Prof Hilary Downes

Positions held:

Professor of Geochemistry, School of Natural Sciences

Email

Birkbeck: h.downes@bbk.ac.uk

Overview
Overview

Biography
- I was an undergraduate at the University of Durham, studying BSc Geological Sciences; I then moved to Canada and completed an MSc in Geology at the University of Calgary. My PhD was from the University of Leeds, where I studied the geochemistry and petrology of Cantal, a large volcano in central France.
- Although my initial studies were related to volcanoes and the origin of magmatism, I became fascinated by the fragments of foreign rock (xenoliths) brought to the Earth's surface by many volcanic eruptions. I began to study these xenoliths, particularly from the upper mantle and the lower continental crust. These parts of the Earth are normally difficult to reach, so xenoliths provide us with a lot of information without having to drill a very very deep borehole (which cannot be done given current technology).
- From xenoliths it was only a small step to meteorites, which are my current obsession, particularly meteorites that come from the interior of differentiated asteroids.
Office hours

I do not keep "office hours" but I am currently working only part-time for Birkbeck as I am semi-retired. Therefore I do not work during the months of January-March (skiing) and July-September (hiking, canoeing).

Visiting posts
- Scientific Associate, Natural History Museum,
Professional activities

I was President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland for 3 years

Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Geological Society (of London)
  Member of Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
ORCID
0000-0002-2025-162X
Research
Research

Research interests
- Igneous Petrology
- Volcanology
- Mantle xenoliths
- Lower continental crust
- meteorites
Research overview

I have a wide range of interests in igneous petrology and geochemistry. I have undertaken research on alkaline igneous rocks (Massif Central, Russia, Eastern Europe) and am now working on a variety of projects on the Cape Verde islands - an example of an oceanic intraplate hotspot with carbonatites - with my PhD students. My aim is to understand the processes that give rise to the wide variety of alkaline igneous rocks, and my results are applicable to such rocks worldwide.
Another interest, arising from alkaline rocks, is of lithospheric xenoliths brought to the surface in these magmas. These xenoliths are derived from the lower crust and upper mantle. I have recently published papers on the 3D texture of mantle xenoliths using CT scanning, in collaboration with one of my PhD students. This technique enables us to examine changes in the mantle mineralogy and texture brought about by changes in temperature and pressure. My work on lower crustal xenoliths has mainly concentrated on those from the continental crust, and I have investigated their composition, mineralogy and geochronology, to determine the origin and evolution of this poorly known region of our planet.
I have recently acquired 2 NERC DTP PhD students who are studying aspects of subduction-zone volcanoes in central America, building on my earlier work on similar volcanoes in Romania and Sardinia.
Finally, my interests in the Earth's mantle has led me to investigate ureilite meteorites that have been derived from the mantle of an unknown asteroid. This study started while I was an associate at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, during my most recent sabbatical 15 years ago. I am continuing it with my colleagues in the USA and India.

Research Centres and Institutes
- Centre for Planetary Sciences
- Scientific Associate, Natural History Museum
- Volcanologists of London
Supervision and teaching
Supervision and teaching

Supervision

Supervisions within Birkbeck:

14

I currently supervise 11 MPhil/PhD students on a range of topics associated with igneous petrology, volcanology and meteoritics

Current doctoral researchers
- BRENDON ROLFE-BETTS
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2013 onwards
- DEBBIE JAMES
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2020 onwards
  
  Title of thesis:
  The cause of textural and chemical modification in mantle xenoliths from the Cape Verde archipelago: mantle metasomatism versus host magma interaction.
- KRIS PALUBICKI
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2018 onwards
- ROSS HASSARD
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Sep 2019 onwards
Doctoral alumni since 2013-14
- LEWIS PINAULT
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2013 to Oct 2013
  
  Title of thesis:
  Searching for Extraterrestrial Artefacts on the Moon and in the Solar System: Detection Strategies and Techniques
  
  Awarded:
  2024
- LILY MOORE
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Mar 2020
  
  Title of thesis:
  Investigating the structural and mechanical properties involved in catastrophic volcanic collapse
  
  Awarded:
  2024
- BARBARA SMITH
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Joint Principal Supervisor
  
  Title of thesis:
  Petrology and mineral chemistry of shallow intrusive carbonatites: examples from the Kola Peninsula and Cape Verde
  
  Awarded:
  2022
- GERALLT HUGHES
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2017
  
  Title of thesis:
  Timescales of magmatic processes during the 2013-2017 eruption at Volcán de Colima, Mexico
  
  Awarded:
  2022
- KRISHAN BHANOT
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor
  
  Title of thesis:
  Spinel and Garnet Textures in Mantle Peridotite Xenoliths and Lunar Dunite: A Micro-CT study
  
  Awarded:
  2022
- ZACH DICKESON
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2017 to Oct 2017
  
  Title of thesis:
  Palaeolakes on Mars: Geomorphology and Hydrology at the Planetary Dichotomy
  
  Awarded:
  2022
- MICHAEL MICKSON
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2017
  
