MSci PhD (Durham)
Senior Lecturer
Office – 1n1
Email steven.smith@otago.ac.nz
ORCID orcid.org/0000-0002-6166-4949
Tel +64 3 479 7515
Teaching
- GEOL112 Dynamic Earth: A New Zealand Perspective
- GEOL252 Field Studies and New Zealand Geology (Paper Coordinator)
- GEOL274 Metamorphism and metamorphic mineralization
-
GEOL302 Independent Field Studies
- GEOL344 Advanced Field Studies
- GEOL353 Tectonics
- GEOL374 Metamorphism and metamorphic mineralization
- GEOL401 Current Topics and Advanced Methods in Geoscience (Paper Coordinator)
- GEOL465 Advanced Topics in Structural Geology (Paper Coordinator)
Research Interests
My current research interests are focused on the structure and mechanical properties of fault and shear zones, as well as the evolution of fault rock microstructure during the seismic cycle. I use a combination of fieldwork, microstructural analysis and rock deformation experiments. An important part of my research involves comparing natural fault rocks with those produced in experiments to try and understand the most important deformation processes and the significance of fault rock fabrics.
Current research programs include:
- Fault rock evolution during the seismic cycle in carbonate rocks.
- The Moonlight Fault Zone, New Zealand: A Case Study of Normal Fault Reactivation
- The Livingstone Fault, New Zealand: An analogue for the slab-mantle interface.
- Structure and mechanics of serpentinite shear zones
- Development of novel microanalytical techniques to study fault rocks (e.g. transmission kikuchi diffraction to study nanogranular fault rocks; sub-micron Raman spectroscopy to study serpentinites).
More info about my research programmes can be found here:
Research Grants
2014, University of Otago Research Grant, “Grain-scale recrystallization records frictional heating during earthquakes”
2016, University of Otago Research Grant, “The habitat of great earthquakes: faulting and slip dynamics in serpentinite”
2018, University of Otago Research Grant, “A slippery slope: lubrication processes in giant landslides and rock avalanches”
2015–2018, Marsden fast-start grant, $300,000, “Slow Creep or Fast Rupture in Faults? Linking Nature and Experiment to Understand the Earthquake Source"
2019–2022, Marsden Grant, NZ$950,000, “Reacting to rupture: the role of chemical reactions in earthquake behaviour at plate boundaries”
Completed postgraduate students
PhD
Matthew Tarling (2018; PhD) - Faulting and Slip Dynamics in Ultramafic Rocks: the Livingstone Fault terrane boundary
Matteo Demurtas (2018, University of Padua, Italy; PhD) - Structure and deformation processes in carbonate-bearing normal fault zones
Jack Williams (2017; PhD) - Characterisation of fractures in fault damage zones
Marieke Rempe (2015 University of Padua, Italy; PhD) - Determination of physico-chemical processes in the earthquake cycle using an experimental and field approach
Michele Fondriest (University of Padua, Italy; PhD) - Structure and Mechanical Properties of Seismogenic Fault Zones in Carbonates
MSc
James Leaper (2021; MSc) - The Cascade Rock Avalanche: Structure and deformation in a catastrophic rock avalanche
Simon Holbek (2019; MSc) - Structural controls and geochemistry of hydrothermal fluid flow in an exhumed accretionary prism, Otago Schist, New Zealand
Kieran Crookbain (2016; MSc) - EBSD analysis of clast-cotex grains in carbonate earthquake slip zones
Madison Frank (2015; MSc) - Brittle faulting and fluid flow in basement rocks of coastal Otago (South Island, New Zealand)
Simon Alder (2015; MSc) - Structure and mechanics of high-angle reverse faults: the Moonlight Fault Zone
Jordan Crase (2015; MSc) - The Livingstone fault: a terrane boundary in ultramafic rocks
Hons and PGDipSci
Samantha Allan (2018; BSc(Hons)) - Serpentinite shear zones and metasomatism in the Dun Mountain ophiolite belt, Nelson
Michael Ofman (2018; BSc(Hons)) - The Glade-Darrans Fault Zone, Fiordland
Chris Tulley (2016; BSc(Hons)) - Deformation and chemical reaction in the Livingstone Fault terrane boundary
Simon Alder (2014; BSc Hons) - Structure and ancient seismicity in the Moonlight Fault Zone, Matukituki Valley, Wanaka
Tristan Menzies (2014; BSc Hons) - Structure, mineralization and fluid flow in the Moonlight Fault Zone, Fan Creek, Queenstown
James Griffiths (2014; BSc Hons) - Using earthquake-like laboratory experiments to reveal ancient seismicity in the rock record
Kieran Crookbain (2014; PgDipSci) - Microstructural evolution of calcite fault gouge in earthquake-like experiments