Profile
Prof Frances Wall
Professor of Applied Mineralogy
Telephone: 01326 371831
Research interests include:
- Creating a circular economy for technology metals, including crtiical raw materials by considering the whole value system - raw materials from mining and recycling and all of the innovation, business models and regulation in between that create a true circular economy where metals have long and productive cycles of use.
- Formation of ore deposits, including rare earths, niobium, tantalum and phosphate deposits
- Carbonatites and alkaline rocks: fundamental controls on their petrogenesis, including mantle metasomatism, and rapidly erupted extrusive carbonatites.
- Responsible mining including ethical sourcing of metals, LCA, and public perception of mining.
- Regional development of georesources in Cornwall and SW England, including metals and minerals, geothermal energy and the associated service, education and research sectors.
**Fully funded EPSRC PhD studentship competition for UK and overseas students is open until 27th February to start 2023/24 - applicants can choose their topic. I would be pleased to discuss potential topics within the remit of EPSRC, see information: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=4659
Some relevant research links (see also research page for current PhD students):
UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre in Technology Metals
Circular Economy: A view from the front - Geoscientist article
Georesources Cornwall working paper
Check out our Technology Metals for Green Future MOOC on FutureLearn
News of new review of European cobalt deposits
UNESCO Lecture Series: Earth Materials for a Sustainable and Thriving Society
Academic qualifications:
- BSc Hons first class Geochemistry Queen Mary College, London
- PhD Mineral chemistry and petrogenesis of rare earth rich carbonatites, University of London
Professional qualifications and service to learned societies and other organisations and awards
- Fellow of the Mineralogical Society (F.Min.Soc.)
- Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS)
- Chair of the British Geological Survey Science Advisory Committee
- Steering group member for the Cornwall Mining Alliance
- Member of the Camborne School of Mines Trust
- Member of the Geological Society Decarbonisation group
- President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
- Past President of the Cornish Institute of Engineers
- former President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (2014, 2015)
- former General Secretary of the Mineralogical Society
- former Communication Officer of the International Mineralogical Association
- former member of Applied Mineralogy Group Committee and Women in Mining membership and education committee
- William Smith Medal, 2019, Geological Society of London
- Listed in100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining 2016, Women in Mining
Professional history
- 2015- Professor of Applied Mineralogy
- 2007- Associate Professor of Applied Mineralogy
- 2008-2014 Head of Camborne School of Mines
- 2007- Natural History Museum, London, UK - Scientific Associate
- 1984-2007 Various posts including research and petrology programme leader in the Department of Mineralogy, Natural History Museum, London, UK