  Title of thesis:
  Using Low-Cost Remote Sensing Data for Geohazard Modelling and Analysis in Small Island Developing States (Examples of Dominica and Cape Verdes)
  
  Awarded:
  2021
- ROBERT TARFF
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor
  
  Title of thesis:
  High elevation phreatomagmatic eruption of the Cova de Paul Crater, Santo Antao, Cape Verde Islands
  
  Awarded:
  2018
Teaching

I have taught a wide range of subjects while at Birkbeck, which probably says more about teaching in a small department rather than my own ability. They include:
- Introduction to Geology
- First Year field class to Skye
- Igneous Petrology
- Introduction to Geochemistry
- Chemical Evolution of the Earth
- Exploration and Modelling of Planetary Interiors
- Field class for Planetary Sciences to Lanzarote
- Magmatic Processes
- Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites
- Volcanism in the Solar System
- Chemistry of the Earth's Surface Environment
Teaching modules
- Earth's Resources and Raw Materials (EASC048H6)
- Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites (SCES002H6)
- Igneous Petrology (SCES005H5)
- Planetary Exploration Analogue Mission (SCES073H5)
- Astrobiology Analogue Rover Mission (SCES079H7)
Publications
Publications
Article
- Bhanot, K.K. and Downes, Hilary and Rider-Stokes, B.G. and Jennings, Eleanor and Anand, M. and Snape, J. and Whitehouse, M.J. (2024) A reappraisal of the petrogenesis of Apollo 17 lunar dunites 72415-72417: relics of the deep lunar mantle?. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 59 (12), pp. 3129-3149. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Downes, Hilary and Mittlefehldt, D.W. and Ross, A.J. and Lee, C.-T. (2024) Extra-terrestrial mantle samples: Rare Earth Element variations and evidence for melt metasomatism in ureilite meteorites. Lithos 486-7 (107775), ISSN 0024-4937.
- Koreshkova, M. and Downes, Hilary and Stifeeva, M. and Salnikova, E. and Plotkina, Y. and Akimova, E. and Peytcheva, I. and Dimitrova, D. and Macheva, L. and Larionov, A. and Sergeev, S. (2024) Metamorphic history of the Precambrian lower cratonic crust from U-Pb dating of granulite xenoliths (Anabar province, Siberia). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology ISSN 0010-7999.
- Rolfe-Betts, Brendon and Day, Simon J. and Downes, Hilary and Millar, I. and Palubicki, Kris (2024) Compositional variations in shield-stage volcanism in Fogo, Cape Verde islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 446 (107996), ISSN 0377-0273.
- Emo, R.B. and Kamber, B.S. and Downes, Hilary and Murphy, D.T. and Caulfield, J.T. (2023) A new compositional estimate for refractory lower continental crust with implications for the first terrestrial Pb-isotope paradox. Lithos 436-7, pp. 106976. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Groom, Simon and Barfod, D.N. and Millar, I. and Downes, Hilary (2023) The Cumbre Nueva collapse (La Palma, Canary Islands): new age determinations and evidence of an isotopic excursion. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 433 (107708), ISSN 0377-0273.
- Hughes, Gerallt E. and Petrone, C.M. and Downes, Hilary and Varley, N.R. and Hammond, S.J. (2021) Mush remobilisation and mafic recharge: a study of the crystal cargo of the 2013–17 eruption at Volcán de Colima, Mexico. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 416, pp. 107296. ISSN 0377-0273.
- Koreshkova, M. and Downes, Hilary (2021) The age of the lower crust of the central part of the Columbia supercontinent: a review of zircon data. Gondwana Research 96, pp. 37-55. ISSN 1342-937X.
- Kempton, P.D. and Spence, A. and Downes, Hilary and Blichert-Toft, J. and Bryce, J.G. and Hegner, E. and Vroon, P.Z. (2021) Isotopic evolution of prehistoric magma sources of Mt. Etna, Sicily: Insights from the Valle Del Bove. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 176 (7), ISSN 0010-7999.
- Rai, N. and Downes, Hilary and Smith, C. (2020) Ureilite meteorites provide a new model of early planetesimal formation and destruction. Geochemical Perspectives Letters 14, pp. 20-25. ISSN 2410-339X.
- Bhanot, Krishan and Downes, Hilary and Petrone, C.M. and Humpheys-Williams, E. and Clark, B. (2020) Micro-CT investigation of garnet-spinel clusters in mantle peridotite xenoliths. Lithos 352-3, pp. 105250. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Tabor, B.E. and Downes, Hilary (2019) Textures of mantle peridotite rocks revisited. Lithos 348-9, pp. 105203. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Ross, A.J. and Downes, Hilary and Herrin, J.S. and Mittlefehldt, D.W. and Humayun, M. and Smith, C. (2019) The origin of iron silicides in ureilite meteorites. Geochemistry 79 (4), pp. 125539. ISSN 0009-2819.
