Mr John Spratt

Biography

Employment history

1984-Present     Electron Probe Microanalyst - The Natural History Museum
1980-1984         Assistant Scientific Officer – Rothamsted Experimental Station

Areas of responsibilities

• Cameca SX100 electron microprobe. (purchased 2007)
• The determination by electron probe microanalysis of elemental composition in regard to mineral and synthetic materials.  
• Spatial mapping of element concentration.  
• Philosophy for collection, compilation, and statistical reporting of microprobe data. 
• Training and supervision of users.
• Optical microscope with cold cathode cathodoluminescense attachment and camera. 
• Undertake research projects in collaboration with Museum and external workers.
• Undertake contract work.

Professional Roles

Educational Activities

Training and supervision of numerous PhD students, post docs, visiting scientists and commercial visitors.

I currently provide practical training in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)  as part of a thrice yearly electron probe microanalysis training course run in conjunction with the Mineralogical Society.

External collaborations

Recent collaborations (2008) include:

• School of Geological Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, calculation of ages by EPMA from monazite.
• Gemmological Association of Great Briton - Thortveitite - a new gemstone

Guest lectures

• Society of Electron Microscope Technology The School of Pharmacy University of London14th Dec. 2011
• Royal Society Workshop Kunming and Xian Wei China, 20 – 29 Nov 2007
• Chieti University, Italy (EU Cultural exchange) Dec. 2006

Curation

Contributions to Collections Development and Management

I work closely with members of the curation team offering expertise and advice with regard to electron probe microanalysis. Current projects include providing the chemical compositions for new minerals:

Research

Characterisation of the chemistry of minerals by electron probe microanalysis.

I am currently working on the determination of chemical compositions of a number of new minerals, including Kerimasite a new garnet from Tanzania.

Niobium X-ray element distibution map from Kerimasite, a new garnet

Previous work has included the determination of the chemical compositions of:

• A gem quality scandium end- member thortveitite
• The new mineral mavlyanovite  Mn₅Si₃ from Chatkal ridge, Uzbekistan.

Mineralogical research projects in collaboration with Museum and external researchers.

2005-2007       Thai Government PhD studentship to Nantharat Bunnag  in collaboration with Birmingham University and Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Topic: Crystal chemistry of colour in corundum.

Element distribution map for chromium in corundum. © Copyright NHM

Publications

2013

SIIDRA O I, KRIVOVICHEV S V, TURNER R W, RUMSEY M S SPRATT J (2013)

 Crystal chemistry of layered Pb oxychloride minerals with PbO-related structures:  Part II. Crystal structure of Vladkrivovichevite, [Pb₃₂O₁₈][Pb₄Mn₂O]Cl₁₄(BO₃)₈.2H2O, 

American Mineralogist,  (98): 256-261

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2138.am.2013.4244

SIIDRA O I, KRIVOVICHEV S V, TURNER R W, RUMSEY M S SPRATT J (2013)

 Crystal chemistry of layered Pb oxychloride minerals with PbO-related structures: Part 1.Crystal structure of hereroite, [Pb₃₂O₂₀(O,□)](AsO₄)₂((Si,As,V,Mo)O₄)₂Cl₁₀. American Mineralogist (98): 248-255

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2138.am.2013.4241

2012

MÜLLER A, KEARSLEY A, SPRATT J & SELTMANN R. (2012) Petrogenetic implications of magmatic garnet in granitic pegmatites from southern Norway.  

Mineralogical Association Canada 50(4): 1095-1115

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3749/canmin.50.4.1095

TURNER R W, SIDRA O I, KRIVOVICHEV S V, STANLEY C J, SPRATT J. (2012)Rumseyite, [Pb₂OF]Cl, the first naturally occurring fluoroxychloride mineral with the parent crystal structure for layered lead oxychlorides.

Mineralogical Magazine 76(5): 1247-1255

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.5.11

KAMPF A R, MILLS S J, RUMSEY M S, DINI M, BIRCH W D, SPRATT J, PLUTH J J, STEELE I M, JENKINS R A, PINCH W W. (2012) The heteropolymolybdate family: structural relations, nomenclature scheme and new species.

