Dr Brian O'Driscoll

Title: Lecturer in igneous and metamorphic petrology
Phone: (+44) 01782 7 33184
Email:
Location: William Smith Building : WS 1.33
Role: GGE Seminars Coordinator
Contacting me: E-mail at any time to set up an appointment or just drop into my office.
ODriscoll_Brian

I studied Geology at University College Cork, Ireland, where I graduated with a BSc in 2003. My PhD (awarded by Trinity College Dublin, 2006) was supported by an Irish Research Council scholarship and concerned with the petrogenesis of layered mafic intrusions. Prior to my appointment as a lecturer in Igneous and Metamorphic petrology at Keele University in 2008, I held a postdoctoral position at University College Dublin, Ireland, funded by an Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology scholarship.

I have been an ordinary committee member of the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (2007-2010) and am currently a committee member of the UK Metamorphic Studies Group (since 2011). I am a member of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland and of the Geological Society of London.

I am a petrologist with broad research interests in the study of mafic and ultramafic rocks. My recent research activity has focused on the petrology and evolution of layered mafic intrusions, ophiolite petrogenesis and serpentinisation. I am particularly interested in the way in which Cr-spinel seams form and concentrate the platinum-group elements (PGEs) in these environments. Other current interests include the emplacement of mafic and felsic magmas as cone sheets, ring dykes and laccoliths in sub-volcanic systems. Below are detailed some of my more recent research grants.

  • 2011: NERC New Investigator Award (~£71,035, FEC)
  • 2011: Royal Society Research Grant (£5,520)
  • 2010: Nuffield Foundation Studentship (£1,300)
  • 2009: Royal Society International Travel Grant (£2,800)
  • 2009: Senior Travel Bursary, Mineralogical Society (£300)
  • 2009: The Mykura Fund, Edinburgh Geological Society (£400)
  • 2009: Daniel Pidgeon Fund, Geological Society, London (£675)

I am always happy to hear from prospective graduate students interested in pursuing research in the above fields. Please just email me.

See also the Keele Petrology Group website.