- Goodrich, C.A. and Zolensky, M.E. and Fioretti, A.M. and Shaddad, M.H. and Downes, Hilary and Hiroi, T. and Kohl, I. and Young, E.D. and Kita, N.T. and Hamilton, V.E. and Riebe, M.E.I. and Busemann, H. and Macke, R.J. and Fries, M. and Ross, D.K. and Jenniskens, P. (2019) The first samples from Almahata Sitta showing contacts between ureilitic and chondritic lithologies: implications for the structure and composition of asteroid 2008 TC 3. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 54 (11), pp. 2769-2813. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Watt, S.F.L. and Karstens, J. and Micallef, A. and Berndt, C. and Urlaub, M. and Ray, M. and Desai, A. and Sammartini, M. and Klaucke, I. and Böttner, C. and Day, S. and Downes, Hilary and Kühn, M. and Elger, J. (2019) From catastrophic collapse to multi-phase deposition: flow transformation, seafloor interaction and triggered eruption following a volcanic-island landslide. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 517, pp. 135-147. ISSN 0012-821X.
- Pinarelli, L. and Gioncada, A. and Capaccioni, B. and Vaselli, O. and Downes, Hilary (2019) Mantle source heterogeneity in subduction zones: constraints from elemental and isotope (Sr, Nd, and Pb) data on Vulcano Island, Aeolian Archipelago, Italy. Mineralogy and Petrology 113 (1), pp. 39-60. ISSN 0930-0708.
- Stouraiti, C. and Baziotis, I. and Asimow, P.D. and Downes, Hilary (2018) Geochemistry of the Serifos calc-alkaline granodiorite pluton, Greece: constraining the crust and mantle contributions to I-type granitoids. International Journal of Earth Sciences 107 (5), pp. 1657-1688. ISSN 1437-3254.
- Kempton, P.D. and Downes, Hilary and Lustrino, M. (2018) Pb and Hf isotope evidence for mantle enrichment processes and melt interactions in the lower crust and lithospheric mantle in Miocene orogenic volcanic rocks from Monte Arcuentu (Sardinia, Italy). Geosphere 14 (3), pp. 926-950. ISSN 1553-040X.
- Koreshkova, M. and Downes, Hilary and Millar, I. and Levsky, L. and Larionov, A. and Sergeev, S. (2017) Geochronology of Metamorphic Events in the Lower Crust beneath NW Russia: a Xenolith Hf Isotope Study. Journal of Petrology 58 (8), pp. 1567-1589. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Logvinova, A.M. and Ntaflos, T. and Vladykin, N.V. and Kostrovitsky, S.I. and Spetsius, Z. and Mityukhin, S.I. and Prokopyev, S.A. and Medvedev, N.S. and Downes, Hilary (2017) Alakit and Daldyn kimberlite fields, Siberia, Russia: Two types of mantle sub-terranes beneath central Yakutia?. Geoscience Frontiers 8 (4), pp. 671-692. ISSN 1674-9871.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Ntaflos, T. and Logvinova, A.M. and Spetsius, Z.V. and Downes, Hilary (2017) Monomineral universal clinopyroxene and garnet barometers for peridotitic, eclogitic and basaltic systems. Geoscience Frontiers 8 (4), pp. 775-795. ISSN 1674-9871.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Ntaflos, T. and Spetsius, Z.V. and Salikhov, R.F. and Downes, Hilary (2017) Interaction between protokimberlite melts and mantle lithosphere: evidence from mantle xenoliths from the Dalnyaya kimberlite pipe, Yakutia (Russia). Geoscience Frontiers 8 (4), pp. 693-710. ISSN 1674-9871.
- Bhanot, K.K. and Downes, Hilary and Petrone, C.M. and Humphreys-Williams, E. (2017) Textures in spinel peridotite mantle xenoliths using micro-CT scanning: examples from Canary Islands and France. Lithos 276 (1), pp. 90-102. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Ntaflos, Th. and Puziewicz, J. and Downes, Hilary and Matusiak-Małek, M. (2017) European lithospheric mantle; geochemical, petrological and geophysical processes. Lithos 276, pp. 1-2. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Marchev, P. and Arai, S. and Vaselli, O. and Costa, F. and Zanetti, A. and Downes, Hilary (2017) Metasomatic reaction phenomena from entrainment to surface cooling: evidence from Mantle Peridotite Xenoliths from Bulgaria. Journal of Petrology 58 (3), pp. 599-640. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Uenver-Thiele, L. and Woodland, A.B. and Seitz, H.-M. and Downes, Hilary and Altherr, R. (2017) Metasomatic processes revealed by trace element and redox signatures of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Massif Central, France. Journal of Petrology 58 (3), pp. 395-422. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Alexander, Louise and Snape, J.F. and Joy, K.H. and Downes, Hilary and Crawford, Ian (2016) An analysis of Apollo lunar soil samples 12070,889, 12030,187 and 12070,891: basaltic diversity at the Apollo 12 landing site and implications for classification of small-sized lunar samples.. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 51 (9), pp. 1654-1677. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Kuligin, S.S. and Vladykin, N.V. and Downes, Hilary and Vavilov, M.A. and Nigmatulina, E.N. and Babushkina, S.A. and Tychkov, N.S. and Khmelnikova, O.S. (2016) Comparison of mantle lithosphere beneath early Triassic kimberlite fields in Siberian craton reconstructed from deep-seated xenocrysts. Geoscience Frontiers 7 (4), pp. 639-662. ISSN 1674-9871.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Logvinova, A.M. and Reimers, L.F. and Ntaflos, T. and Spetsius, Z.V. and Vladykin, N.V. and Downes, Hilary and Yudin, D.S. and Travin, A.V. and Makovchuk, I.V. and Palesskiy, V.S. and Khmel'nikova, O.S. (2015) The Sytykanskaya kimberlite pipe: Evidence from deep-seated xenoliths and xenocrysts for the evolution of the mantle beneath Alakit, Yakutia, Russia. Geoscience Frontiers 6 (5), pp. 687-714. ISSN 1674-9871.
- Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary and Chaussidon, M. (2015) Petrology of a non-indigenous microgranitic clast in polymict ureilite EET 87720: evidence for formation of evolved melt on an unknown parent body. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 50 (9), pp. 1613-1623. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Downes, Hilary and Carter, Andrew and Armstrong, R. and Dobosi, G. and Embey-Isztin, A. (2015) Lower crustal zircons reveal Neogene metamorphism beneath the Pannonian Basin (Hungary). Open Geosciences 7 (1), ISSN 2391-5447.
- Hughes, H.S.R. and McDonald, I. and Faithfull, J.W. and Upton, B.G.J. and Downes, Hilary (2015) Trace-element abundances in the shallow lithospheric mantle of the North Atlantic Craton margin: implications for melting and metasomatism beneath Northern Scotland. Mineralogical Magazine 79 (4), pp. 877-907. ISSN 0026-461X.
- Downes, Hilary and Abernethy, F.A.J. and Smith, C.L. and Ross, A.J. and Verchovsky, A.B. and Grady, M.M. and Jenniskens, P. and Shaddad, M.H. (2015) Isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in ureilitic fragments of the Almahata Sitta meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 50 (2), pp. 255-272. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Downes, Hilary and de Vries, C. and Wittig, N. (2015) Hf–Zr anomalies in clinopyroxene from mantle xenoliths from France and Poland: implications for Lu–Hf dating of spinel peridotite lithospheric mantle. International Journal of Earth Sciences 104 (1), pp. 89-102. ISSN 1437-3254.
- Uenver-Thiele, L. and Woodland, A.B. and Downes, Hilary and Altherr, R. (2014) Oxidation state of the lithospheric mantle below the Massif Central, France. Journal of Petrology 55 (12), pp. 2457-2480. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Logvinova, A.M. and Ntaflos, T. and Reimers, L.F. and Spetsius, Z.V. and Vladykin, N.V. and Yudin, D.S. and Travin, A.V. and Downes, Hilary and Palesskiy, V.S. (2014) Deep-seated xenoliths and xenocrysts from Sytykanskaya pipe: evidence for the evolution of the mantle beneath Alakit, Yakutia, Russia. Geoscience Frontiers ISSN 1674-9871.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Vladykin, N.V. and Ntaflos, T. and Kostrovitsky, S.I. and Prokopiev, S.A. and Downes, Hilary and Smelov, A.P. and Agashev, A.M. and Logvinova, A.M. and Kuligin, S.S. and Tychkov, N.S. and Salikhov, R.F. and Stegnitsky, Yu.B. and Alymova, N.V. and Vavilov, M.A. and Minin, V.A. and Babushkina, S.A. and Ovchinnikov, Yu.I. and Karpenko, M.A. and Tolstov, A.V. and Shmarov, G.P. (2014) Layering of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Siberian Craton: modeling using thermobarometry of mantle xenolith and xenocrysts. Tectonophysics 634, pp. 55-75. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Alexander, Louise and Snape, Joshua F. and Crawford, Ian and Joy, K.H. and Downes, Hilary (2014) Searching for nonlocal lithologies in the Apollo 12 regolith: a geochemical and petrological study of basaltic coarse fines from the Apollo lunar soil sample 12023,155. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 49 (7), pp. 1288-1304. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Zartman, R.E. and Kempton, P.D. and Paces, J.B. and Downes, Hilary and Williams, I.S. and Dobosi, G. and Futa, K. (2013) Lower-crustal Xenoliths from Jurassic Kimberlite Diatremes, Upper Michigan (USA): evidence for Proterozoic Orogenesis and plume magmatism in the lower crust of the Southern Superior Province. Journal of Petrology 54 (3), pp. 575-608. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Vladykin, N.V. and Ntaflos, T. and Downes, Hilary and Mitchel, R. and Smelov, A.P. and Alymova, N.V. and Kostrovitsky, S.I. and Rotman, A.Y. and Smarov, G.P. and Makovchuk, I.V. and Stegnitsky, Y.B. and Nigmatulina, E.N. and Khmelnikova, O.S. (2013) Regularities and mechanism of formation of the mantle lithosphere structure beneath the Siberian Craton in comparison with other cratons. Gondwana Research 23 (1), pp. 4-24. ISSN 1342-937X.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Rotman, A.Y. and Somov, S.V. and Afanasiev, V.P. and Downes, Hilary and Logvinova, A.M. and Nossyko, S. and Shimupi, J. and Palessky, S.V. and Khmelnikova, O.S. and Vladykin, N.V. (2012) Composition and thermal structure of the lithospheric mantle beneath kimberlite pipes from the Catoca cluster, Angola. Tectonophysics 530-53, pp. 128-151. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Seghedi, I. and Downes, Hilary (2011) Geochemistry and tectonic development of Cenozoic magmatism in the Carpathian–Pannonian region. Gondwana Research 20 (4), pp. 655-672. ISSN 1342-937X.
