Ian Butler
@drbutty.bsky.social
Geochemist, petrologist and experimental geoscientist - University of Edinburgh. Cricket, rugby, walking, photography, real ale and the Lake District. Man of Kent, currently exiled in Scotland.
Salisbury Cathedral today - I was avoiding the fringes of Storm Amy. Spectacular architecture, and Magna Carta (did she die in vain?).
October 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Salisbury Cathedral today - I was avoiding the fringes of Storm Amy. Spectacular architecture, and Magna Carta (did she die in vain?).
Saw this in the latest edition of Elements. A bit harsh, I think ... Molybdenite isn't *that* boring and it's a useful high temp lubricant (where would experiment al petrology be without it?).
September 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Saw this in the latest edition of Elements. A bit harsh, I think ... Molybdenite isn't *that* boring and it's a useful high temp lubricant (where would experiment al petrology be without it?).
From a pub in Brierly Hill - the Fox and Grapes. This was part of a photo montage celebrating the Baggies, including WBA greats like Cyrille Regis (among others). 1931 FA cup final ( WBA 2 Birmingham 1) ... They don't write advertising strap lines like this any more.
August 9, 2025 at 5:21 PM
From a pub in Brierly Hill - the Fox and Grapes. This was part of a photo montage celebrating the Baggies, including WBA greats like Cyrille Regis (among others). 1931 FA cup final ( WBA 2 Birmingham 1) ... They don't write advertising strap lines like this any more.
In a viking themed pub in York (Valhalla) ... The signs on the stairs are obviously in case Odin pops in for a draft of mead. The poor old bugger's got no depth perception, after all.
Far less H&S back in the 8th C.
Far less H&S back in the 8th C.
June 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In a viking themed pub in York (Valhalla) ... The signs on the stairs are obviously in case Odin pops in for a draft of mead. The poor old bugger's got no depth perception, after all.
Far less H&S back in the 8th C.
Far less H&S back in the 8th C.
Our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... on hydrogen/brine flow in #geological porous media is out and open access. Time resolved 2D and 3D imaging at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron reveals Haines jumps, intermittent flow and variable H2 connectivity during two phase flow.
April 30, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... on hydrogen/brine flow in #geological porous media is out and open access. Time resolved 2D and 3D imaging at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron reveals Haines jumps, intermittent flow and variable H2 connectivity during two phase flow.
Superb spring day in #Edinburgh, so time for a visit to the Botanics in the sunshine.
April 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Superb spring day in #Edinburgh, so time for a visit to the Botanics in the sunshine.
New online our group's latest paper using X-ray microtomographic data to study shear band formation in porous sandstone doi.org/10.1016/j.js.... Congratulations to Claudia Elijas-Parra, the lead author, who started this as an internship project.
March 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
New online our group's latest paper using X-ray microtomographic data to study shear band formation in porous sandstone doi.org/10.1016/j.js.... Congratulations to Claudia Elijas-Parra, the lead author, who started this as an internship project.
Good to visit the British Museum today - lots of good stuff and nice to see the Assyrian palace friezes open again. Unfortunately the new son et lumiere effects detract from rather than enhance the presentation for me.
February 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Good to visit the British Museum today - lots of good stuff and nice to see the Assyrian palace friezes open again. Unfortunately the new son et lumiere effects detract from rather than enhance the presentation for me.
Coming up for one week spent at the Diamond Light Source (I12 JEEP) doing X-ray microtomography experiments to look at the dynamic failure of rocks at elevated pressure. Using our unique acoustic emission controlled x-ray transparent triaxial cell, Mjölnir. #geology #rockphysics #tomography
January 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Coming up for one week spent at the Diamond Light Source (I12 JEEP) doing X-ray microtomography experiments to look at the dynamic failure of rocks at elevated pressure. Using our unique acoustic emission controlled x-ray transparent triaxial cell, Mjölnir. #geology #rockphysics #tomography
A bit early for #thinsectionthursday, but here's some nicely twinned haematite crystals in reflected light (polars crossed).
December 18, 2024 at 11:10 AM
A bit early for #thinsectionthursday, but here's some nicely twinned haematite crystals in reflected light (polars crossed).
For #thinsectionthursday, a komatiite (unknown locality) photographed using crossed polars, and a tint plate, and packed with skeletal and spinifex olivine crystals. The full sized image is stitched together from a few hundred individual photomicroscope images. #geology
December 5, 2024 at 9:25 PM
For #thinsectionthursday, a komatiite (unknown locality) photographed using crossed polars, and a tint plate, and packed with skeletal and spinifex olivine crystals. The full sized image is stitched together from a few hundred individual photomicroscope images. #geology
Found this old image while tidying up an old data drive. Wulfenite (lead molybdate) crystals from Ojuela Mine in Durango, Mexico. I used a lens with extension tubes and photostacked to get depth of field, but I can't recall the details. FoV is about 5 cm wide. #Geology #minerals #thinsectionthursday
November 28, 2024 at 9:49 AM
Found this old image while tidying up an old data drive. Wulfenite (lead molybdate) crystals from Ojuela Mine in Durango, Mexico. I used a lens with extension tubes and photostacked to get depth of field, but I can't recall the details. FoV is about 5 cm wide. #Geology #minerals #thinsectionthursday
"Ontogenetic variation in the crocodylian vestibular system" doi.org/10.1111/joa.... and "‘Ear stones’ in crocodylians: a cross-species comparative and ontogenetic survey of otolith structures" doi.org/10.1098/rsos... also illustrate the diversity of research that uses the Edinburgh microCT lab.
