![Dr Stephen Bowden Dr Stephen Bowden](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/gmi415/avatar/MK4qPgSygbk4VSoyodc3Ge5xjh9XP71Z7V5h7iQR.jpeg)
Reader
- About
-
- Email Address
- s.a.bowden@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 273467
- School/Department
- School of Geosciences
Biography
Stephen is an Organic Geochemist who researches chemcial fossils and sedimentary organic matter and develops novel analytical technologies for chemical analysis. He has worked on international expeditions as a lead sedimentologist and geochemist. He manages a laboratory that conducts consultancy and research. His students start and run businesses and play leading roles in industry, education and their communities.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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- Course Coorinator GL 4031 (Geochemistry and Geofluids), - a course that along with GL3018 teaches biomarkers, thermal maturiation, biodegredation, basin modelling
- Geochemistry Laboratory Manager
- Member of School Health and Safety Committee
- Radiation Protection Supervisor & Laser Protection Supervisor
- University Enterprise and Innovation Champion
- External Memberships
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Commercial
- Scientific Advisor – RAB Microfluidics; 2017 - present
- Technical Advisor – Glensol Enviroklean Solutions 2020 – present
Education
Visiting Researcher Kobe University 2021–2022:
Scholastic
- Associate Editor – Frontiers in Organic Geochemistry 2022- present
- Associate Editor – Journal Marine and Petroleum Geology 2019- 2022
- Reviewing Editor – Experimental Results 2019- 2023
Key Participation in International Science
- International Ocean Discovery Program 368 - Lead Geochemist 2017
- International Ocean Discovery Program 370 - Lead Sedimentologist 2016
- Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 337 - Ship's Organic Geochemist 2013
- Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 331 - Ship's Sedimentologist 2011
- NASA Haughton Mars Project - Geologist 2006
- Research
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Research Overview
Important Projects and Publications
A range of my research is below. Something recent, something old, something commercial and something applied. Maybe something for anyone; if resources permit (normaly time is limiting factor) I am always willing to collaborate. You can also check out my LinkedIn page - I particularly like catching up with old students and hearing from like-minded strangers (the stranger the better)!
Most recent paper (2024): The perturbation of PAHs on mosses in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a consequence of social restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. doi.org/10.3389/fgeoc.2023.1320096
My most recent paper is about the measurement of PAH on mosses during the COVID-19 lockdown. Aberdeen does not have its own Environmental PAH monitoring station so instead mosses were used as sampling devices. The changes in pollutant PAH matched changes in traffic as Scotland went in and out of different levels of restriction.
Figure above shows the increases in MMW PAH on mosses in Aberdeen after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
Most cited paper (2005): Biomarker evidence for green and purple sulphur bacteria in a stratified Palaeoproterozoic sea. doi.org/10.1038/nature04068
My most cited paper is about the earliest fossil occurrence (chemical fossil) of a green sulphur bacteria, publsihed at a time when chemical fossils in precambrian rocks were more uncertain than they are now. It involved careful chemical analysis by GC-MS.
Figure above shows the 134 m/z ion chromatogram - the little i is the peak for isorenieratane, evidence for green sulpuhr bacteria.
Most impactful paper (2009): Determination of the asphaltene and carboxylic acid content of a heavy oil using a microfluidic device. doi.org/10.1039/b814495h
This is my most important paper from an economic perspective as its ideas were used to start a company (RAB microfluidics) that attracted > £2 million in start-up funds. The paper is about the design, testing and building of a microfluidic chip and a method to analyse heavy oil. Later the method was used to commercialise a sensor for lubricating oil analysis.
From blue sky idea to product - took a very hard working PhD student (Dr Alabi, 10+ years and input from many others)
Consultancy Work (2023): Detection of nano-particles in oils during waterflood experiments
A local SME asked me to develop a method and use it to detect nano-particles in oil at sub 1% concentrations. The method was applied to both core flood experiments and real time adsorption experiments.