Mineralogical Magazine 76(5): 1175 - 1207

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.5.059

TURNER R, SIDRA O I, RUMSEY M S, KRIVOVICHEV S V, STANLEY C J, SPRATT J. (2012) Hereroite and Vladkrivovichevite: two novel lead oxychlorides from the Kombat mine, Namibia.

Mineralogical Magazine 76(4): 883-890

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.4.05

ZAITSEV A N, MARKS M A W, WENZEL T, SPRATT J, Sharygin V V, STREKOPYTOV S & MARKL G. ( 2012 ) Mineralogy, geochemistry and petrology of the phonolitic to nephelinitic Sadiman volcano, Crater Highlands, Tanzania. Lithos .

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.03.001

SMITH M., SPRATT J. (2012) The Chemistry of Niobium Mineralisation at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on the Hydrothermal Precipitation and Alteration of Nb-Minerals.

Acta Geologica Sinica 86(5): 700-722

DOI:

KAMPF A R., MILLS S J., RUMSEY M S., SPRATT J., FAVREAU G. (2012) The crystal structure determination and redefinition of matulaite, Fe³⁺Al₇(PO₄)₄(PO₃OH)₂(OH)₈(H2O)₈•8H₂O.

Mineral Magazine 76(3): 517-534

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.3.05

RUMSEY M S., KRIVOVICHEV S V., SIDRA O I.,KIRK C A., STANLEY C J., SPRATT J., (2012) Rickturnerite, Pb₇O₄[Mg(OH)₄](OH)Cl₃, a complex new lead oxychloride mineral.

Mineral Magazine 76(1): 59-73

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.1.59

KAMPF A R, MILLS S J, HOUSLEY R M, RUMSEY M S & SPRATT J. (2012) Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: VII. Chromschieffelinite, Pb₁₀Te₆O₂₀(OH)₁₄(CrO₄)(H₂O)₅, the chromate analogue of schieffelinite.

American Mineralogist 97(1): 212-219

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/am.2011.3909

2011

ZAITSEV A N, CHAKHMOURADIAN A R, SIIDRA O I, SPRATT J, WILLIAMS C T, STANLEY C J, PETROV S V, BRITVIN S N AND POLYAKOVA E A. 2011 Fluorine-, yttrium- and lanthanide-rich cerianite-(Ce) from carbonatitic rocks of the Kerimasi volcano and surrounding explosion craters, Gregory Rift, northern Tanzania.

Mineralogical Magazine 75(6): 2813-2822

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2011.075.6.2813

ZAITSEV A N, WENZEL T, SPRATT J, WILLIAMS T C, STREKOPYTOV S, SHARYGIN V V, PETROV S V, GOLOVINA T A, ZAITSEVA E O, MARKL G. 2011. Was Sadiman volcano a source for the Laetoli Footprint Tuff?

Journal of Human Evolution 61 : 121-124

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.02.004

MILLS S, RUMSEY M, FAVREAU G, SPRATT J, RAUDSEPP M & DINI M. 2011. Bariopharmacoalumite, a new mineral species from Cap Garonne, France and Mina Grande, Chile.

Mineralogical Magazine 75(1): 135-144

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2010.075.1.135

PURVIS O W, BENNETT J P, SPRATT J 2011 Copper localization, elemental content, and thallus colour in the copper hyperaccumulator lichen Lecanora sierrae from California.  

The Lichenologist 43(2): 1–9

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0024282910000770

KUZNETSOVA L G, Zolotarev A A, FRANK-KAMENETSKAYA O V,ROZHDESTVENSKAYA I V, BRONZOVA Yu M, SPRATTE J, ERTL A. (2011)Chemical Composition and Species Attribution of Tourmalines from a Rare-Metal Pegmatite Vein with Scapolite, Sangilen Upland, Tuva

Geology of Ore Deposits 53(8):806-817. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S1075701511080095

KUZNETSOVA L G, Zolotarev A A, FRANK-KAMENETSKAYA O V,ROZHDESTVENSKAYA I V, BRONZOVA Yu M, SPRATTE J, ERTL A. (2011): Chemical composition and the species attribution of tourmalines from the rare-metal pegmatite vein with scapolite (Sangilene highlands, Tuva). Zapiski RMO, 140(1), 102-116. (In Russian).

