Professor
Otago Teaching Excellence Award (2021)
Division of Sciences Early Career Teacher of the Year (2017)
University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research (2017)
Otago University Top 12 Post-graduate Supervisor (2014)
Otago University Division of Science Post-graduate Supervisor of the Year (2014)
Office – Gn5
Tel +64 3 479 7520
Email james.scott@otago.ac.nz
Google Scholar: James M. Scott
ORCID orcid.org/0000-0001-5185-6261
1. Mt Irene, the prominent peak in the distance, is composed of a metasedimentary upper plate separated from a meta-igneous lower plate by the extensional Mt Irene Shear Zone. Murchison Mountains, Fiordland.
2. A rare fine-weather day in Port Ross in the Sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands.
3. Postdoctoral Fellow Matt Tarling and undergraduate students traversing Haast Schist on the shores of Lake Hawea.
4. Red Mountain in the Southern Alps is a slice of accreted oceanic lithospheric mantle
Teaching
- GEOL252 Field Studies and New Zealand Geology
- GEOL353 Tectonics
- GEOL274 Metamorphism and metamorphic mineralisation
- GEOL374 Metamorphism and metamorphic mineralisation
- GEOL401 Current Topics and Advanced Methods in Geoscience
- GEOL472 Advanced Topics in Environmental Geochemistry
- GEOL474 Advanced Topics in Metamorphism and Mineralisation
Research interests
- Meteorites, solar nebula and planetary geology
- Earth’s mantle composition, history, melting
- Metamorphism, mineralisation and fluid flow
- Subduction zones and element redistribution
- Environmental geochemistry
- Zealandia’s tectonics
Postgraduate students
Postgraduate student opportunities with James Scott
Postgraduate students supervised by James Scott
Publications
Delpech, G., Scott, J. M., Grégoire, M., Moine, B. N., Li, D., Liu, J., … Giret, A. (2023). The subantarctic lithospheric mantle. In A. P. Martin & W. van der Wal (Eds.), The geochemistry and geophysics of the Antarctic mantle: Geological Society Memoir (Vol. 56). (pp. 115-132). Bath, UK: Geological Society of London. doi: 10.1144/M56-2020-13
Scott, J. M., Negrini, M., Faure, K., Palmer, M. C., Knaack, D. R., & Leybourne, M. I. (2023). Multi-zone fusion crust formation and classification of the 2004 Auckland meteorite (L6, S5, and W0). Meteoritics & Planetary Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/maps.13955
Scott, J., & Bannister, M. (2022). Equivalent to 1,800 tonnes of TNT: What we now know about the meteor that lit up the daytime sky above New Zealand. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/equivalent-to-1-800-tonnes-of-tnt-what-we-now-know-about-the-meteor-that-lit-up-the-daytime-sky-above-new-zealand-186636
Shao, Y., Prior, D. J., Scott, J. M., Kidder, S. B., & Negrini, M. (2022). Alpine fault-related microstructures and anisotropy of the mantle beneath the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(11), e2022JB024950. doi: 10.1029/2022JB024950
Wilson, L. J. E., Scott, J. M., & le Roux, P. J. (2022). Characterisation of the anomalous sub-alkaline Maniototo basalts in the alkaline Dunedin Volcanic Group: Sources and mechanisms. In A. V. Zernack & J. Palmer (Eds.), Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication. 161A, (pp. 309). Wellington, New Zealand: Geoscience Society of New Zealand. [Abstract]
Delpech, G., Scott, J. M., Grégoire, M., Moine, B. N., Li, D., Liu, J., … Giret, A. (2023). The subantarctic lithospheric mantle. In A. P. Martin & W. van der Wal (Eds.), The geochemistry and geophysics of the Antarctic mantle: Geological Society Memoir (Vol. 56). (pp. 115-132). Bath, UK: Geological Society of London. doi: 10.1144/M56-2020-13
Chapter in Book - Research
Scott, J. M., Negrini, M., Faure, K., Palmer, M. C., Knaack, D. R., & Leybourne, M. I. (2023). Multi-zone fusion crust formation and classification of the 2004 Auckland meteorite (L6, S5, and W0). Meteoritics & Planetary Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/maps.13955
Journal - Research Article
Burgin, D. L., Scott, J. M., le Roux, P. J., Howarth, G., Palmer, M. C., Czertowicz, T. A., Negrini, M., Reid, M. R., & Stirling, C. H. (2022). Rapid characterisation of Mars' mantle reservoirs by in situ laser ablation 87Sr/86Sr analysis of shocked feldspar (maskelynite). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2022.11.011
Journal - Research Article
Chang, Z., Dong, G., & Scott, J. M. (2022). Early Cretaceous basalts record the modification of the North China Craton lithospheric mantle: Implications for lithospheric thinning. International Geology Review, 64(9), 1330-1346. doi: 10.1080/00206814.2021.1931968
Journal - Research Article
Elongo, V., Falcke, H., Rasmussen, K. L., Robbins, L. J., Creaser, R. A., Luo, Y., … Palmer, M. C., Scott, J. M., … Lecumberri-sanchez, P. (2022). Ancient roots of tungsten in western North America. Geology, 50(7), 791-795. doi: 10.1130/G49801.1
