goodenough, K.M. (2017) Dykes as physical buffers to metamorphic overprinting: an example from the Archaean–Palaeoproterozoic Lewisian Gneiss Complex of NW Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 53(2), pp. 41-52. (doi: 10.1144/sjg2017-004)

MacDonald, J. M. , Goodenough, K. M., Wheeler, J., Crowley, Q., Harley, S. L., Mariani, E. and Tatham, D. (2015) Temperature–time evolution of the Assynt Terrane of the Lewisian Gneiss Complex of Northwest Scotland from zircon U-Pb dating and Ti thermometry. Precambrian Research, 260, pp. 55-75. (doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2015.01.009)

MacDonald, J. M. , Wheeler, J., Harley, S. L., Mariani, E., Goodenough, K. M., Crowley, Q. and Tatham, D. (2013) Lattice distortion in a zircon population and its effects on trace element mobility and U–Th–Pb isotope systematics: examples from the Lewisian Gneiss Complex, northwest Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 166(1), pp. 21-41. (doi: 10.1007/s00410-013-0863-8)

MacDonald, J. (2013) Zircon—Earth’s timekeeper. Geology Today, 29(3), pp. 113-117. (doi: 10.1111/gto.12011)

MacDonald, J. M. and Goodenough, K. M. (2013) The South Barra shear zone: a composite Inverian–Laxfordian shear zone and possible Terrane boundary in the Lewisian gneiss complex of the Isle of Barra, NW Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 49(2), pp. 93-103. (doi: 10.1144/sjg2011-463)

Book Sections

MacDonald, J. M. , John, C. M. and Girard, J.-P. (2018) Testing clumped isotopes as a reservoir characterization tool: a comparison with fluid inclusions in a dolomitized sedimentary carbonate reservoir buried to 2-4 km. In: Lawson, M., Formolo, M.J. and Eiler, J.M. (eds.) From Source to Seep: Geochemical Applications in Hydrocarbon Systems. Series: Geological Society, London, Special Publications (468). Geological Society of London, pp. 189-202. (doi:10.1144/SP468.7)

Conference or Workshop Item

MacDonald, J. , Milicich, S., Davies, A., Holdsworth, C., Newton, M., Williamson, S., Faithfull, J. , McNamara, D. and John, C. (2017) Fingerprinting the Temperature and Fluid Source of Fracture-Filling Calcite in Geothermal Systems Using Clumped Isotopes. Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France, 13-18 Aug 2017.

Conference Proceedings

MacDonald, J. , John, C. and Girard, J.-P. (2015) Dolomitization Processes in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: Insight from Geothermometry Using Clumped Isotopes. In: 11th Applied Isotope Geochemistery Conference AIG-11, Orléans, France, 21-25 Sep 2014, pp. 265-268.

This list was generated on Thu Apr 9 16:02:33 2020 BST.

Grants

'Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone'; NERC Highlight Topic; 2020-2024; £880,000; (Co-I, led by Newcastle)

Carnegie Research Incentive Grant: ‘Clumped isotopes’ in calcite: a new method for tracking fluid flow in lavas and its implications for geothermal energy generation. 2016-2017, £7030

£2200 from SAGES+ for clumped isotope analysis of steel slag-derived tufas

£2400 from SAGES+ for µCT analysis of cement waste to investigate atmospheric carbon capture

£750 from SAGES+ for microstructural analysis of carbonated slag

£750 from SAGES+ for experiments on capturing wastewater metals with carbonate precipitation

Image: photomicrograph showing fracture-filling minerals in a hydrothermal system.


Supervision

Chris Holdsworth (MSc by Research, 2017-2019), "Understanding temperature and mineralogical controls on mobility of metals in high-pH environments: an alkaline steel slag leachate analogue"

Eilidh Milne (MSc by Research, 2017-2019), "New methods for solution chemistry and laser ablation dating at Glasgow: A Highland geology case study"

Jose Porfirio Del Angel Lozano (PhD, 2019-2023), "A Comparison of Passive Atmospheric CO2 Capture with Steel Slags in Mexico and the UK"

Faisal Khudhur (PhD, 2019-2023), "Determining processes of CO2 capture with steel slags: implications for mitigating rising CO2 levels"

Savanna Van Mesdag (PhD, 2019-2023), "Anthropogenic biodiversity and geodiversity – can legacy industrial waste help offset falling global biodiversity?"

Euan McIntosh (MSc by Research, 2017-2019), "The Loch Maree Group – Economic Mineralisation and Tectonics"

  • Baxter, Heather
    Understanding coral survival in a warmer world; the role of historic coral bleaching.
  • Del Angel Lozano, Jose Porfirio
    Determining processes of co2 capture with steel slags: implications for mitigating rising co2 levels
  • James, Kelly
    Blue Carbon and Ecosystem Engineers under Global Change
  • MacDonald, Ellen
    Oceans on Acid: using historic ocean acidification to understand marine ecosystem function under global change

Teaching

  • L1 Sediments and Seas
  • L2 Sedimentary lectures and practicals
  • L2 Environmental Geoscience lectures
  • L3 Environmental Geochemistry field classes
  • Residential field classes to Arran and Aliaga (Spain)

Video: teaching on the Environmental Geochemistry field class


Professional activities & recognition

Editorial boards

  • 2015: Subject Editor for the Journal of the Geological Society

Professional & learned societies

  • 2015: Committee Member, Mineralogical Society (Applied Mineralogy Group)


John MacDonald

505a, Gregory Building,