- Koreshkova, M.Y. and Downes, Hilary and Levsky, L.K. and Vladykin, N.V. (2011) Petrology and geochemistry of Granulite Xenoliths from Udachnaya and Komsomolskaya Kimberlite Pipes, Siberia. Journal of Petrology 52 (10), pp. 1857-1885. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Andre, L. and Downes, Hilary and Belyatsky, B.A. (2011) Pyroxenites and megacrysts from Vitim picrite-basalts (Russia): polybaric fractionation of rising melts in the mantle?. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 42 (1-2), pp. 14-37. ISSN 1367-9120.
- Spence, A. and Downes, Hilary (2011) A chemostratigraphic investigation of the prehistoric Vavalaci lava sequence on Mount Etna: simulating borehole drilling. Lithos 125 (1-2), pp. 423-433. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Upton, B.G.J. and Downes, Hilary and Kirstein, L.A. and Bonadiman, C. and Hill, P.G. and Ntaflos, T. (2011) The lithospheric mantle and lower crust-mantle relationships under Scotland: a xenolithic perspective. Journal of the Geological Society 168 (4), pp. 873-886. ISSN 0016-7649.
- Seghedi, I. and Maţenco, L. and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. and Szakács, A. and Pécskay, Z. (2011) Tectonic significance of changes in post-subduction Pliocene–Quaternary magmatism in the south east part of the Carpathian–Pannonian Region. Tectonophysics 502 (1-2), pp. 146-157. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Ross, A.J. and Steele, A. and Fries, M. and Kater, L. and Downes, Hilary and Jones, A.P. and Smith, C.L. and Jenniskens, P. and Zolensky, M. and Shaddad, M. (2011) MicroRaman spectroscopy of diamond and graphite in Almahata Sitta and comparison with other ureilites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 46 (3), pp. 364-378. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Matusiak-Malek, M. and Puziewicz, J. and Ntaflos, T. and Grégoire, M. and Downes, Hilary (2010) Metasomatic effects in the lithospheric mantle beneath the NE Bohemian Massif: a case study of Lutynia (SW Poland) peridotite xenoliths. Lithos 117 (1-4), pp. 49-60. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Nédli, Z. and Tóth, T.M. and Downes, Hilary and Császár, G. and Beard, Andy and Szabóa, C. (2010) Petrology and geodynamical interpretation of mantle xenoliths from late Cretaceous lamprophyres, Villány Mts (S Hungary). Tectonophysics 489 (1-4), pp. 43-54. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Seghedi, I. and Maţenco, L. and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. and Szakács, A. and Pécskay, Z. (2010) Tectonic significance of changes in post-subduction Pliocene-Quaternary magmatism in the south east part of the Carpathian-Pannonian Region. Tectonophysics 502 (1-2), pp. 146-157. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Dessai, A.G. and Peinado, M. and Gokarn, S.G. and Downes, Hilary (2010) Structure of the deep crust beneath the central Indian tectonic zone: an integration of geophysical and xenolith data. Gondwana Research 17 (1), pp. 162-170. ISSN 1342-937X.
- Cvetkovic, V. and Downes, Hilary and Hock, V. and Prelevic, D. and Lazarov, M. (2010) Mafic alkaline metasomatism in the lithosphere underneath East Serbia: evidence from the study of xenoliths and the host alkali basalts. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 337, pp. 213-239. ISSN 0305-8719.
- Dobosi, G. and Jenner, G.A. and Embey-Isztin, A. and Downes, Hilary (2010) Cryptic metasomatism in clino- and orthopyroxene in the upper mantle beneath the Pannonian region. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 337 (1), pp. 177-194. ISSN 0305-8719.
- Tabor, F. and Tabor, B.E. and Downes, Hilary (2010) Quantificative characterisation of textures in mantle spinel peridotites. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 337, pp. 195-212. ISSN 0305-8719.
- Tabor, F.A. and Tabor, B.E. and Downes, Hilary (2010) Quantitative characterization of textures in mantle spinel peridotite xenoliths. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 337 (1), pp. 195-211. ISSN 0305-8719.