Journal - Research Article
He, Q., Lang, X., Wang, X., Deng, Y., Xie, F., Scott, J. M., & Lou, Y. (2022). Volcanic and sedimentary rocks reveal the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Lhasa Terrane, Tibet. International Geology Review. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00206814.2022.2132302
Journal - Research Article
Li, D., Ionov, D. A., Xu, Y., Scott, J. M., & Liu, J. (2022). Subduction-related mantle accretion and makeover revealed by mantle xenoliths at the Pacific margin of NE Eurasia. Lithos. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2022.106943
Journal - Research Article
Li, J., Liu, J., Scott, J. M., Wu, C., Zhu, D.-C., & Zhang, L. (2022). Early Permian magmatism above a slab window in Inner Mongolia, North China: Implications for the Paleo-Asian Ocean subduction processes and accretionary crustal growth. Solid Earth Sciences. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.sesci.2022.02.001
Journal - Research Article
Lilley, H. C., Scott, J. M., Schwartz, J. J., Turnbull, R. E., & Tulloch, A. J. (2022). Cretaceous tungsten-tin mineralisation in the Tin Range, Stewart Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 65(2), 283-298. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1855216
Journal - Research Article
Palmer, M. C., Scanlan, E. J., Scott, J. M., Farmer, L., Pickering, D., Wilson, V. J., … Craw, D., … Reid, M. R., & Stirling, C. H. (2022). Distinct scheelite REE geochemistry and 87Sr/86Sr isotopes in proximally- and distally-sourced metamorphogenic hydrothermal systems, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Ore Geology Reviews. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.104800
Journal - Research Article
Rufaut, C., Weightman, E., Craw, D., Pillai, D., Kerr, G., & Scott, J. (2022). Potential for pastoral irrigation using sulphate-rich waters at Macraes Gold Mine, southern New Zealand. Water, Air & Soil Pollution, 233, 391. doi: 10.1007/s11270-022-05838-9
Journal - Research Article
Shao, Y., Prior, D. J., Scott, J. M., Kidder, S. B., & Negrini, M. (2022). Alpine fault-related microstructures and anisotropy of the mantle beneath the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(11), e2022JB024950. doi: 10.1029/2022JB024950
Journal - Research Article
Wang, T. T., Zheng, J., Scott, J. M., Ping, X., Ma, Q., Xiong, Q., & Zhang, S. (2022). Coronitic and symplectitic textures in meta-troctolite reveal the transition from magmatism to granulite-facies metamorphism in the Early Paleozoic Tongbai Orogen, Central China. Journal of Petrology, 63(7), egac060. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egac060
Journal - Research Article
Cudby, J., Scott, J. M., Craw, D., Hesson, M., & Rufaut, C. (2021). Surficial redistribution of gold and arsenic from the Rise and Shine Shear Zone, Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2021.1996402
Journal - Research Article
Palmer, M. C., Scott, J. M., Luo, Y., Sakar, C., & Pearson, D. G. (2021). In-situ scheelite LASS-ICPMS reconnaissance Sm-Nd isotope characterisation and prospects for dating. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 224, 106760. doi: 10.1016/j.gexplo.2021.106760
Journal - Research Article
Pontesilli, A., Brenna, M., Ubide, T., Mollo, S., Masotta, M., Caulfield, J., … Scott, J. M., & Scarlato, P. (2021). Intraplate basalt alkalinity modulated by a lithospheric mantle filter at the Dunedin Volcano (New Zealand). Journal of Petrology, 62(10), egab062. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egab062
Journal - Research Article
Radclyffe, C. J. T., Summerhayes, G. R., Scott, J. M., & Walter, R. (2021). Pottery production and exchange in the last millennium in the western Solomon Islands: A ceramic sequence for Choiseul. Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 12(1), 25-46. Retrieved from https://pacificarchaeology.org/
Journal - Research Article
Scott, J. M., Pearson, D. G., Liu, J., Auer, A., Cooper, A. F., Li, D., Palmer, M. C., Read, S. E., Reid, M. R., & Woodland, S. J. (2021). Osmium isotopes in peridotite xenoliths reveal major mid-Proterozoic lithosphere formation under the Transantarctic Mountains. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 312, 25-43. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2021.08.009
Journal - Research Article
Shao, Y., Prior, D. J., Scott, J. M., & Negrini, M. (2021). Pre-Alpine Fault fabrics in mantle xenoliths from East Otago, South Island, New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126, e2020JB020196. doi: 10.1029/2020JB020196
Journal - Research Article
Shao, Y., Prior, D. J., Toy, V. G., Negrini, M., & Scott, J. M. (2021). Does second phase content control the evolution of olivine CPO type and deformation mechanisms? A case study of paired harzburgite and dunite bands in the Red Hills Massif, Dun Mountain Ophiolite. Lithos, 406-407, 106532. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106532