Selected Publications

  • Derbyshire EJ, O'Driscoll B, Lenaz D, Gertisser R, Kronz A. 2013. Compositionally heterogeneous podiform chromitite in the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland): implications for chromitite petrogenesis and late-stage alteration in the upper mantle portion of a supra-subduction zone ophiolite. LITHOS, vol. 162-163, 279-300. doi>
  • Magee C, O'Driscoll B, Petronis MS, Stevenson CTE, Clay PL, Gertisser R. 2013. Magma rheology variations in sheet intrusions of the Ardnamurchan Central Complex (Scotland) inferred from gabbro inclusion characteristics. JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, vol. 54, 75-102. doi>
  • Clay PL, O'Driscoll B, Gertisser R, Buseman H, Sherlock SC, Kelley SP. 2013. Textural characterization, major and volatile element quantification and Ar-Ar systematics of spherulites in the Rocche Rosse obsidian flow, Lipari, Aeolian Islands: A temperature continuum growth model. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, vol. 165(2), 373-395. doi>
  • Jeffery A, Gertisser R, Troll VR, Jolis EM, Dahren B, Harris C, Tindle AG, Preece K, O'Driscoll B, Humaida H, Chadwick JP. 2013. The pre-eruptive magma plumbing system of the 2007-2008 dome-forming eruption of Kelut volcano, East Java, Indonesia. CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, vol. 166, 275-308. doi>
  • Latypov R, O'Driscoll B, Lavrenchuk A. 2013. Towards a model for an in situ origin for PGE reefs in layered intrusions: insights from the chromitite seams of the Rum Eastern Layered Intrusion, Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Derbyshire EJ, O'Driscoll B, Lenaz D, Gertisser R, Kronz A. 2013. Compositionally heterogeneous podiform chromitite in the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland): implications for chromitite petrogenesis and late-stage alteration in the upper mantle portion of a supra-subduction zone ophiolite. LITHOS, vol. 162-163, 279-300. doi>
  • Magee C, O'Driscoll B, Petronis MS, Stevenson CTE, Clay PL, Gertisser R. 2013. Magma rheology variations in sheet intrusions of the Ardnamurchan Central Complex (Scotland) inferred from gabbro inclusion characteristics. JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, vol. 54, 75-102. doi>
  • Clay PL, O'Driscoll B, Gertisser R, Buseman H, Sherlock SC, Kelley SP. 2013. Textural characterization, major and volatile element quantification and Ar-Ar systematics of spherulites in the Rocche Rosse obsidian flow, Lipari, Aeolian Islands: A temperature continuum growth model. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, vol. 165(2), 373-395. doi>
  • Jeffery A, Gertisser R, Troll VR, Jolis EM, Dahren B, Harris C, Tindle AG, Preece K, O'Driscoll B, Humaida H, Chadwick JP. 2013. The pre-eruptive magma plumbing system of the 2007-2008 dome-forming eruption of Kelut volcano, East Java, Indonesia. CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, vol. 166, 275-308. doi>
  • Latypov R, O'Driscoll B, Lavrenchuk A. 2013. Towards a model for an in situ origin for PGE reefs in layered intrusions: insights from the chromitite seams of the Rum Eastern Layered Intrusion, Scotland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. doi>
  • Magee C, Stevenson C, O'Driscoll B, Schofield N, McDermott K. 2012. An alternative emplacement model for the classic Ardnamurchan cone sheet swarm, NW Scotland, involving lateral magma supply via regional dykes. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, vol. 43, 73-91. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Day JMD, Walker RJ, Daly JS, McDonough WF, Piccoli PM. 2012. Chemical heterogeneity in the upper mantle recorded by peridotites and chromitites from the Shetland Ophiolite Complex, Scotland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 333-334, 226-237. doi>
  • Magee, C., Stevenson, C.T.E., O'Driscoll B, Petronis, M.S.. 2012. Construction of the Ben Hiant Dolerite intrusion, Ardnamurchan, by lateral magma emplacement from the adjacent Mull Igneous Centre, NW Scotland. Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 39, 66-82.
  • Petronis MS, O'Driscoll B, Stevenson CTE, Reavy RJ. 2012. Controls on Emplacement of the Caledonian Ross of Mull Granite, NW Scotland: Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility, Magmatic, and Regional Structures. Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 124(5-6), 906-992. doi>
  • Hunt E, O'Driscoll B, Daly JS. 2012. Parental magma composition of the syntectonic Dawros Peridotite chromitites, NW Connemara, Ireland. Geological Magazine, vol. 149(4), 590-605. doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Derbyshire EJ, Gertisser R. 2012. Snapshots of ancient oceanic mantle captured in British and Irish ophiolites. Geology Today, vol. 28(4), 134-140.
  • Lenaz D, O'Driscoll B, Princivalle F. 2011. Petrogenesis of the anorthosite-chromitite association: crystal-chemical and petrological insights from the Rum Layered Suite, NW Scotland. CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, vol. 162(6), 1201-1213. link> doi>
  • Petronis MS, O'Driscoll B, Lindline J. 2011. Late stage oxide growth associated with hydrothermal alteration of the Western Granite, Isle of Rum, NW Scotland. GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS, vol. 12, Article ARTN Q01001. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Emeleus CH, Donaldson CH, Daly JS. 2010. Cr-spinel Seam Petrogenesis in the Rum Layered Suite, NW Scotland: Cumulate Assimilation and in situ Crystallization in a Deforming Crystal Mush. JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, vol. 51(6), 1171-1201. link> doi>
  • Magee C, O'Driscoll B, Chambers AD. 2010. Crystallization and textural evolution of a closed-system magma chamber: insights from a crystal size distribution study of the Lilloise layered intrusion, East Greenland. GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, vol. 147(3), 363-379. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Day JMD, Daly JS, Walker RJ, McDonough WF. 2009. Rhenium-osmium isotopes and platinum-group elements in the Rum Layered Suite, Scotland: Implications for Cr-spinel seam formation and the composition of the Iceland mantle anomaly. EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS, vol. 286(1-2), 41-51. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B and Petronis MS. 2009. Oxide mineral formation during the serpentinization of a Cr-spinel seam: Insights from rock magnetic experiments. GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS, vol. 10, Article ARTN Q01008. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Donaldson CH, Daly JS, Emeleus CH. 2009. The roles of melt infiltration and cumulate assimilation in the formation of anorthosite and a Cr-spinel seam in the Rum Eastern Layered Intrusion, NW Scotland. Lithos, vol. 111, 6-20. doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Stevenson CE, Trolly VR. 2008. Mineral lamination development in layered gabbros of the British palaeogene igneous province: A combined anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, quantitative textural and mineral chemistry study. JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, vol. 49(6), 1187-1221. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B and Petronis MS. 2008. Magnetic properties of the Dawros peridotite Cr-spinel seams, western Ireland. Institute of Rock Magnetism Quarterly, vol. 18(3), 2-3.
  • O'Driscoll B. 2007. The centre 3 layered gabbro intrusion, Ardnamurchan, NW Scotland. GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, vol. 144(6), 897-908. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Hargraves RB, Erneleus CH, Troll V, Donaldson CH, Reavy RJ. 2007. Magmatic lineations inferred from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility fabrics in units 8, 9, and 10 of the Rum Eastern Layered Series, NW Scotland. LITHOS, vol. 98(1-4), 27-44. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B, Donaldson CH, Troll VR, Jerram DA, Emeleus CH. 2007. An origin for harrisitic and granular olivine in the Rum Layered Suite, NW Scotland: a crystal size distribution study. JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, vol. 48(2), 253-270. link> doi>
  • Petronis MS, O'Driscoll B, Troll VR, Emeleus CH, Geissman JW. 2007. Palaeomagnetic and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility data bearing on the emplacement of the Western Granite, Isle of Rum, NW Scotland. Geological Magazine, vol. 146, 419-436.
  • O'Driscoll B, Troll VR, Reavy RJ, Turner P. 2006. The Great Eucrite intrusion of Ardnamurchan, Scotland: Reevaluating the ring-dike concept. GEOLOGY, vol. 34(3), 189-192. link> doi>
  • O'Driscoll B. 2006. Magmatic layering and magnetic fabrics in the Palaeogene Carlingford Later Gabbros, Co. Louth, Ireland. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 24, 37-50.
  • O'Driscoll B, Powell DGR, Reavy RJ. 2005. Constraints on the development of magmatic layering in a syntectonic mafic-ultramafic suite, NW Connemara, Ireland. SCOTTISH JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY, vol. 41, 119-128. link>
  • O'Driscoll B. 2005. Textural equilibrium in magmatic layers of the Lough Fee ultramafic intrusion, NW Connemara, Ireland: Implications for adcumulus mineral growth. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 23, 39-45.

