Summary
I am a mineralogist who studies the crystal-chemistry, atomic-structure and stability of minerals. These properties enable us to constrain the geochemical and geological conditions under which the minerals formed. This knowledge helps us to understand the origin and evolution of Earth and also how geological processes occurring within Earth's interior influence the environments on its surface. A key goal of my research is to study mineral properties using non-destructive analysis, thereby preserving the nature and heritage of our collections and also the scientific context of the samples. This approach enables multiple types of analyses to be performed on the exact same samples and also preserves the material for future work using newly developed methods. To achieve this my group quantifies the properties of minerals while they remain within their host rocks and meteorites using diffraction and spectroscopy imaging techniques particularly those available at international synchrotron and neutron facilities.
Qualifications
Degrees
- BSc, Victoria University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 1985 - 1988
- PhD, Victoria University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 1988 - 1992
Employment history
Academic
- Band 3 Researcher, Natural History Museum, Mineralogy / Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2002 - ongoing
- Band 4 Researcher, Natural History Museum, Mineralogy, United Kingdom, 1997 - 2002
- Higher Scientific Officer, Natural History Museum, Mineralogy, United Kingdom, 1994 - 1997
- Scientific Officer, Natural History Museum, Mineralogy, United Kingdom, 1993 - 1994
- PDRA, Victoria University of Manchester, Chemistry, United Kingdom, 1992 - 1993
Highlighted publications
- Santos AL, Dybowska A, Schofield PF, Herrington RJ, Johnson DB (2020) Sulfur-enhanced reductive bioprocessing of cobalt-bearing materials for base metals recovery. Hydrometallurgy, Elsevier BV : 105396 - 105396. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105396
- Covey-Crump SJ, Schofield PF, Oliver EC (2017) Using neutron diffraction to examine the onset of mechanical twinning in calcite rocks. Journal of Structural Geology, Elsevier BV : 77 - 97. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2017.05.009
- King AJ, Schofield PF, Howard KT, Russell SS (2015) Modal mineralogy of CI and CI-like chondrites by X-ray diffraction. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Elsevier BV : 148 - 160. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2015.05.038
- Doyle PM, Schofield PF, Berry AJ, Walker AM, Knight KS (2014) Substitution of Ti3+ and Ti4+ in hibonite (CaAl12O19). American Mineralogist, (7) Mineralogical Society of America : 1369 - 1382. doi: 10.2138/am.2014.4532
- Vollmer C, Leitner J, Kepaptsoglou D, Ramasse QM, King AJ, Schofield PF, Bischoff A, Araki T, Hoppe P A primordial 15N-depleted organic component detected within the carbonaceous chondrite Maribo. Scientific Reports, (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLCdoi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77190-z