Journal - Research Article
Tay, S. L., Scott, J. M., & Craw, D. (2021). Natural rehabilitation of arsenic-rich historical tailings at the Alexander mine, Reefton, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 64(4), 558-569. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1840402
Journal - Research Article
Tay, S. L., Scott, J. M., Palmer, M. C., Reid, M. R., & Stirling, C. H. (2021). Occurrence, geochemistry and provenance of REE-bearing minerals in marine placers on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 64(1), 89-106. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1736585
Journal - Research Article
Allibone, A., Blakemore, H., Jongens, R., Scott, J., Moore, J., MacKenzie, D., & Craw, D. (2020). Structural settings of gold deposits within the Reefton goldfield, western New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(3), 342-362. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1717554
Journal - Research Article
Auer, A., Brenna, M., & Scott, J. M. (2020). Influence of host magma alkalinity on trachytic melts formed during incongruent orthopyroxene dissolution in mantle xenoliths. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 547-561. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1766519
Journal - Research Article
Holbek, S. C., Frank, M., Scott, J. M., Smith, S. A. F., le Roux, P. J., Waight, T. E., Van Hale, R., Reid, M. R., & Stirling, C. H. (2020). Structural controls on shallow cenozoic fluid flow in the Otago Schist, New Zealand. Geofluids, 2020, 9647197. doi: 10.1155/2020/9647197
Journal - Research Article
Montheil, L., Toy, V. G., Scott, J. M., Mitchell, T. M., & Dobson, D. P. (2020). Impact of coseismic frictional melting on particle size, shape distribution and chemistry of experimentally-generated pseudotachylite. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 596116. doi: 10.3389/feart.2020.596116
Journal - Research Article
Mortimer, N., & Scott, J. M. (2020). Volcanoes of Zealandia and the Southwest Pacific. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 371-377. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1713824
Journal - Research Article
Scanlan, E. J., Scott, J. M., & le Roux, P. J. (2020). Pyrometamorphosed Otago Schist xenoliths cause minor contamination of Dunedin Volcanic Group basanite. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 530-546. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1767659
Journal - Research Article
Scott, J. M. (2020). An updated catalogue of New Zealand’s mantle peridotite and serpentinite. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 428-449. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1776738
Journal - Research Article
Scott, J. M., Pontesilli, A., Brenna, M., White, J. D. L., Giacalone, E., Palin, J. M., & le Roux, P. J. (2020). The Dunedin Volcanic Group and a revised model for Zealandia's alkaline intraplate volcanism. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 510-529. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2019.1707695
Journal - Research Article
Serre, S. H., van der Meer, Q. H. A., Waight, T. E., Scott, J. M., Münker, C., Thomsen, T. B., & le Roux, P. J. (2020). Petrogenesis of amphibole megacrysts in lamprophyric intraplate magmatism in southern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 63(4), 489-509. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2020.1801771
Journal - Research Article
Tian, G., Liu, J., Scott, J. M., Chen, L.-H., Pearson, D. G., Chu, Z., … Luo, Y. (2020). Architecture and evolution of the lithospheric roots beneath circum-cratonic orogenic belts: The Xing'an Mongolia Orogenic Belt and its relationship with adjacent North China and Siberian cratonic roots. Lithos, 376-377, 105798. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105798
Journal - Research Article
Weightman, E., Craw, D., Rufaut, C., Kerr, G., & Scott, J. (2020). Chemical evolution and evaporation of shallow groundwaters discharging from a gold mine, southern New Zealand. Applied Geochemistry, 122, 104766. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104766
Journal - Research Article
Xu, Y., Liu, J., Xiong, Q., Su, B.-X., Scott, J. M., Xu, B., … Pearson, D. G. (2020). The complex life cycle of oceanic lithosphere: A study of Yarlung-Zangbo ophiolitic peridotites, Tibet. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 277, 175-191. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.03.024
Journal - Research Article
Blake, F., Grant, K., MacKenzie, D., Scott, J., & Craw, D. (2019). Surficial arsenic redistribution above gold-mineralised zones in East Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 62(4), 573-587. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2019.1647854