Chapters

  • O'DRISCOLL B, Stevenson CTE, Holohan EP, Couchman R, Reavy RJ, Andrews GDM. 2008. The structure, fabrics and AMS of the Slieve Gullion ring-complex, Northern Ireland: testing the ring-dyke emplacement model. In Structure and emplacement of high-level magmatic systems. Thomson K, Petford N, London GSO (Eds.). (vol. 302). Geological Society Pub House.

Year 1

  • ESC-10033: Geology: Rocks - Up Close
  • ESC-10037: Geology: Rocks, Minerals and Fossils
  • ESC-10034: Geology: Time and Space

Year 2

  • ESC-20001: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Module Leader)
  • ESC-20012: Advanced Fieldwork Skills - North Wales mapping course

Year 3

  • ESC-30026: Independent Field Project
  • ESC-30030: Advanced Petrology and Structural Geology Field Course (Module Leader)
  • ESC-30033: Volcanic and Magmatic Processes
  • ESC-30028: Economic Geology (Module Leader)

Year 4

  • ESC-40004: Geoscience Research Project (Module Leader)
  • ESC-40005: Research in Context (Module Leader)
  • ESC-40006: Research Report (Module Leader)
  • ESC-40026: Economic Geology (Module Leader)

Fieldcourses

  • ESC-10034: Pembrokeshire
  • ESC-20001: Shap, Cumbria
  • ESC-20039: North Wales
  • ESC-30030: Mull, Scotland (Field Course Leader)
  • ESC-30028/40026: Ecton Mine (Field Course Leader)
  • ESC-30033/40012: Volcanism of Southern Italy