Professor Robert Butler

Professor Robert Butler
Professor Robert Butler
Professor Robert Butler

Chair in Tectonics

About
Email Address
rob.butler@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 273452
Office Address

 Meston Building

School/Department
School of Geosciences

Biography

My passion is the investigation of earth processes as recorded in rocks, landscapes and images of the subsurface. I focus on the structure of rock formations and what this tells us of tectonics - earth movements. These can in turn inform understanding of how major earth features such as mountain ranges are formed. But it also has societal importance - in understanding the structure of the near subsurface - sites for the geo-storage of CO2 and nuclear waste. 

I joined the University of Aberdeen as a "Sixth Century" professor of tectonics in 2008. Prior to this I have held research positions at Durham University (1984-87) and the Open University (1987-88), and a lectureship (OU, 1989-90; before moving to the University of Leeds in 1991, where I spent most of my career. During this time I have served as secretary (1988-90) and chair (1995-6) of the UK's Tectonic Studies Group. More recently I have served on committees on the Geological Society of London, as an elected member of Council (2010-2014), on the External Relations Committee (UK National Committee for Geology; 2010-2015) and as chair of the Geoconservation Committee (2013-2015). I am currently a trustee of the Scottish Geology Trust leading the bid to bring the International Geological Congress to Scotland in 2028!

As a tectonic geologist, I think it is important to draw on the full diversity of earth science. My best-known research is on the structural geology of thrust systems, mountain belts and their associated sedimentary basins. However, I have also worked extensively on the geological record and tectono-stratigraphy of the Messinian "Salinity Crisis" in the central Mediterranean and on the structural geology of deep-water sediments and slopes, together with the tectonic controls on their routing. 

My publication list is available via ResearchGate.

I run an open-access resource sharing teaching materials in geology - along with films of stunning field locations - on this YouTube channel:


 

External Memberships

Fellow of Geological Society of London, CGeol.

Member of the Italian Geological Society

 

Prizes and Awards

President's Award, Geological Society, 1986.

Wollaston Fund, Geological Society, 1995

Inaugrual Dewey medallist, Geological Society, 2018. 

Research

Research Overview

My research broadly falls into the study of structural geology and tectonics, generally integrating with other subdisciplines in the Earth Sciences. My chief drive is to understand localization of deformation - on various scales: within poorly consolidatetd sediments to establish how gravity flows couple with their substrates, through to establishing the patterns of large-scale deformation within continental lithosphere. Much of this research focusses on the structure and tectonics of sedimentary basins and continental margins. I have geographic interests, chiefly in quantifying the tectonic evolution of the central Mediterranean region through the Neogene - especially using the stratigraphic record to establish structural continuity, the rates and timing of deformation.

My key current research falls under the Fold-Thrust Research Group - an industry partnership that reinvigorates understanding of structural evolution in the outer parts of mountain belts to aid exploration and production of their oil and gas resources.

A secondary theme is concerned with using early syn-orogenic successions to unravel pre-orogenic structural geometry and early tectonic evolution of mountain belts.

Much of my early research has been concerned with the kinematic evolution of thrust belts and thrust-type mountain ranges, the role of inherited structures/stratigraphy in influencing structural evolution. I have worked extensively on exhumation processes in mountain belts, from various parts of the Tethyan-Mediterranean-Alpine system and Himalayas. I have also worked in rift and transform settings, at all crustal levels.

For the past 20 years I have focussed on integrating the stratigraphic record with structural geology, increasingly using the exceptional seismic imagery coming from deepwater continental margins. Increasingly it will be from appropriately calibrated geophysical data - detecting deformation patterns in situ - that advances will come in tectonics and structural geology.

I am a passionate advocate for intelligent geoconservation and the promotion of geological heritage, especially in Scotland. The region contains world class examples, not only of compressional structures formed at various crustal depths (including the Moine thrust Belt) but also stunning arrays of basin-forming fault systems and tectono-magmatic structures. I was heavily involved in the Geological Society's projects on 100 Great Geosites and Plate Tectonic Stories .

Current Research

Structural evolution of foreland thrust belts (Fold-Thrust Research Group)

Structural inheritrance in orogenic belts

The structural geology of submarine slopes, especially the development of gravitationally driven deformation structures.

Messinian basins - interactions between stratigraphic and deformation processes.

Uncertainty and interpretation in structural geology, especially of geophysical datasets.

Turbidite depositional systems as tectonic tracers.

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

 

Instructor on L3 courses: Structural Geology & Tectonics (GL3027) and "Map interpretation and Cross section construction" (part of GL3206); Interpretation of seismic reflection data (GP 3501)

MSc  Sustainable Energy Geoscience- structural geology and basin tectonics.