- Publications
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Page 1 of 2 Results 1 to 50 of 95
Molecular and mineral biomarker record of terrestrialization in the Rhynie Chert
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 640, 112101Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDifferentiating α-moganite, silanol and α-quartz by Raman spectroscopy
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol. 26, no. 10, pp. 8195-8199Contributions to Journals: ArticlesShallow structure and late quaternary slip rate of the Osaka Bay fault, western Japan
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, vol. 11, 8Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRed or green: Overprinting of the climatic signal in Miocene sediments, South China Sea (IODP Expedition 368, Site U1502)
Terra Nova, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 497-505Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12670
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/21021/1/Ferre_TN_Red_Or_Green_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Trace element geochemistry in the earliest terrestrial ecosystem, the Rhynie Chert
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems , vol. 23, no. 12, e2022GC010647Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe effect of supercritical CO2 on failure mechanisms of hot dry rock
Advances in Geo-Energy Research, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 324-333Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2022.04.07
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/20588/1/Li_etal_AGER_The_Effect_Of_VoR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Hydrothermal generation of hydrocarbons in basement rocks, Southern Tuscany
Italian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 141, no. 2, pp. 231-244Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAnne Brontë and Geology: A Study of her Collection of Stones
Brontë Studies, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 89-112Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLitho-Based Pore Scale Waterflooding in Carbonate Reservoirs: A Holistic Approach to Predict Displacement Efficiency
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/207443-MS
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The release of petroleum from Central Africa rift basins over geological time as deduced from petroleum systems modelling
Journal of African Earth Sciences, vol. 183, 104319Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104319
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Influence of Early Low-Temperature and Later High-Temperature Diagenesis on Magnetic Mineral Assemblages in Marine Sediments From the Nankai Trough
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems , vol. 22, no. 10, e2021GC010133Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDepositional environment of the upper triassic baluti formation in gara anticline, kurdistan region, north iraq: Insight from microfacies and biomarker characteristics
Iraqi Geological Journal, vol. 54, no. 1E, pp. 29-42Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTemperature limits to deep subseafloor life in the Nankai Trough subduction zone
Science, vol. 370, no. 6521, pp. 1230-1234Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDiagenetic and Reservoir Quality Variation of Miocene Sandstone Reservoir Analogues from Three Basins of Southern California, USA
Journal of earth science, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 930-949Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1289-7
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Modelling the Shimokita deep coalbed biosphere over deep geological time: Starvation, stimulation, material balance and population models
Basin Research, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 804-829Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12399
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/15075/1/SAB_Shimokita_Deep_Biosphere_AAM.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Mendeley
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Diagenesis and reservoir quality in high-resolution sandstone sequences: An example from the Middle Jurassic Ravenscar sandstones, Yorkshire CoastUK
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 118, 104426Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104426
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Evidence in the Japan Sea of microdolomite mineralization within gas hydrate microbiomes
Scientific Reports, vol. 10, 1876Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58723-y
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/13678/1/Snyder_SciRep_Evidence_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Hot fluids, burial metamorphism and thermal histories in the underthrust sediments at IODP 370 site C0023, Nankai Accretionary Complex
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 112, 104080Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe thermal imprint of continental breakup during the formation of the South China Sea
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 531, 115972Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe application of surface enhanced Raman scattering to the detection of asphaltic petroleum in sediment extracts: deconvolving three component-mixtures using look-up tables of entire surface enhanced Raman spectra
Analytical Methods, vol. 11, no. 46, pp. 5846-5856Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C9AY01859J
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/13324/1/Bowden_etal_AnalyticMethods_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Emplacement of oil in the Devonian Weardale Granite of northern England
Proceedings Of The Yorkshire Geological Society, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 229-237Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRealtime lubricating oil analysis to predict equipment failure
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/195708-MS
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Naturally propped fractures caused by quartz cementation preserve oil reservoirs in basement rocks
Terra Nova, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 343-347Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDetecting ancient life: Investigating the nature and origin of possible stromatolites and associated calcite from a one billion year old lake
Precambrian Research, vol. 328, pp. 309-320Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA new method for quality control of geological cores by X-Ray computed tomography: Application in IODP expedition 370
Frontiers in Earth Science, vol. 7, 117Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSurface mineral crusts: a potential strategy for sampling for evidence of life on Mars
International Journal of Astrobiology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 91-101Contributions to Journals: ArticlesOil charge and biodegradation history in an exhumed fractured reservoir, Devonian, UK
