Professor Robert Butler
Emeritus Professor
- About
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- School/Department
- School of Geosciences
Biography
Since August 2025 I am an emeritus professor at the University of Aberdeen, having "retired" from my position as Professor of Tectonics. Aberdeen was my final port of call in a career that began after education at the Universities of Leeds and Wales (Swansea) back in the mists of time. I went on to positions at Durham University and the Open University before moving back to my alma mater, Leeds, in 1991. I moved to Scotland and the University of Aberdeen in 2008. Most of my research (and publications) has dealt with contractional tectonics - evolution of mountain belts, thrust systems and basin inversion - chiefly integrating diverse geological information (especially stratigraphy) with structural geology, I continue to research the geology and tectonics of mountain belts and sedimentary basins, especially to understand the distribution and geological context of their earth resources.
I share knowledge through The Shear Zone - a YouTube Channel along with an associated website. There you'll find extensive open teaching materials, films about classic (and not so classic) geo-sites and "work-along" exercises in topics on geological interpretation and analysis - from seismic profiles through geological maps and cross-section construction.
External Memberships
Fellow of Geological Society of London - and Chartered Geologist
Member: Scottish Geology Trust, Italian Geological Society and European Geosciences Union.
Prizes and Awards
President's Award, Geological Society of London.
Awarded Wollaston Fund of GSL
Inaugural recipient o the Dewey Medal, GSL.
- Publications
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Stratigraphic variations control deformation patterns in evaporite basins: Messinian examples, onshore and offshore Sicily (Italy)
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 172, no. 1, pp. 113– 124Contributions to Journals: ArticlesIdentifying multiple detachment horizons and an evolving thrust history through cross-section restoration and appraisal in the Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland
Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 66, pp. 1-10Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDecent exposure
Geoscientist, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 16-19Contributions to Journals: ArticlesArea balancing as a test of models for the deep structure of mountain belts, with specific reference to the Alps
Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 52, pp. 2-16Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2013.03.009
Photograph of the month: Large-scale basement-cover deformation in the alps
Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 52, pp. 1-1Contributions to Journals: Comments and Debates- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2013.04.004
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstreams/47cde0d6-48af-44de-8f93-86512435ddc6/download
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The mode of deformation in the orogenic mid-crust revealed by seismic attribute analysis
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems , vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1069-1086Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSeismic imaging of thrust faults and structural damage: a visualization workflow for deepwater thrust belts
First Break, vol. 5, no. 30, pp. 39-46Contributions to Journals: ArticlesStress, faulting, fracturing and seismicity: the legacy of Ernest Masson Anderson
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 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP367.1
Shallow erosion beneath turbidity currents and its impact on the architectural development of turbidite sheet systems
Sedimentology, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 936-959Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2010.01190.x
Imaging deformation in submarine thrust belts using seismic attributes
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 302, no. 3-4, pp. 414-422Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2010.12.041
Constraints on the seismic properties of the middle and lower continental crust
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 360, pp. 7-32Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP360.2
From crystal to crustal: petrofabric-derived seismic modelling of regional tectonics
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 360, pp. 49-78Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP360.4
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
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 1595-1615Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.04.005
Gravitational collapse at continental margins: processes and products; An introduction
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 569-570Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492010-003
Structural evolution and sediment entrainment in mass-transport complexes: outcrop studies from Italy
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 617-631Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492009-041
Depositional processes across the Sinu Accretionary Prism, offshore Colombia
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 27, pp. 794–809Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2009.12.008
Evaluating lateral compaction in deepwater fold and thrust belts: how much are we missing from “nature’s sandbox”?
GSA Today, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 4-10Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG77A.1
Sediment distribution and architecture around a bathymetrically complex basin: an example from the Eastern Champsaur Basin, SE France
Journal of Sedimentary Research, vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 216-235Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2010.025
Small-scale spatial variability in turbidity current flow controlled by roughness resulting from substrate erosion: field evidence for a feedback mechanism
Journal of Sedimentary Research, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 129-136Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2010.014
Structure and internal deformation of the Arnaboll Thrust Sheet, NW Scotland: implications for structural styles and strain localization
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 321-331Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP335.15
The geological structure of the North-West Highlands of Scotland - revisited: Peach et al. one hundred years on.