Rob has a host of open educational videos on a wide range of geology on THE SHEAR ZONE - his YouTube channel with images and exercises on his eponymous website

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Rob delivers training courses for PhD students in the GeoNetZero centre of doctoral training

Publications

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  • Seismic imaging of thrust faults and structural damage: a visualization workflow for deepwater thrust belts

    Iacopini, D., Butler, R. W. H., Purves, S.
    First Break, vol. 5, no. 30, pp. 39-46
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Stress, faulting, fracturing and seismicity: the legacy of Ernest Masson Anderson

    Healy, D., Butler, R. W. H., Shipton, Z. K., Sibson, R.
    Faulting, Fracturing and Igneous Intrusion in the Earth's Crust. Healy, D., Butler, R., Shipton, Z., Sibson, R. (eds.). Geological Society of London, pp. 1-6, 6 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
  • Shallow erosion beneath turbidity currents and its impact on the architectural development of turbidite sheet systems

    Eggenhuisen, J. T., McCaffrey, W. D., Haughton, P. D., Butler, R. W. H.
    Sedimentology, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 936-959
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Imaging deformation in submarine thrust belts using seismic attributes

    Iacopini, D., Butler, R. W.
    Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 302, no. 3-4, pp. 414-422
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Constraints on the seismic properties of the middle and lower continental crust

    Lloyd, G. E., Butler, R. W. H., Casey, M., Tatham, D. J., Mainprice, D.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 360, pp. 7-32
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • From crystal to crustal: petrofabric-derived seismic modelling of regional tectonics

    Lloyd, G. E., Halliday, J., Butler, R. W. H., Casey, M., Kendall, J., Wookey, J., Mainprice, D.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 360, pp. 49-78
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Reconstructing large-scale remobilisation of deep-water deposits and its impact on sand-body architecture from cored wells: the Lower Cretaceous Britannia Sandstone Formation, UK North Sea

    Eggenhuisen, J. T., McCaffrey, W. D., Haughton, P. D. W., Butler, R. W. H., Moore, I., Jarvie, I., Hakes, W. G.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 1595-1615
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Gravitational collapse at continental margins: processes and products; An introduction

    Butler, R. W. H., Turner, J.
    Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 569-570
    Contributions to Journals: Editorials
  • Structural evolution and sediment entrainment in mass-transport complexes: outcrop studies from Italy

    Butler, R. W. H., McCaffrey, W. D.
    Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 617-631
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Depositional processes across the Sinu Accretionary Prism, offshore Colombia

    Vinnels, J. S., Butler, R. W. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Paton, D. A.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 27, pp. 794–809
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Evaluating lateral compaction in deepwater fold and thrust belts: how much are we missing from “nature’s sandbox”?

    Butler, R. W. H., Paton, D. A.
    GSA Today, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 4-10
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Sediment distribution and architecture around a bathymetrically complex basin: an example from the Eastern Champsaur Basin, SE France

    Vinnels, J. S., Butler, R. W. H., McCaffrey, W. D., Lickorish, W. H.
    Journal of Sedimentary Research, vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 216-235
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Small-scale spatial variability in turbidity current flow controlled by roughness resulting from substrate erosion: field evidence for a feedback mechanism

    Eggenhuisen, J. T., McCaffrey, W. D., Haughton, P. D. W., Butler, R. W. H.
    Journal of Sedimentary Research, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 129-136
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Structure and internal deformation of the Arnaboll Thrust Sheet, NW Scotland: implications for structural styles and strain localization

    Wibberley, C., Butler, R. W. H.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 321-331
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The geological structure of the North-West Highlands of Scotland - revisited: Peach et al. one hundred years on.

    Butler, R. W. H.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 7-27
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The role of thrust tectonic models in understanding structural evolution in NW Scotland

    Butler, R. W. H.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 293-320
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Mica, deformation fabrics and the seismic properties of the continental crust

    Lloyd, G. E., Butler, R. W., Casey, M., Mainprice, D.
    Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 288, no. 1-2, pp. 320-328
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Relationships between the Apennine thrust belt, foredeep and foreland revealed by marine seismic data, offshore Calabria

    Butler, R. W. H.
    Bollettino della Societa Geologica Italiana, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 269-278
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Lewisian, Torridonian and Moine Rocks of Scotland

    Mendum, J. R., Barber, A. J., Butler, R. W. H., Flinn, D., Goodenough, K. M., Krabbendam, M., Park, R. G., Stewart, A. D.
    Vol. 34, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, United Kingdom. 721 pages
    Books and Reports: Books
  • Tettonica da inversione ed eredità strutturale nelle catene collisionali: un esempio dal sistema Alpi-Appennino

    Tavarnelli, E., Butler, R. W. H., Grasso, M.
    Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 164-168
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Amphibole and lower crustal seismic properties

    Tatham, D. J., Lloyd, G. E., Butler, R. W. H., Casey, M.
    Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 267, no. 1-2, pp. 118-128
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Fabric anisotropy controls faulting in the continental crust

    Butler, R. W. H., Bond, C. E., Shipton, Z., Jones, R. R., Casey, M.
    Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 165, no. 2, pp. 449-452
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Teaching geoscience through fieldwork

    Butler, R. W. H.
    University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom. 60 pages
    Books and Reports: Books
  • Co-axial horizontal stretching within extending orogens: The exhumation of HP rocks on Syros (Cyclades) revisited

    Bond, C. E., Butler, R. W. H., Dixon, J. E.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 203-222
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Constrictional extensional tectonics in the northern Oman mountains, its role in culmination development and the exhumation of the subducted Arabian continental margin

    Al-Wardi, M., Butler, R. W. H.
    Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 188-202
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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