DOI:

2010

RUMSEY M S, MILLS S J, SPRATT J 2010 Natropharmacoalumite, NaAl₄[(OH)₄(AsO₄)₃]4H₂0, a new mineral of the pharmacosiderite supergroup and the renaming of aluminopharmacosiderite to pharmacoaluminate.

Mineralogical Magazine 74(5):  929-936.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2010.074.5.929

ZAITSEV A N, WILLIAMS C T, BRITVIN S N, KUZNETSOVA I V, SPRATT J, PETROV M, KELLER J 2010 Kerimasite Ca₃Zr₂(Fe³⁺₂Si)O₁₂ , a new garnet from carbonatites of Kerimase volcano and surrounding explosion crater, northern Tanzania. 

Mineralogical Magazine 74(5):  841-858.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2010.074.5.841

2009

ZAITSEV A N, KELLER J, SPRATT J, JEFFRIES T E & SHARYGIN V V. 2009. Chemical Composition of Nyerereite and Gregoryite from Natrocarbonatites of Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano, Tanzania.

Geology of ore deposits 51 608-616.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S1075701509070095

YUSUPOV R G, STANLEY C J, WELCH M D, SPRATT J, CRESSEY G, RUMSEY M S, SELTMANN R & IGAMBERDIEV E. 2009. Mavlyanovite, Mn₅Si₃, a new mineral species from a lamproite diatreme, Chatkal Ridge, Uzbekistan.

Mineralogical Magazine 73(1):  43-50.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2009.073.1.43

MULLER A, IHLEN P M, LARSEN R B, SPRATT J, SELTMANN R 2009. Quartz and Garnet chemistry of South Norwegian pegmatites and its implications for pegmatite genesis. 

Estudos Geologicos 19(2): 2009

DOI:

2008

ZAITSEV A N, KELLER J, SPRATTJ, PEROVA E N and KEARSLEY A 2008 Nyerereite-pirssonite-calcite-shortite relationships in altered natrocarbonatites,

Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania.

Canadian Mineralogist 46: 1077-1094

DOI: http://dx.doi.org10.3749/canmin.46.4.00

PURVIS O.W., PAWLIK-SKOWRONSKA B., CRESSEY G. , KEARSLEY A., SPRATT J. and STANLEY C.J. 2008 Mineral phases and element composition of the copper hyperaccumulator lichen Lecanora polytropa.

Mineralogical Magazine 72(2): 607-616

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2008.072.2.607

CHAPMAN R., MERCER I. F., RANKIN A.H., SPRATT J.

2008 Thortveitite – a new gemstone

The Journal of Gemmology 31 1-6 ISSN 1355-4565

DOI:

ZAITSEV A. N, KELLER J, SPRATT J., JEFFRIES T. E, & SHARYGIN V. V. 2008 Chemical composition of Nyerereite and gregoryite from natrocarbonatites of Oldoinyo Lengai volcano Tanzania.

Zapiski RMO, 137(4), 101-111. (In Russian).

DOI:

YUSUPOV R G, STANLEY C J, WELCH M D, SPRATT J, CRESSEY G, RUMSEY M S, SELTMANN R &  IGAMBERDIEV E 2008. Mavlyanovite, Mn₅Si₃, a new mineral. Geology and Mineral Resources (5): 3-6. (in Russian).

DOI:

2007

RUMSEY M S, BRIDGES T F, SPRATT J 2007. The first British occurrence of petitjeanite at Corrock mine Calbeck Fells, Cumbria.

