Research areas
I am Professor of Geology at the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, specialising in the mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry of rift-related magmas and focussing particularly on the metal resources that can be found within them. My research focusses on describing the mineral deposits which form in rift environments, which include rare earths, niobium and tantalum. I work by explaining the shape and grade of the deposit and by developing models of how they formed. I have worked on alkaline rocks from all over the world (Mongolia to Malawi to Greenland) with a particular reputation for fieldwork in the Arctic.
I have been an advisor to decision makers, including, for example, the Government Office in Science at Westminster (GOScience) on resource issues and member of the University advisory panel on Sustainability. I am a member of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Centre for Energy Ethics. I consult to exploration companies and my geochemical work is underpinned by access to some of the best analytical facilities available worldwide.
I have a BSc degree from University of Durham and a PhD in mineralogy and petrology from the University of Edinburgh. I was awarded a personal fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2000. I am a Fellow of the Geological Society, the Society of Economic Geologists and a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society.
PhD supervision
- MatthewÌýLewis
- AnnaÌýSzreter
Selected publications
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Open access
Rooks, C. J. W., Finch, A. A., Hutchison, W., Herd, D. A. & Frangeskides, G., Jan 2026, In: Ore Geology Reviews. 188, p. 1-13 13 p., 107009.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Szreter, A., Finch, A. A., Friis, H., Trautmann, C., Koch, F. & Schubert, I., 1 Mar 2026, In: Radiation Measurements. 192, 9 p., 107606.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Castillo Alvarez, C., Hathorne, E., Clog, M., Finch, A. A., Kröger, R., Penkman, K. & Allison, N., 28 Nov 2025, In: Communications Earth & Environment. 6, 9 p., 984.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Beard, C. D., Finch, A. A., Borst, A. M., Goodenough, K. M., Hutchison, W., Millar, I. L., Andersen, T., Williams, H. M. & Weller, O. M., 15 Aug 2024, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 640, 11 p., 118780.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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Open access
Castillo Alvarez, M. C., Penkman, K., Kroger, R., Finch, A. A., Clog, M., Hathorne, E. & Allison, N., 15 Aug 2024, In: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 379, p. 39-52
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Gardella, G., Castillo Alvarez, M. C., Presslee, S., Finch, A. A., Penkman, K., Kroger, R., Clog, M. & Allison, N., 3 Nov 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Crystal Growth & Design. ASAP, 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Castillo Alvarez, M. C., Penkman, K., Kröger, R., Finch, A. A., Clog, M., Brasier, A., Still, J. & Allison, N., 1 Jan 2024, In: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 364, p. 184-194 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Finch, A. A., Dumańska-Słowik, M., González-Acebrón, L. & Schertl, H.-P., 3 Oct 2024, In: Elements. 20, 5, p. 305-311
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Wu, H., Huang, H., Zhang, Z., Pan, B., Li, H., Gao, Y., Gardiner, N. J. & Finch, A. A., Oct 2024, In: Lithos. 482-483, 107705.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Allison, N., Ross, P., Castillo Alvarez, C., Penkman, K., Kröger, R., Kellock, C., Cole, C., Clog, M., Evans, D., Hintz, C., Hintz, K. & Finch, A. A., 14 Aug 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Coral Reefs. 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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