Professor Fergus G F Gibb

BSc PhD FGS

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Emeritus Professor of Petrology & Geochemistry

MAT - Fergus Gibb profile photo
Profile picture of MAT - Fergus Gibb profile photo
f.gibb@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 3630
Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Professor Fergus G F Gibb
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Fergus Gibb graduated from the University of St Andrews with a BSc Hons, (1963) and PhD (1966) in geology. Following appointments at the University of Toronto (Lecturer in the Department of Geology, 1966-69) and the University of Manchester (Senior Research Assistant in the Department of Geology, 1969-73), he came to Sheffield in 1973 as a lecturer in the Department of Geology (latterly, Earth Sciences).

Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1979 and Reader in 1985, he transferred to Materials Science and Engineering in October 2001 where his research into the geological disposal of nuclear waste became an integral part of the activities of the Immobilisation Science Laboratory. He was awarded a personal chair in 2005. In recognition of the potential strategic importance of his research for the future management of the UK´s high-level nuclear wastes, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority part-funded his chair in 2006.

A former council member and vice-president of The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, he was elected to a fellowship of the Mineralogical Society of America in 1998 "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the fields of mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry and petrology". In 2007 he was appointed to the government´s advisory Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM).

Research interests

Key projects

  • Mathematical modelling of the physical environments in and around both low & high-temperature deep borehole disposals for various forms of nuclear waste, including spent fuel, reprocessing wastes and fissile materials like plutonium.
  • Experimental investigation of materials and designs for possible containers for the safe, high-temperature deep disposal of spent fuel.
  • Development of a low-temperature very deep disposal concept for vitrified reprocessing waste.
  • Deep borehole disposal of surplus plutonium through encapsulation of crystalline waste forms in recrystallized granite.
  • Design and large-scale testing of special high-density support matrices for the deep borehole disposal of spent light-water reactor fuel.
  • Evaluation of hydrogeological conditions at depths of several kilometres in areas of the continental crust potentially suitable for deep borehole disposal of nuclear wastes.

Deep Borehole Disposal Research Group

Staff:
Prof Fergus G. F. Gibb
Prof Neil A. Chapman
Dr Karl P. Travis
Dr David Burley