- Facer, John and Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andy (2009) In situ serpentinization and hydrous fluid metasomatism in spinel dunite xenoliths from the Bearpaw Mountains, Montana, USA. Journal of Petrology 50 (8), pp. 1443-1475. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Coltorti, M. and Downes, Hilary and Grégoire, M. and O'Reilly, S.Y. and Beccaluva, L. and Bonadiman, C. and Piccardo, G.B. and Rivalenti, G. and Siena, F. (2009) Petrological evolution of the European lithospheric mantle: from Archean to present day. Journal of Petrology 50 (7), pp. 1181-1184. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Koreshkova, M.Y. and Downes, Hilary and Nikitina, L.P. and Vladykin, N.V. and Larionov, A.N. and Sergeev, S.A. (2009) Trace element and age characteristics of zircons in granulite xenoliths from the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe, Siberia. Precambrian Research 168 (3-4), pp. 197-212. ISSN 0301-9268.
- Wittig, N. and Pearson, D.G. and Downes, Hilary and Baker, J.A. (2009) The U, Th and Pb elemental and isotope compositions of mantle clinopyroxenes and their grain boundary contamination derived from leaching and digestion experiments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73 (2), pp. 469-488. ISSN 0016-7037.
- Downes, Hilary and Mittlefehldt, D.W. and Kita, N.T. and Valley, J.W. (2008) Evidence from polymict ureilite meteorites for a disrupted and re-accreted single ureilite parent asteroid gardened by several distinct impactors. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 72 (19), pp. 4825-4844. ISSN 0016-7037.
- Dessai, A.G. and Downes, Hilary and Lopez-Moro, F.J. and Lopez-Plaza, M. (2008) Lower crustal contamination of Deccan Traps magmas: evidence from tholeiitic dykes and granulite xenoliths from western India. Mineralogy & Petrology 93 (3-4), pp. 243-272. ISSN 0930-0708.
- Downes, Hilary (2007) Origin and significance of spinel and garnet pyroxenites in the shallow lithospheric mantle: Ultramafic massifs in orogenic belts in Western Europe and NW Africa. Lithos 99 (1-2), pp. 1 - 24. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Seghedi, I. and Bojar, A.V. and Downes, Hilary and Rosu, E. and Tonarini, S. and Mason, P.R.D. (2007) Generation of normal and adakite-like calc-alkaline magmas in a non-subductional environment: An Sr-O-H isotopic study of the Apuseni Mountains neogene magmatic province, Romania. Chemical Geology 245 (1-2), pp. 70 - 88. ISSN 0009-2541.
- Cvetkovic, V. and Downes, Hilary and Prelevic, D. and Lazarov, M. and Resimic-Saric, K. (2007) Geodynamic significance of ultramafic xenoliths from Eastern Serbia: relics of sub-arc oceanic mantle?. Journal of Geodynamics 43 (4-5), pp. 504 - 527. ISSN 0264-3707.
- Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. and Vetrin, V.R. (2007) Depletion and enrichment processes in the lithospheric mantle beneath the Kola Peninsula (Russia): Evidence from spinel lherzolite and wehrlite xenoliths. Lithos 94 (1-4), pp. 1 - 24. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Wittig, N. and Baker, J.A. and Downes, Hilary (2007) U-Th-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic constraints on the evolution of sub-continental lithospheric mantle, French Massif Central. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71 (5), pp. 1290 - 1311. ISSN 0016-7037.
- Cvetkovic, V. and Lazarov, M. and Downes, Hilary and Prelevic, D. (2007) Modification of the subcontinental mantle beneath East Serbia: evidence from orthopyroxene-rich xenoliths. Lithos 94 (1-4), pp. 90 - 110. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Joy, K.H. and Crawford, Ian and Downes, Hilary and Russell, S.S. and Kearsley, A.T. (2006) A petrological, mineralogical and chemical analysis of the lunar mare basalt meteorites LaPaz Icefield 02205, 02224 and 02226. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 41 (7), pp. 1003-1025. ISSN 1086-9379.
- Downes, Hilary and Balaganskaya, E. and Beard, Andy and Liferovich, R. and Demaiffe, D. (2005) Petrogenetic processes in the ultramafic, alkaline and carbonatitic magmatism in the Kola Alkaline Province: a review. Lithos 85 (1-4), pp. 48-75. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Seghedi, I. and Downes, Hilary and Vaselli, O. and Szakács, A. and Balogh, K. and Pécskay, Z. (2004) Post-collisional Tertiary–Quaternary mafic alkalic magmatism in the Carpathian–Pannonian region: a review. Tectonophysics 393 (1-4), pp. 43-62. ISSN 0040-1951.
- Downes, Hilary and MacDonald, R. and Upton, B.G.J. and Cox, K.G. and Bodinier, J.L. and Mason, P.R.D. and James, D. and Hill, P.G. and Hearn, B.C. (2004) Ultramafic xenoliths from the Bearpaw Mountains, Montana, USA: evidence for multiple metasomatic events in the lithospheric mantle beneath the Wyoming craton. Journal of Petrology 45 (8), pp. 1631-1662. ISSN 0022-3530.
- Downes, Hilary and Reichow, M.K. and Mason, P.R.D. and Beard, Andrew and Thirlwall, M.F. (2003) Mantle domains in the lithosphere beneath the French Massif Central: trace element and isotopic evidence from mantle clinopyroxenes. Chemical Geology 200 (1-2), pp. 71-87. ISSN 0009-2541.
- Downes, Hilary and Kostoula, T. and Jones, A.P. and Beard, Andy and Thirwall, M.F. and Bodinier, J.P. (2002) Geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of mantle xenoliths from the Monte Vulture carbonatite–melilitite volcano, central southern Italy. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 144 (1), pp. 78-92. ISSN 0010-7999.