Journal - Research Article
Dickie, J. E., Scott, J. M., Sagar, M. W., & Blakemore, H. (2019). Cretaceous igneous-related mineralisation in the Reefton Goldfield, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 62(1), 87-99. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2018.1529684
Journal - Research Article
Dwight, T., Scott, J. M., & Schwartz, J. J. (2019). Emplacement and Paleozoic and Cretaceous recrystallisation of the Broughton Arm Peridotite in Western Fiordland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 62(1), 72-86. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2018.1528989
Journal - Research Article
Ritchie, T. W., Scott, J. M., & Craw, D. (2019). Garnet compositions track longshore migration of beach placers in western New Zealand. Economic Geology, 114(3), 513-540. doi: 10.5382/econgeo.4647
Journal - Research Article
Robinson, B. A., & Scott, J. M. (2019). Late Devonian contact metamorphism and a possible upper age to gold mineralisation in the northernmost portion of the Reefton Goldfield. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 62(1), 121-130. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2018.1534745
Journal - Research Article
Scott, J. M., & Turnbull, I. McG. (2019). Geology of New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 62(3), 291-317. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2019.1600557
Journal - Research Article
Scott, J. M., Liu, J., Pearson, D. G., Harris, G. A., Czertowicz, T. A., Woodland, S. J., … Luth, R. W. (2019). Continent stabilisation by lateral accretion of subduction zone-processed depleted mantle residues: Insights from Zealandia. Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 507, 175-186. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.11.039
Journal - Research Article
Tarling, M. S., Smith, S. A. F., & Scott, J. M. (2019). Fluid overpressure from chemical reactions in serpentinite within the source region of deep episodic tremor. Nature Geoscience, 12, 1034-1042. doi: 10.1038/s41561-019-0470-z
Journal - Research Article
Tarling, M. S., Smith, S. A. F., Scott, J. M., Rooney, J. S., Viti, C., & Gordon, K. C. (2019). The internal structure and composition of a plate-boundary-scale serpentinite shear zone: The Livingstone Fault, New Zealand. Solid Earth, 10(4), 1025-1047. doi: 10.5194/se-10-1025-2019
Journal - Research Article
van der Meer, Q. H. A., Scott, J. M., Serre, S. H., Whitehouse, M. J., Kristoffersen, M., Le Roux, P. J., & Pope, E. C. (2019). Low-δ18O zircon xenocrysts in alkaline basalts: A window into the complex carbonatite-metasomatic history of the Zealandia lithospheric mantle. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 254, 21-39. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2019.03.029
Journal - Research Article
Wellnitz, A. K., Scott, J. M., Martin, C. E., Palin, J. M., Stirling, C. H., Reid, M. R., … Craw, D. (2019). Carbonation reactions and coupled element and isotope redistribution during shallow crustal gold mineralisation, New Zealand. Mineralium Deposita, 54, 743-760. doi: 10.1007/s00126-018-0838-9
Journal - Research Article
Brenna, M., Cronin, S. J., Smith, I. E. M., Tollan, P. M. E., Scott, J. M., Prior, D. J., … Ukstins, I. A. (2018). Olivine xenocryst diffusion reveals rapid monogenetic basaltic magma ascent following complex storage at Pupuke Maar, Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand. Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 499, 13-22. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.07.015
Journal - Research Article
Li, P., Scott, J. M., Liu, J., & Xia, Q.-k. (2018). Lateral H2O variation in the Zealandia lithospheric mantle controls orogen width. Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 502, 200-209. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.09.004
Journal - Research Article
Negrini, M., Smith, S. A. F., Scott, J. M., & Tarling, M. S. (2018). Microstructural and rheological evolution of calcite mylonites during shear zone thinning: Constraints from the Mount Irene shear zone, Fiordland, New Zealand. Journal of Structural Geology, 106, 86-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2017.11.013
Journal - Research Article
Scanlan, E. J., Scott, J. M., Wilson, V. J., Stirling, C. H., Reid, M. R., & Le Roux, P. J. (2018). In situ 87Sr/86Sr of scheelite and calcite reveals proximal and distal fluid-rock interaction during orogenic W-Au mineralization, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Economic Geology, 113(7), 1571-1586. doi: 10.5382/econgeo.2018.4603
Journal - Research Article
Tarling, M. S., Smith, S. A. F., Viti, C., & Scott, J. M. (2018). Dynamic earthquake rupture preserved in a creeping serpentinite shear zone. Nature Communications, 9, 3552. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05965-0
Journal - Research Article