PhD students:
Ms Lyubka Spasova

Publications

Journal articles

  • Gibb F, Beswick J & Travis K (2024) . Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering, 3, 1470443.
  • Gibb FGF & Beswick AJ (2022) . Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Energy, 175(1), 11-29.
  • Collier NC, Milestone NB, Travis KP & Gibb FGF (2016) . Progress in Nuclear Energy, 90, 19-26.
  • Travis KP & Gibb FGF (2015) . MRS Proceedings, 1744, 193-203.
  • Beswick AJ, Gibb FGF & Travis KP (2014) . Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Energy, 167(2), 47-66.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (2014) . JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, 55(5), 1011-1013.
  • Gibb FGF, Travis KP & Hesketh KW (2012) . Mineralogical Magazine, 76(8), 3003-3017.
  • Spasova LM, Ojovan MI & Gibb FGF (2012) . Nuclear Engineering and Design, 248, 329-339.
  • Travis KP, Gibb FGF & Hesketh KW (2012) . Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1475, 391-396.
  • Gibb F (2010) Looking down the bore. NUCLEAR ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, 55(667), 21-22.
  • Gibb FGF, Burakov BE, Taylor KJ & Domracheva Y (2008) . Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1107, 59-66.
  • Gibb FGF, Taylor KJ & Burakov BE (2008) . Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1107, 51-58.
  • Spasova LM, Gibb FGF & Ojovan MI (2008) . Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 1107, 75-82.
  • Gibb FGF, Travis KP, McTaggart NA & Burley D (2008) . J GEOPHYS RES-SOL EA, 113(B5).
  • Gibb FGF, Taylor KJ & Burakov BE (2008) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 374(3), 364-369.
  • Gibb FGF, McTaggart NA, Travis KP, Burley D & Hesketh KW (2008) . J NUCL MATER, 374(3), 370-377.
  • Travis KP, McTaggart NA, Gibb FGF & Burley D (2007) Very deep geological disposal of high level radioactive waste: A numerical modelling study. Aiche Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings.
  • Stennett MC, Hyatt NC, Maddrell ER, Gibb FGF, Moebus G & Lee WE (2006) . MRS Proceedings, 932.
  • McTaggart NA, Gibb FGF, Travis KP, Burley D & Hesketh KW (2006) Modelling temperature distribution around very deep borehole disposals of HLW. Proceedings of the 11th International High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference Ihlrwm, 2006, 415-421.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (2006) . JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY, 47(1), 191-230.
  • Ozhovan MI, Gibb F, Poluektov PP & Emets EP (2005) Probing of the interior layers of the earth with self-sinking capsules. Atomnaya Energiya, 99(2), 120-127.
  • Ozhovan MI, Gibb F, Poluéktov PP & Emets EP (2005) . ATOMIC ENERGY, 99(2), 556-562.
  • Gibb FGF (2004) Granite recrystallization - The key to an alternative strategy for HLW disposal?. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 807, 937-942.
  • Ojovan MI, Gibb FGF & Lee WE (2004) In situ sintering of waste forms in an underground disposal environment. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 807, 949-954.
  • Gibb FGF & Attrill PG (2003) . GEOLOGY, 31(8), 657-660.
  • Chapman N & Gibb F (2003) A Truly Final Waste Management Solution: Is Very Deep Borehole Disposal a Realistic Option for High-Level Waste or Fissile Materials?. Radwaste Solutions, 10(4), 26-37.
  • Attrill PG & Gibb FGF (2003) . Lithos, 67(1-2), 119-133.
  • Attrill PG & Gibb FGF (2003) . LITHOS, 67(1-2), 103-117.
  • Gibb FGF (2000) . JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 157, 27-36.
  • Henderson CMB, Gibb FGF & Foland KA (2000) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 64(5), 779-790.
  • Foland KA, Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (2000) . Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 139(6), 655-671.
  • Gibb FGF (1999) . Waste Management, 19(3), 207-211.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (1996) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 60(398), 1-3.
  • Dalton JA & Gibb FGF (1996) . Mineralogical Magazine, 60(2), 337-345.
  • Henderson CMB & Gibb FGF (1996) . Mineralogical Magazine, 60(1), 1-3.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (1992) . Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 109(4), 538-545.
  • Gibb FGF & Gibson SA (1989) . Scottish Journal of Geology, 25(3), 367-370.
  • KANARISSOTIRIOU R & GIBB FGF (1989) . JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 146, 607-610.
  • GIBB FGF & HENDERSON CMB (1989) . GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, 126(2), 127-&.
  • Gibb FGF & Kanaris-Sotiriou R (1988) . Geological Society Special Publication, 39, 241-252.
  • Henderson CMB & Gibb FGF (1987) . Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Earth Sciences, 77(4), 325-347.
  • Henderson CMB, Foland KA & Gibb FGF (1987) . Geological Journal, 22(1), 43-52.
  • Carswell DA & Gibb FGF (1987) . Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 97(4), 473-487.
  • CARSWELL DA & GIBB FGF (1987) . CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, 95(4), 499-511.
  • Gibb FGF, Kanaris-Sotiriou R & Neves R (1986) . Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Earth Sciences, 77(3), 223-230.
  • KANARISSOTIRIOU R, NEVES R & GIBB FGF (1986) . GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, 123(5), 569-579.
  • Gibb FGF & Bootes PA (1985) . Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 45(3), 173-178.
  • KANARISSOTIRIOU R & GIBB FGF (1985) . GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, 122(4), 361-372.
  • GIBB FGF & HENDERSON CMB (1984) . SCOTTISH JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY, 20, 21-29.
  • DICKIN AP, HENDERSON CMB & GIBB FGF (1984) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 48(348), 311-322.
  • Rothstein ATV, Bennet MC & Gibb FGF (1983) . Journal of the Geological Society, 140(5), 843-844.
  • BENNETT MC & GIBB FGF (1983) . JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 140(JAN), 63-73.
  • HENDERSON CMB & GIBB FGF (1983) . CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, 84(4), 355-364.
  • BENNETT MC & GIBB FGF (1983) DISCUSSION ON YOUNGING DIRECTIONS IN THE DAWROS PERIODOTITE, CONNEMARA - REPLY. JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 140(SEP), 843-844.
  • FALL HG, GIBB FGF & KANARISSOTIRIOU R (1982) . JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 139(MAY), 277-292.
  • CORRIGAN GM & GIBB FGF (1981) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 44(335), 360-361.
  • CARSWELL DA, DAWSON JB & GIBB FGF (1981) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 44(333), 79-89.
  • CARSWELL DA & GIBB FGF (1980) . CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, 74(4), 403-416.
  • CARSWELL DA & GIBB FGF (1980) . LITHOS, 13(1), 19-29.
  • DONALDSON CH & GIBB FGF (1979) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 43(325), 115-115.
  • CORRIGAN G & GIBB FGF (1979) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 43(325), 121-126.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (1978) . Scottish Journal of Geology, 14(1), 1-27.
  • GIBB FGF & HENDERSON CMB (1978) . GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, 115(1), 55-&.
  • KANARISSOTIRIOU R, GIBB FGF, CARSWELL DA & CURTIS CD (1978) . CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY, 67(3), 289-295.
  • HENDERSON CMB & GIBB FGF (1977) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 41(320), 534-537.
  • GIBB FGF (1976) . Journal of the Geological Society, 132(2), 209-222.
  • GIBB FGF & KANARISSOTIRIOU R (1976) . NATURE, 260(5546), 23-25.
  • Gibb FGF (1974) . Mineralogical Magazine, 39(306), 641-653.
  • Johnston R & Gibb FGF (1973) . Mineralogical Magazine, 39(302), 248-251.
  • Gibb FGF (1973) . Journal of Petrology, 14(2), 203-230.
  • Gibb FGF (1972) . Mineralogical Magazine, 38(299), 811-818.
  • Henderson CMB & Gibb FGF (1972) . Mineralogical Magazine, 38(298), 670-677.
  • DREVER HI, JOHNSTON R & GIBB FGF (1972) . Nature Physical Science, 235(54), 30-31.
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (1971) . Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 30(2), 119-124.
  • Gibb FGF (1971) . Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 30(2), 103-118.
  • GIBB FGF (1971) . Nature Physical Science, 230(15), 153-154.
  • Gibb FGF & Zussman J (1971) . Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 11(1-5), 161-167.
  • Gibb FGF, Stumpfl EF & Zussman J (1970) . Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 9(3), 217-224.
  • Rucklidge JC, Gibb FGF, Fawcett JJ & Gasparrini EL (1970) . Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 34(2), 243-247.
  • Gibb FGF (1969) . Mineralogical Magazine, 37(288), 504-514.
  • GIBB FGF (1968) . Journal of Petrology, 9(3), 411-443.
  • Gibb FGF (1965) . Scottish Journal of Geology, 1(3), 300-303.
  • Freeze GA, Stein E, Brady PV, Lopez C, Sassani D, Travis K, Gibb F & Beswick J () . Energies, 12(11), 2141-2141.