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Hegner, E. and Sablukov, S.M. (2000) Geochemistry and mineralogy of kimberlites from the Arkhangelsk Region, NW Russia: evidence for transitional kimberlite magma types. Lithos 51 (1-2), pp. 47-51. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Kostoula, T. and Jones, A. and Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andrew (1999) Geochemistry and isotopic composition of mantle xenoliths from Mt. Vulture volcano, southern Italy. Ofioliti 24 (1b), pp. 120. ISSN 0391-2612.
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Hegner, E. and Sablukov, S.M. and Vetrin, V.R. and Balogh, K. (1998) Mineralogy and geochemistry of Devonian ultramafic minor intrusions of the southern Kola Peninsula, Russia: implications for the petrogenesis of kimberlites and melilitites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 130 (3-4), pp. 288-303. ISSN 0010-7999.
- Williamson, B.J. and Downes, Hilary and Thirwall, M.F. and Beard, Andrew (1997) Geochemical constraints on restite composition and unmixing in the Velay anatectic granite, French Massif Central. Lithos 40 (2-4), pp. 295-319. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Vetrin, V. and Kempton, P.D. and Maluski, H. (1996) Pretogenesis of Devonian lamprophyre and carbonatite minor intrusions, Kandalaksha Gulf (Kola Peninsula, Russia). Lithos 39 (1-2), pp. 93-119. ISSN 0024-4937.
- Kempton, P.D. and Downes, Hilary and Sharkov, E.V. and Vetrin, V.R. and Ionov, D.A. and Carswell, D.A. and Beard, Andrew (1995) Petrology and geochemistry of xenoliths from the northern Baltic Shield: evidence for partial melting and metasomatism in the lower crust beneath an Archaean terrane. Lithos 36 (3-4), pp. 157-184. ISSN 0024-4937.
Book Section
- Ashchepkov, I.V. and Downes, Hilary and Mitchell, R. and Vladykin, N.V. and Coopersmith, H. and Palessky, S.V. (2013) Wyoming craton mantle lithosphere: reconstructions based on xenocrysts from Sloan and Kelsey Lake kimberlites. In: Pearson, D.G. and Grütter, H.S. and Harris, J.W. and Kjarsgaard, B.A. and O’Brien, H. and Chalapathi Rao, N.V. and Sparks, S. (eds.) Proceedings of the 10th International Kimberlite Conference. Springer. pp. 13-27. ISBN 9788132211693.
- Downes, Hilary and Mahotkin, I.L. and Beard, Andrew and Hegner, E. (2007) Petrogenesis of alkali silicate, carbonatite and kimberlitic magmas of the Kola Alkaline Carbonatite Province. In: Vladykin, N. (ed.) Alkaline magmatism, its sources and plumes. (Proceedings of the VII International Workshop). Russia: Russian Academy of Science. pp. 45-56. ISBN 9785947970953.
- Harangi, Szabolcs and Downes, Hilary and Seghedi, I. (2006) Tertiary-Quaternary subduction processes and related magmatism in the Alpine-Mediterranean region. In: Gee, D.G. and Stephenson, R. (eds.) European lithosphere dynamics. Geological Society of London Memoir. London: Geological Society of London. pp. 167-190. ISBN 978-1-86239-212-0.
- Wilson, M. and Downes, Hilary (2006) Tertiary-Quaternary intra-plate magmatism in Europe and its relationship to mantle dynamics. In: Gee, D.G. and Stephenson, R. (eds.) European lithosphere dynamics. Geological Society of London Memoir. London: Geological Society of London. pp. 147-166. ISBN 978-1-86239-212-0.
Conference Item
- Groom, Simon and Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andy (2014) Comparison of oceanic island lava flow suites separated by a lateral collapse - how does a major structural change impact on the magma supply system?. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group: Annual Meeting, 2014, Edinburgh, UK
- Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary and Howard, K.T. (2011) Significance of opal in ureilites - delivery of H2O to the inner solar system?. 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, 2011, London, UK
- Downes, Hilary and Smith, C.L. and Beard, Andy (2011) Early solar system processes revealed by an integrated study of ureilite meteorites. 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, 2011, London, UK
- Drake, Simon M. and Brown, A.D. and Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary (2010) Widespread transport of pyroclastic density currents from a Skye volcano: correlation of ignimbrite lithofacies and the evolution of the Palaeogene Skye Central Complex, NW Scotland. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2010, Glasgow, UK
- Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary and Howard, K. (2009) Hydrated silica (opal) in a polymict ureilite, EET 83309. 72nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, 2009, Nancy, France
- Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andy and Howard, K. (2009) Petrology of a granitic clast in polymict ureilite EET87720. 72nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, 2009, Nancy, France