November 22, 2024 at 2:40 PM
"Ontogenetic variation in the crocodylian vestibular system" doi.org/10.1111/joa.... and "‘Ear stones’ in crocodylians: a cross-species comparative and ontogenetic survey of otolith structures" doi.org/10.1098/rsos... also illustrate the diversity of research that uses the Edinburgh microCT lab.
To follow on from rock physics, the next paper illustrates how microCT contributes to palaeontology - "A skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates an earlier origin of large pterosaurs" doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... Follow @nataliajagielska.bsky.social for much more about Dearc sgiathanach
November 22, 2024 at 2:35 PM
To follow on from rock physics, the next paper illustrates how microCT contributes to palaeontology - "A skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates an earlier origin of large pterosaurs" doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... Follow @nataliajagielska.bsky.social for much more about Dearc sgiathanach
In "Seismic events miss important kinematically governed grain scale mechanisms during shear failure of porous rock" we used the acoustic emission event rate as a control for the applied loading rate. Failure which occurred over a few seconds was thus extended to 50 minutes, enabling CT imaging.
November 17, 2024 at 1:29 PM
In "Seismic events miss important kinematically governed grain scale mechanisms during shear failure of porous rock" we used the acoustic emission event rate as a control for the applied loading rate. Failure which occurred over a few seconds was thus extended to 50 minutes, enabling CT imaging.
"Pore-scale imaging of hydrogen displacement and trapping in porous media" doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... Related to storing green hydrogen to buffer demand and supply on renewables. One of many contributions from Edinburgh's geoenergy researcher's.
November 13, 2024 at 8:11 PM
"Pore-scale imaging of hydrogen displacement and trapping in porous media" doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... Related to storing green hydrogen to buffer demand and supply on renewables. One of many contributions from Edinburgh's geoenergy researcher's.
"Design considerations for dynamic fluid flow in porous media experiments using X-ray computed micro tomography – A review" doi.org/10.1016/j.tm... A review that may be of value to groups starting out in the field. It includes design drawings for a low cost, very x-ray transparent flow Cell.
November 13, 2024 at 8:05 PM
"Design considerations for dynamic fluid flow in porous media experiments using X-ray computed micro tomography – A review" doi.org/10.1016/j.tm... A review that may be of value to groups starting out in the field. It includes design drawings for a low cost, very x-ray transparent flow Cell.
"Elastic stresses can form metamorphic fabrics" www.research.ed.ac.uk/files/404847... In which experiments show that mineral fabrics (bassanite formed by gypsum dehydration reactions) can result from stress without strain.
November 11, 2024 at 3:57 PM
"Elastic stresses can form metamorphic fabrics" www.research.ed.ac.uk/files/404847... In which experiments show that mineral fabrics (bassanite formed by gypsum dehydration reactions) can result from stress without strain.
"Using internal standards in time-resolved X-ray micro-computed tomography to quantify grain-scale developments in solid-state mineral reactions". Combining AI and internal standards to accurately quantify the progress of a metamorphic reaction using synchrotron microCT. doi.org/10.5194/se-1...
November 10, 2024 at 8:20 PM
"Using internal standards in time-resolved X-ray micro-computed tomography to quantify grain-scale developments in solid-state mineral reactions". Combining AI and internal standards to accurately quantify the progress of a metamorphic reaction using synchrotron microCT. doi.org/10.5194/se-1...
"X-ray translucent reaction cell for simulation of carbon mineral storage reservoir environments" doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... An experimental cell, tested and with technical drawings, which permits experiments to examine CO2 mineral trapping up to 10 MPa and 200 degrees C.
November 10, 2024 at 8:13 PM
"X-ray translucent reaction cell for simulation of carbon mineral storage reservoir environments" doi.org/10.1016/j.ij... An experimental cell, tested and with technical drawings, which permits experiments to examine CO2 mineral trapping up to 10 MPa and 200 degrees C.
"Hydrogen wettability and capillary pressure in Clashach sandstone for underground hydrogen storage" doi.org/10.1016/j.es... Two phase fluid flow experiments to study the potential for storage of green H2 in subsurface geological reservoirs. Wettability data are crucial for reservoir modelling.
November 10, 2024 at 8:07 PM
"Hydrogen wettability and capillary pressure in Clashach sandstone for underground hydrogen storage" doi.org/10.1016/j.es... Two phase fluid flow experiments to study the potential for storage of green H2 in subsurface geological reservoirs. Wettability data are crucial for reservoir modelling.
A day strolling around Salisbury, from Old Sarum, to Harnham, to the Cathedral grounds.
October 5, 2024 at 2:55 PM
A day strolling around Salisbury, from Old Sarum, to Harnham, to the Cathedral grounds.
No finer sight in York than Mallard herself. Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. His statue at King's Cross station gets far less attention than a mythical platform 9 and 3/4 sign, which seems to me to be a considerable shame.
September 4, 2024 at 7:43 PM
No finer sight in York than Mallard herself. Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. His statue at King's Cross station gets far less attention than a mythical platform 9 and 3/4 sign, which seems to me to be a considerable shame.