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 7-27Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP335.2
The role of thrust tectonic models in understanding structural evolution in NW Scotland
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 335, pp. 293-320Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP335.14
Mica, deformation fabrics and the seismic properties of the continental crust
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 288, no. 1-2, pp. 320-328Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2009.09.035
Relationships between the Apennine thrust belt, foredeep and foreland revealed by marine seismic data, offshore Calabria
Bollettino della Societa Geologica Italiana, vol. 128, no. 2, pp. 269-278Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3301/IJG.2009.128.2.269
Lewisian, Torridonian and Moine Rocks of Scotland
Vol. 34, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, United Kingdom. 721 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksTettonica da inversione ed eredità strutturale nelle catene collisionali: un esempio dal sistema Alpi-Appennino
Rendiconti Online Societa Geologica Italiana, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 164-168Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Amphibole and lower crustal seismic properties
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 267, no. 1-2, pp. 118-128Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.11.042
Fabric anisotropy controls faulting in the continental crust
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 165, no. 2, pp. 449-452Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492007-129
Teaching geoscience through fieldwork
University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom. 60 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksCo-axial horizontal stretching within extending orogens: The exhumation of HP rocks on Syros (Cyclades) revisited
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 203-222Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2007.272.01.12
Constrictional extensional tectonics in the northern Oman mountains, its role in culmination development and the exhumation of the subducted Arabian continental margin
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 188-202Contributions to Journals: ArticlesKnowledge Transfer in a digital world: field data acquisition, uncertainty, visualisation, and data management.
Geosphere, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 568-576Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/GES00094.1
Mike Coward – portrait of a structural geologist
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. vii-xiiContributions to Journals: ArticlesOn the deformation of continental crust and Mike Coward’s impact on its understanding
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 1-9Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPeach and Horne – the Memoir at 100
Geoscientist, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 20-25Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSetting and architectural elements of the Champsaur Sandstones, France
American Association of Petroleum Geologists Studies in Geology, vol. 56, pp. 188-191Contributions to Journals: ArticlesStructural evolution of the Achnashellach culmination, southern Moine Thrust Belt: testing the duplex model
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 272, pp. 103–120Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHow weak are the continents?
Geoscientist, vol. 16, no. 8, pp. 4-8Contributions to Journals: ArticlesStructural inheritance in mountain belts: an Alpine-Apennine perspective
Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 28, pp. 1893-1908Contributions to Journals: ArticlesStyles of basement involvement in the Moine thrust Belt, NW Scotland
Geological Society of America Special Paper, vol. 414, pp. 133-150Contributions to Journals: ArticlesStyles of continental contraction: a review and introduction
Geological Society of America Special Paper, vol. 414, pp. 1-11Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTesting thrust tectonic models at mountain fronts: where has the displacement gone?
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 163, pp. 1-14Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Mediterranean: forensics of a geo-catastrophe
Geotimes, vol. 12, no. 10, pp. 20-23Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe structure and kinematics of substrate entrainment into high concentration sandy turbidites: a field example from the Gorgoglione “flysch” of southern Italy.
Sedimentology, vol. 53, pp. 655-670Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2006.00789.x
Modelling approaches to understanding fold development: implications for hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 21, pp. 933-946Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNature of thrust zones in deep water sand-shale sequences: outcrop examples from the Champsaur sandstones of SE France
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 21, pp. 911-921Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe nature of ‘roof thrusts” in the Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland: implications for the structural evolution of thrust belts.
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 161, pp. 849-859Contributions to Journals: ArticlesKinematic reworking and exhumation of the convergent Alpine Orogen.
Tectonophysics, vol. 365, pp. 77-102Contributions to Journals: ArticlesVertical stretching and crustal thickening at Nanga Parbat, Pakistan Himalaya: a model for distributed continental deformation during mountain building
Tectonics, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 9 1-108Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2001TC901022