Conference proceedings

  • Travis KP, Lord C, Golding L, Squires A, Gibb FGF & Burley D (2022) . Proceedings of the International High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference Ihlrwm 2022 Embedded with the 2022 Ans Winter Meeting (pp 995-1001)
  • Travis KP, Collier NC & Gibb FGF (2016) Deep Borehole Disposal Research at the University of Sheffield. Proceedings of the Workshop “Final Disposal in Deep Boreholes Using Multiple Geological Barriers: Digging Deeper for Safety†(pp 175-175). Berlin, Germany
  • Collier NC, Travis KP, Gibb FGF & Milestone NB (2015) . MRS Proceedings, Vol. 1744 (pp 205-210)
  • Travis KP & Gibb FGF (2015) Deep geological boreholes : A suitable disposal route for the hanford Cs/Sr capsules?. 15th International High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015 Ihlrwm 2015 (pp 115-121)
  • Gibb FGF & Travis KP (2015) Sealing deep borehole disposals of radioactive waste by "rock welding". 15th International High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015 Ihlrwm 2015 (pp 401-406)
  • Travis KP & Gibb FGF (2015) . Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 1744 (pp 193-203)
  • Collier NC, Travis KP, Gibb FGF & Milestone NB (2015) Cementitious grouts for disposal of nuclear wasteforms in deep boreholes. 15th International High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015 Ihlrwm 2015 (pp 394-400)
  • Gibb FGF, Travis KP, McTaggart NA, Burley D & Hesketh KW (2008) Modeling temperature distribution around very deep borehole disposals of HLW. NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 163(1) (pp 62-73)
  • Travis KP, McTaggart NA, Gibb FGF & Burley D (2008) A model for predicting the temperature distribution around radioactive waste containers in very deep geological boreholes. SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT XXXI, Vol. 1107 (pp 83-90)
  • Stennett MC, Hyatt NC, Maddrell ER, Gibb FGF, Moebus G & Lee WE (2006) Microchemical and crystallographic characterisation of fluorite-based ceramic wasteforms. Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIX, Vol. 932 (pp 623-630)
  • Hyatt NC, Taylor KJ, Gibb FGF & Lee WE (2004) A study of magnox waste glass under conditions of high temperature, very deep, geological disposal.. SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT XXVII, Vol. 807 (pp 199-204)
  • Gibb FGF & Attrill PG (2004) Experimental high pressure crystallisation of a natural granitic melt. PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF GLASSES, Vol. 45(2) (pp 90-94)
  • Hyatt NC, Taylor KJ, Gibb FGF & Lee WE (2004) Crystallisation of Magnox waste glass under conditions of high temperature, very deep, geological disposal. GLASS TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 45(2) (pp 68-70)
  • Gibb FGF & Henderson CMB (1996) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. 60(398) (pp 67-97)
Professional activities and memberships

Professor Gibb´s early work led to his recognition as an expert on fluid mechanical and other petrogenetic processes in minor igneous intrusions, particularly dykes. His subsequent application of mineralogical and geochemical analyses to the emplacement and differentiation of magmatic bodies has led to international acknowledgement as an authority on basic sill complexes and related intrusions. As his recent appointment to CoRWM attests, he is now recognised as an expert on the geological disposal of radioactive wastes. Among his professional activities, he is:

  • a member of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain & Ireland since 1965; (Council member, 1976-80, 1989-91, vice-president, 1990).
  • a fellow of The Geological Society (of London) since 1973; (Volcanic Studies Group Committee, 1976-80).
  • a member of the Mineralogical Society of America since 1966; (Elected Fellow 1998).
  • a member of the Edinburgh Geological Society since 1965.