Dr Chris Thomas, FGS, C.Geol, C.Sci

Dr Chris ThomasGeology and Landscapes, Scotland

Location: Edinburgh

Tel: 0131 6500264

E-mail Dr Chris Thomas

Biography

  • 2011: Project Leader, Dynamic Coastal Evolution
  • 2010: Skills Leader, Geology & Palaeontology
  • 2009: Project Leader, Welsh Borderland Geological Framework
  • 2007: Reconnaissance field mapping, Volta Basin, Ghana
  • 2005–2010: Field mapping, Carboniferous of N England
  • 2001: 2 month secondment to GEUS, mapping in West Greenland
  • 2001: Project Leader, Cairngorms Geology and Landscape Project
  • 2002: Deputy Head of Discipline, Geology, Geotechnics and Palaeontology
  • 2000: PhD. Carbonate stable isotope geochemistry, University of Edinburgh
  • 1983 to 2005: Field mapping and geochemical research, Scottish Highlands and Islands
  • 1981/82: Study leave: MSc Geochemistry, University of Leeds
  • 1979: Joined BGS, Keyworth, working on sand and gravel resources
  • 1979: BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Nottingham

Research interests

  • Palaeozoic successions in N England and the Welsh Borderland
  • Field geology and mapping, with particular emphasis on lithostratigraphy, sedimentology and structural geology
  • Whole–rock and stable isotope geochemistry of carbonate rocks
  • Numerical modelling of coastal geomorphology

Skills

  • Field geology, mapping practice and instruction
  • Carbonate and metamorphic rock petrology
  • Isotope geochemistry of carbonate rocks
  • Sedimentology, metamorphic geology, structural geology
  • Statistics and mathematics, including those of compositional data
  • Staff management & development

Current projects and collaboration

  • Modelling of the dynamic evolution of the coast of eastern England from Flamborough Head to the Humber
  • Northern England Project: Caledonide structural geology and tectonics of N & E England, collaborating with Dr N Woodcock, University of Cambridge

Professional association

  • Fellow, Geological Society of London
  • Chartered Geologist, Chartered Scientist

Published outputs

Key Papers

LEWIS, S, GRAHAM, C, THOMAS, C W, BOND, C, and HOLNESS, M. 2000. Time-scales and mechanisms of metamorphic fluid flow from integrated textural and 18O/16O micro–analysis studies of metacarbonates: evidence for transient flow events. Goldschmidt 2000, Journal of Conference Abstracts, Vol. 5, 641   

PRAVE, A R, FALLICK, A E, THOMAS, C W, and GRAHAM, C M. 2009. A composite C–isotope profile for the Neoproterozoic Dalradian Supergroup of Scotland and Ireland. Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. 166, 845–857

THOMAS, C W. 1989. Application of geochemistry to the stratigraphic correlation of Appin and Argyll Group carbonate rocks from the Dalradian of northeast Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. 146, 631–647   

THOMAS, C W, and AITCHISON, J. 2006. Log–ratios and geochemical discrimination of Scottish Dalradian limestones: a case study 25–41 in Compositional Data Analysis: From Theory to Practice. BUCCIANTI, A, MATEU–FIGUERAS, and PAWLOWSKY–GLAHN, V (editors). Geological Society of London Special Publication, 264. (London: Geological Society of London.)   

THOMAS, C W, GRAHAM, C M, ELLAM, R A, and FALLICK, A E. 2004. 87Sr/86Sr chemostratigraphy of Neoproterozoic Dalradian limestones of Scotland and Ireland: constraints on depositional ages and timescales. Journal of the Geological Society, London, Vol. 161