Derbyshire_Lizzie - Keele University
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Geography, Geology and the Environment

Lizzie Derbyshire

Phone: +44 (0) 1782 733620
Email:
Location: William Smith WS 1.25
Role: Research Student
Lizzie Derbyshire

I studied Geology with Physical Geography at Keele University and graduated with first class honours in 2009. I am currently in my third year of my PhD on the Caledonian ophiolites of Britain at Keele University.

Grants and Awards:

2010

  • Edgar Pam Fellowship, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (£800)
  • Hugh Leech Travelling Scholarship, Keele University (£100)

2011

  • Clough and Mykura Fund, Edinburgh Geological Society (£230)
  • Postgraduate Student Bursary, Mineralogical Society (£350)
  • Metamorphic Studies Group Conference Grant (£200)
  • Keele Postgraduate Association Bursary (£450)

Awards: 

Runner-up  Geoff Brown Poster Prize (VSMG 2010)

Affiliations:

  • Mineralogical Society (UK)
  • Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
  • Metamorphic Studies Group (MSG)
  • Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (VMSG)

Collaborators:

Davide Lenaz – Trieste University (Italy)

Andreas Kronz – Goettingen University (Germany)

'Podiform chromitites as tracers of upper mantle processes and serpentinisation in the Caledonian ophiolites of Britain'

In ophiolitic mantle, the robust Cr-spinel crystals in chromitite seams are the only primary mineral which remains relatively unaltered, retaining primary igneous compositions even after extensive serpentinisation alteration. Therefore, the chemical compositions recorded by chromitite are considered to retain primary melt compositions and partial melting extent. Serpentinisation effects are recorded at Cr-spinel crystal edges and along crystal fractures as a Fe-rich (ferritchromit) alteration rims. 

Chromite seam  

Chromitite seam in dunite from Shetland Ophiolite, Unst

The Shetland Ophiolite (Isle of Unst, Shetland) and Ballantrae Ophiolite (Ayrshire) are the focus of this study to understand chromitite formation and the serpentinisation process, in addition to explaining the  complex melt-rock and melt-melt interactions in the upper mantle. The spectacular Shetland and Ballantrae Ophiolites preserve podiform chromitite seams which are currently being investigated by petrographic, mineral chemical and crystal structural analysis.

Papers

  • Derbyshire, E. J., 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, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.11.013
  • O'Driscoll, B., Derbyshire, E. J., Gertisser, R., 2012. Snapshots of ancient oceanic mantle captured in British and Irish ophiolites. Geology Today 28, 134-140

Conference Abstracts

  • Derbyshire, E. J., Lenaz, D., O'Driscoll, B., 2012. Chromium-spinel, sulphide and PGM chemistry in podiform chromtites of the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland): implications for deciphering chromitite petrogenesis and late stage alteration. European Mineralogical Conference (Frankfurt)
  • Derbyshire, E. J., O'Driscoll, B., Lenaz, D., Gertisser, R., 2012. Podiform chromitite formation in channels of focused melt flow, Shetland Ophiolite (Scotland). Mineral Deposits Studies Group Annual Meeting (Cardiff)
  • Lenaz, D., Derbyshire, E. J., O'Driscoll, B., 2011. Crystal chemistry of Cr-spinels from the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland). GEOITALIA (Turin)
  • Derbyshire, E. J., O'Driscoll, B., Gertisser, R., 2011. Prolonged history of high- and low-temperature metasomatism preserved in chromitite compositions from the Ballantrae and Shetland Ophiolite Complexes (Scotland). Metamorphic Studies Group Annual Conference (Cambridge)
  • Derbyshire, E. J., O'Driscoll, Day, J. M. D., Gertisser, R., 2010. Evidence of late-stage metasomatism preserved in Cr-spinel seams of the Shetland Ophiolite Complex (Scotland). Volcanic and MAgmatic Studies Group Annual Conference (Glasgow)