Dr Melanie Finch is a structural and metamorphic geologist at James Cook University, Australia. She completed her PhD at Monash University in 2016 on the tectono-metamorphic evolution of a hot back arc and its thick shear zones. She was then awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Tuebingen, Germany. Melanie returned to Australia in 2018 in a teaching-research position at Monash University and then moved to JCU in 2022. 

Melanie's research focuses on understanding how viscous shear zones accommodate strain and fluid flow. She works on fluid transport from subduction slabs, into the subduction channel shear zone and through the mantle wedge. She is also interested in the role of shear zones in forming critical mineral ore deposits.

Melanie is a 2021-2022 STA ‘Superstar of STEM’ and the President of Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australasia (WOMEESA).

Teaching

• CS3002: Soil Mechanics and Geology (Level 3; TSV)
• EA1110: Evolution of the Earth (Level 1; TSV)
• EA2010: Introductory Geology (Level 2; TSV)
• EA3210: Structural Geology and Tectonics (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• EA5211: Structural Geology and Tectonics (Level 5; CNS)

Interests

Research

• I am interested in understanding how ductile shear zones accommodate strain and transport fluids in a variety of settings. I would like to determine the role of ductile shear zones in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits, particularly in skarn deposits. I am also interested in understanding the fluid flux from the subducting slab, into the subduction channel shear zone, and through the mantle.

Experience

• 2019 to 2021 - Lecturer, Monash University
• 2016 to 2018 - Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Tuebingen (Germany)

Research Disciplines

• Geology (3705)
• Geochemistry (3703)
• Curriculum and pedagogy (3901)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding knowledge (2801)

Awards

• 2021 to 2022 - STA Superstar of STEM

Memberships

• 2021 - President of Women in Earth and Environmental Science Australasia (WOMEESA)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Farias P, Weinberg R, Sola A and Finch M (2023) Protracted Thermal Evolution of a Migmatitic Terrane as Revealed by Multiple Geochronometers From the Retro-Arc of the Early Paleozoic Famatinian Orogen in NW Argentina. Tectonics, 42 (3).
• McLaren S, Green E, Anderson M and Finch M (in press) The importance of active-learning, student support, and peer teaching networks: A case study from the world’s longest COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, Australia. Journal of Geoscience Education,
• Finch M, Bons P, Weinberg R, Llorens M, Griera A and Gomez-Rivas E (2022) A dynamic atlas of interference patterns in superimposed, opposite sense ductile shear zones. Journal of Structural Geology, 165.
• Ribeiro B, Finch M, Cawood P, Faleiros F, Murphy T, Simpson A, Glorie S, Tedeschi M, Armit R and Barrote V (2022) From microanalysis to supercontinents: insights from the Rio Apa Terrane into the Mesoproterozoic SW Amazonian Craton evolution during Rodinia assembly. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 40 (4). pp. 631-663
• Yu P, Weinberg R, Zheng Y and Finch M (2022) Multiple crustal melting pulses and Hf systematics in zircons. Lithos, 410-411.
• Finch M, Weinberg R, Barrote V and Cawood P (2021) Hf isotopic ratios in zircon reveal processes of anatexis and pluton construction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 576.
• Finch M, Bons P, Steinbach F, Griera A, Llorens M, Gomez-Rivas E, Ran H and de Riese T (2020) The ephemeral development of C? shear bands: A numerical modelling approach. Journal of Structural Geology, 139.
• Handley H, Hillman J, Finch M, Ubide T, Kachovich S, McLaren S, Petts A, Purandare J, Foote A and Tiddy C (2020) In Australasia, gender is still on the agenda in geosciences. Advances in Geosciences, 53. pp. 205-226
• Ribeiro B, Lagoeiro L, Faleiros F, Hunter N, Queiroga G, Raveggi M, Cawood P, Finch M and Campanha G (2020) Strain localization and fluid-assisted deformation in apatite and its influence on trace elements and U–Pb systematics. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 545.
• Riberio B, Cawood P, Faleiros F, Mulder J, Martin E, Finch M, Raveggi M, Teixeira W, Cordani U and Pavan M (2020) A long-lived active margin revealed by zircon U–Pb–Hf data from the Rio Apa Terrane (Brazil): New insights into the Paleoproterozoic evolution of the Amazonian Craton. Precambrian Research, 350.
• Riberio B, Mulder J, Faleiros F, Kirkland C, Cawood P, O’Sullivan G, Campanha G, Finch M, Weinberg R and Nebel O (2020) Using apatite to resolve the age and protoliths of mid-crustal shear zones: A case study from the Taxaquara Shear Zone, SE Brazil. Lithos, 378-379.
• Tomkins A, Alkemade S, Nutku S, Stephen N, Finch M and Jeon H (2020) A small S-MIF signal in Martian regolith pyrite: Implications for the atmosphere. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 290. pp. 59-75

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 18+ research outputs authored by Dr Melanie Finch from 2014 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Provenance, Sedimentology and Geomorphology of Coastal Dune Fields in Queensland (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The structural, stratigraphic, and tectonic setting of the southern part of the Western Succession, Mt Isa inlier with implication for sediment-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag?Cu deposits. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The Role of Ductile Shear Zones in the Formation of Critical Mineral Deposits (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The role of structurally-controlled saline fluid flow in the formation of Australia?s Rare Earth Element deposits (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Petrogenesis of the Croydon gold field and adjacent gold deposits, North West Queensland, Australia. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.