UK Journal of Mines and Minerals 28: 47-50

DOI:

2006

MUELLER A, SELTMANN R, HALLS C, SIEBEL W, DULSKI P, JEFFRIESJ, SPRATT J, KRONZ A 2006. The magmatic evolution of the Land's End pluton, Cornwall, and associated pre-enrichment of metals.

Ore Geology Reviews 28: 329-367

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2005.05.002

KEARSLEY A T, GRAHAM G A, BURCHELL M J, COLE M J, DAI Z R, TESLICH N, BRADLEY J P, CHATER R, WOZNIAKIEWICZ P A, SPRATT J, JONES G.  2006 Analytical scanning and transmission electron microscopy of laboratory impacts on Stardust aluminum foils: interpreting impact crater morphology and the composition of impact residues.

Meteorites and Planetary Science 42: 191-210

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2007.tb00227.x

2005

MASON T F D, WEISS D J, CHAPMAN J B, WILKINSON J J, TESSALINA S G, SPIRO B, HORSTWOOD M S A, SPRATT J, COLES B 2005. Zn and Cu isotopic variability in the Alexandrinka volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) ore deposit, Urals, Russia.

Chemical Geology 221(3): 170 -187

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2005.04.011

STANLEY C J, CRIDDLE A J, ROBERTS A C, SZYMANSKI J, SPRATT J, WELCH M D 2005. Kingstonite, (Rh,Ir,Pt)₃S₄ a new rhodium sulphide from Yubdo, Ethiopia.

Mineralogical Magazine 69(4): 447-453.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/0026461056940262

2004

ROBERTS A C, STIRLING J A R, A.J. CRIDDLE A J, DUNNING A G,SPRATT J  2004 Aurivilliusite, Hg²⁺Hg¹⁺OI, a new mineral species from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California, USA.

Mineralogical  Magazine 68(2): 241–245.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/0026461046820184

2000

WILLIAMSON B J, SPRATT J, ADAMS J T, TINDLE A G, STANLEY C J 2000 Geochemical Constraints from zoned hydrothermal tourmalines on fluid evolution an Sn mineralization: an example from fault breccias at Roche S W England.

Journal of Petrology 41(9): 1439-1453

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/petrology/41.9.1439

1999

LARGE D J, SAWLOWICZ Z, SPRATT J 1999 A cobaltite-framboidal pyrite association from Kupferschiefer: possible implications for trace element behaviour during earliest stages of diagenesis.

Mineralogical Magazine 63(3) 353-361

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/002646199548574

1998

MORDBERG L E, SPRATT J 1998 Alteration of zircons: The evidence of Zr mobility during bauxite weathering. Goldschmidt conference Toulouse 1998

Mineralogical Magazine 62(A) 1021-1022

DOI:

BETTERTON J, GREEN D I, JEWSON C, SPRATT J, TANDY P 1998 The composition and structure of jeanbandyite and natanite.

Mineralogical Magazine 62(5) 707-712

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/002646198547945

WILLIAMS C T, SPRATT J 1995 Electron microprobe techniques in mineral analysis.

Journal of the Russell Society 6(1): 5-12

DOI:

1994

TAMANA H, CRIDDLE A, GRIME G, VAUGHAN D, SPRATT J 1994 Trace elements in platinum group minerals studied using nuclear microscopy.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research 89: 213-218

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(94)95175-6

1993

CRESSEY G, SPRATT J, CRESSEY B 1993 Electron and X-Ray petrography of an unusual serpentine from the Tilly Foster mine, Brewster New York.

Canadian Mineralogist 31: 447-458

DOI:

CRIDDLE A J, TAMANA H, SPRATT J, REESON K J, VAUGHAN D, GRIME G,1993 Micro-PIXE analysis of platinum group minerals from placer deposits.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research 77: 444-449

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(93)95578-S

1990

SOUTHGATE V R, ROLLINSON D, De BONT J, VERCRUYSSE J, Van AKEN D and SPRATT J 1990 Surface topography of the tegument of adult Schistosoma nasale Rao, 1933 from Sri Lanka

Systematic Parasitology 16(2): 139-147

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00009612