- Drake, Simon M. and Brown, D.J. and Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary (2009) Silicic pyroclastic activity in the Skye Central Complex, NW Scotland: volcanic stratigraphy, eruption history and the assembly of coarse ignimbrite lithofacies. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2009, Bournemouth, UK
- Kelly, J. and Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andy and Day, Simon (2009) Ultramafic cumulate xenoliths, Santo Antao, Cape Verde: crystal textures in a silica-undersaturated magma chamber. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2009, Bournemouth, UK
- Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary (2008) Mineralogy and petrology of haüyne-bearing ultramafic cumulate xenoliths, from Mt. Vulture, Southern Italy. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2008, Dublin, UK
- Drake, Simon M. and Brown, D.J. and Beard, Andy and Downes, Hilary (2008) A re-interpretation of the pyroclastic rocks marginal to the Eastern Red Hills around Kilchrist, Isle of Skye, N.W Scotland. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2008, Dublin, UK
- Kelly, J. and Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andy (2008) Ultramafic cumulate xenoliths, Santo Antão, Cape Verde: windows into a silica-undersaturated magma chamber. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting, 2008, Dublin, UK
- Mahotkin, I. and Downes, Hilary and Hegner, E. and Beard, Andrew (2003) Devonian dike swarms of alkaline, carbonatitic and primitive magmatype rocks the south Kola Peninsula: geochemical and isotopic constraints on plumelithospheric interaction. Eighth International Kimberlite Conference, 2003, Victoria, Canada
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. and Vetrin, V.R. (2001) Ultramafic xenoliths from minor intrusions, Kandalaksha: olivinefree ultramafic xenoliths from Devonian minor intrusions, Kola Peninsula, Russia: evidence for unexposed layered ultramaficcarbonatite intrusions. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 2001, University of Oulu, Finland
- Balaganskaya, E. and Downes, Hilary and Subbotin, V. and Liferovich, R. and Beard, Andrew (2000) Kola carbonatites: new insights into their origin as shown by a Sr, Nd and geochemical study of the Vuorijarvi Massif, northeastern Baltic Shield, Russia. Carbonatite Workshop, 2000, Saint Etienne, France
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Jarvis, K. and Vetrin, V. (2000) Ultramafic xenoliths from minor intrusions, Kandalaksha: evidence of a layered ultramaficcarbonatite intrusion at depth beneath the Gulf of Kandalaksha, Kola Peninsula. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 2000, University of Oulu, Finland
- Downes, Hilary and Beard, Andrew and Javis, K. and Vetrin, V. (2000) Mantle xenoliths from the Kola Peninsula: evidence for mantle processes beneath the Baltic Shield. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 2000, University of Oulu, Finland
- Balaganskaya, E. and Downes, Hilary and Subbotin, V. and Liferovich, R. and Beard, Andrew (1999) Mantle sources of Kola carbonatites: new Sr, Nd and geochemical evidence from the Vuorijarvi massif. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 1999, University of Oulu, Finland
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. and Ntaflos, T. (1999) Depletion and enrichment processes in the lithospheric mantle beneath the Kola Peninsula: evidence of kimberlitic metsomatism from the spinel lherzolite and wehrlite xenoliths. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 1999, University of Oulu, Finland
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Mason, P.R.D. (1998) The lithospheric mantle beneath the Kola Peninsula and Arkhangelsk area: evidence from a laser ICPMS study of ultramafic xenoliths. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 1998, Repino, Russia
- Beard, Andrew and Mason, P.R.D. and Downes, Hilary (1998) Depletion and enrichment processes in lithospheric mantle beneath the Baltic Shield (Kola Peninsula and Arkangelsk) evidence from laser ICPMS analyses of mantle minerals. Seventh International Kimberlite Conference, 1998, Cape Town, South Africa
- Beard, Andrew and Downes, Hilary and Hegner, E. and Sablukov, S.M. (1997) Geochemistry and mineralogy of kimberlites and carbonatites from the Arkhangelsk region, NW Russia. SVEKALAPKO workshop, 1997, University of Oulu, Finland

Prof Hilary Downes

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BRENDON ROLFE-BETTS

DEBBIE JAMES

KRIS PALUBICKI

ROSS HASSARD

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LEWIS PINAULT

LILY MOORE

BARBARA SMITH

GERALLT HUGHES

KRISHAN BHANOT

ZACH DICKESON

MICHAEL MICKSON

ROBERT TARFF

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