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 101, pp. 281-289Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe geochemistry of oil in Cornish granites
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 298-305Contributions to Journals: ArticlesIn-situ mechanical weakness of subducting sediments beneath a plate boundary décollement in the Nankai Trough
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, vol. 5, 70Contributions to Journals: ArticlesOrigin of oil geochemical compositional heterogeneity in the Radhuma and Tayarat formations heavy oil carbonate reservoirs of Burgan Field, south Kuwait
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 11, no. 21, 649Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3995-3
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Reduction spheroids preserve a uranium isotope record of the ancient deep continental biosphere
Nature Communications, vol. 9, 4505Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea
Nature Geoscience, vol. 11, no. 10, pp. 782-789Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1
International ocean discovery program expedition 368 preliminary report: South China Sea Rifted Margin Testing hypotheses for lithosphere thinning during continental breakup: Drilling at the South China Sea rifted margin
International Ocean Discovery Program: Preliminary Reports, no. 368, pp. 1-54Contributions to Journals: Review articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.pr.368.2018
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Petroleum generation and migration in the Cambro-Ordovician Laurentian margin succession of NW Scotland
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 175, no. 1, pp. 33-43Contributions to Journals: ArticlesGeochemistry and origin of organic-rich sediment veins in fractured granitic basement, Helmsdale, Sutherlandshire, UK
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 88, pp. 107-114Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSource rock maturation owing to igneous intrusion in rifted margin petroleum systems
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 174, no. 6, pp. 979-987Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/jgs/174/6/979.full.pdf
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2017-011
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/5/MuirheadSourceRockMaturationIntrusionManuscript_1_.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/9/Figure_1_.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/6/Figure_2_1_.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/3/Figure_3.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/8/Figure_4.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/2/Figure_5.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/1/Figure_6.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/7/SRMSTable_1.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10724/4/SRMSTable_2.pdf
Quartz-amethyst hosted hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions from the green ridge breccia in the snoqualmie granite, North Cascades,WA, USA
Minerals, vol. 7, no. 9, pp. 1-16Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min7090174
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/9510/1/minerals_07_00174.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Emplacement and biodegradation of oil in fractured basement: the ‘coal’ deposit in Moinian gneiss at Castle Leod, Ross-shire
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh , vol. 107, no. 1, pp. 23-32Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755691017000056
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/9686/1/Strathpeffer_ms_REVISED.docx
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Raman spectroscopy of shocked gypsum from a meteorite impact crater
International Journal of Astrobiology, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 286-292Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSubsurface biodegradation of crude oil in a fractured basement reservoir, Shropshire, UK
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 174, no. 4, pp. 655-666Contributions to Journals: ArticlesApplication of formation water geochemistry to assess seal integrity of the Gotnia Formation, Kuwait
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 10, no. 3, 56Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-2842-2
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Evaluating the Baluti Formation at Sararu village, Ora Anticline, Iraqi Kurdistan: a stratigraphic and geochemical approach
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 10, 73Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDeep hydrothermal activity in hydrocarbon reservoirs, South Kuwait
Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 10, no. 2, 41Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2807-x
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Characterization of organic matter in the Torridonian using Raman spectroscopy
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 448, pp. 71-80Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP448.2
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/1/MuirheadTorridonManuscript_1_.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/3/MuirheadTorridonManuscript.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/7/MuirheadTorridonFigure1.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/6/MuirheadTorridonFigure2.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/12/MuirheadTorridonFigure3.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/15/MuirheadTorridonFigure4.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/5/MuirheadTorridonFigure5.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/11/MuirheadTorridonFigure6.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/10866/4/MuirheadTorridonTable1.xls
Contrasting microfossil preservation and lake chemistries within the 1200–1000 Ma Torridonian Supergroup of NW Scotland
Earth System Evolution and Early Life: a Celebration of the Work of Martin Brasier. Brasier, A. T., McIlroy, D., McLoughlin, N. (eds.). Geological Society of London, pp. 105-119, 15 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersIdentification, Geochemical Characterisation and Significance of Bitumen among the Grave Goods of the 7th Century Mound 1 Ship-Burial at Sutton Hoo (Suffolk, UK)
PloS ONE, vol. 11, no. 12, e0166276Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAncient Syrian bitumen discovered in Anglo-Saxon boat at Sutton Hoo
The ConversationContributions to Specialist Publications: ArticlesThermal modelling of the Melut basin Sudan and South Sudan: Implications for hydrocarbon generation and migration
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 77, pp. 746-762Contributions to Journals: ArticlesOrigin of Heavy Oil in Cretaceous Petroleum Reservoirs
Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 106-118Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.64.2.106
Metalliferous Biosignatures for Deep Subsurface Microbial Activity
Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 107-118Contributions to Journals: Articles