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Biography 2000-present. Department of Geographical & Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow.
1992-1999. Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Edinburgh.
1990-1992. Department of Physics, University of Essex.
1986-1990. Department of Geology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. PhD 1990.
1983-1986. Department of Geology, University of Leicester. BSc 1986.
Research interests My current research is focused on developing high-resolution electron and ion beam microscopy techniques and applying them to problems in fields including mineral and rock weathering, the mineralogy of feldspars and extraterrestrial materials and biomineralization. Current research Mineral and rock weathering
With funding from the NERC, I have been investigating the chemical and physical mechanisms by which silicate minerals break down during weathering. In one project I have examined ordinary chondrite meteorites recovered from the Sahara, whereas in another I am cross-sectioning the surfaces of soil feldspars using a focused ion beam (FIB) microscope for high-resolution imaging by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In collaboration with Historic Scotland and the British Geological Survey I am also studying the decay of Scottish building stones
Developments in electron microscopy
Using the Department’s FEI Quanta 200F field emission SEM I have been developing a variety of techniques including Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM-STEM), charge contrast (CC) imaging and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).
Feldspar mineralogy
Alkali feldspars are very abundant in crustal rocks and so of importance in a wide range of fields. In collaboration with physicists at Strathclyde University I have been undertaking high spatial resolution cathodoluminesence spectroscopy to determine the activators of the blue and red luminescence bands in spectacularly zoned feldspar crystals. Argon isotope analysis of alkali feldspars is also of particular use for dating crystal growth and I am undertaking work on authigenic feldspar in collaboration with groups at SUERC and the Open University.
Extraterrestrial materials
Calcium carbonate is also found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites and in collaboration with researchers at the Natural History Museum (London) I am investigating its mineralogy in order to determine whether it can provide information on the early history of asteroidal parent bodies. Other work on extraterrestrial materials includes studying the mineralogy of clay minerals in martian meteorites and the morphology and origins of interstellar nanodiamonds.
Biomineralization
The shells of marine invertebrates are typically composed of a complex and finely crystalline aggregate of calcite and/or aragonite crystals. Together with researchers at Glasgow I am investigating mechanisms of crystal growth in bivalves and trilobites using techniques including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and charge contrast imaging.
Recent publications | View all publications >> Hay, D.C., Dempster, T.J., Lee, M.R. and Brown, D.J. (2010) Anatomy of a low temperature zircon outgrowth. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 159, 81-92. Lee, M.R. (2010) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of Earth and planetary materials: A review. Mineralogical Magazine 74, 1-27. View full text >> doi:10.1180/minmag.2010.074.1.1 >> Mark, D.F., Parnell, J., Kelley, S.P., Lee, M. R. and Sherlock, S.C. (2010) 40Ar/39Ar dating of oil generation and migration at complex continental margins. Geology 38, 75-78. View abstract >> doi:10.1130/G30237.1 >> Recent research grants | View all grants >> Lee, M. R. 2010-2013. Follow the water: Insights into the Martian hydrosphere from the Nakhlites. £520,000 (STFC). Co-investigators: Fin Stuart (PI) and Darren Mark (SUERC). Lee, M.R. 2009-2012. Spatial and temporal scales of aqueous alteration in icy planetesimals. £360,000 (Science and Technology Facilities Council). Lee, M. R. 2008-2009. Transformation and Resilience of our Landscapes, Archaeology and Built Heritage: Defining Responses to Societal and Environmental Pressures. £30,000 (Arts and Humanities Research Council; AH/GOL5422/1). Co-investigators: J. Hughes (University of West of Scotland), B. Smith (Belfast). Teaching responsibilities Joint chair of the Archaeology-Earth Science degree.
I teach sedimentology in Levels 1, 2 and 3, mineralogy at Level 1, aspects of Earth history in Levels 1 and 2 and various field courses.
External examiner of Geoscience degrees, Imperial College Current postgraduate students
Laura Duthie (PhD candidate)
Rachael Ellen (PhD candidate)
Rebecca Skuce (PhD candidate)
Mahmood Sofe (PhD candidate)
Clare Torney (PhD candidate)
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