Dr Lucy McGee
Internal Grant Funded Researcher (B)
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
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I am a high temperature geochemist with a background in volcanology and igneous geology. I use isotopes to constrain Earth System processes related to magmas and am currently interested in the processes of metal transport in active systems. As part of the MinEx CRC, I'm working on developing metal isotopes to look for mineral prospectivity in South Australia.
Research themes
Monogenetic and arc volcanism - How do volcanic deposits reflect magma genesis and ascent?
Basalt geochemistry - what does it tell us about the mantle source and how melts are released?
Mantle heterogeneity - how heterogeneous is the mantle really and on what temporal and spatial scale?
Uranium series chemistry (U-Th-Ra-Pb isotopes) to address timescale questions in igneous systems
Ore deposit genesis (new!) - what are the essential ingredients to form ore deposits and where can we find the next big one?
Much of my research since my MSci in the UK has centred around using the compositions of basalts erupted in small eruptive volcanic centres to understand the composition of the mantle, the way in which it melts and how these are reflected in small-scale volcanic deposits. My PhD work at the University of Auckland (supervised by Ian Smith and Jan Lindsay) focussed on the melting processes which have given rise to a city of miniature, Quaternary-age volcanoes: the Auckland Volcanic Field. During this time I studied the field using several key examples, and worked on its possible end-member basalt compositions with the use of radiogenic and U-series isotopes and major and trace element modelling. ‘Monogenetic’ certainly doesn’t mean ‘monotonous’!
In my 3-year postdoc at the University of Chile (in addition to trialling U-Th dating on geothermal carbonates, as part of my project with the Andean Geothermal Centre of Excellence) I continued the theme of small volume basalts after being awarded a 3-year grant from the government. This time the volcanoes were in a far more complex arc context and in close proximity to large, active stratovolcanoes (the Pucon small eruptive centres close to Villarrica volcano, the Carran-Los Venados field close to Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano and the Antillanca volcanic complex, all in the Southern Volcanic Zone of Chile). I worked with Macquarie University in the U-series area of this project which provided important information on competing tectonic and source component-related signatures. I still continue to work with researchers from the Universidad de Chile and SERNAGEOMIN (the geological survey of Chile) on several volcanology-related projects in different areas of Southern Chile.
During my 2.5 year postdoc at Macquarie University I worked on what triggers explosive eruptions, applying the short lived isotopes of 210Pb and 226Ra (in the Uranium series decay chain) to recently erupted rocks from Soufriere Hills volcano in the Caribbean to examine the idea that volatile exchange is a major driver of explosive volcanism.
As part of the MinEx CRC I will be working on developing metal isotopes to look for mineral prospectivity in South Australia.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 2019 - 2023 Lecturer University of Adelaide 2016 - 2018 Postdoctoral research associate Macquarie University 2013 - 2016 Postdoctoral research associate University of Chile -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Spanish - Latin American Can read, write, speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2008 - 2012 University of Auckland New Zealand PhD 2004 - 2008 Durham University United Kingdom MSci Geoscience (Hons) -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2023 Cave, B., Lilly, R., Simpson, A., & McGee, L. (2023). A revised model for the George Fisher and Hilton Zn-Pb-Ag deposits, NW Queensland: Insights from the geology, age and alteration of the local dolerite dykes. Ore Geology Reviews, 154, 17 pages.
Scopus22023 Fox, D. C. M., McGee, L. E., Farkaš, J., Payne, J. L., Spinks, S. C., Barham, M., & Aspandiar, M. (2023). Copper Isotope Fractionation in Archean Hydrothermal Systems: Evidence From the Mesoarchean Carlow Castle Cu-Co-Au Deposit. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24(9), 20 pages.
2023 Foote, A., Handley, H., Németh, K., Didonna, R., McGee, L., Griffis, R., & Clerke, L. (2023). The role of phreatomagmatism in the formation of complex monogenetic volcanic systems in a low-lying coastal plain. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 442, 107899.
Scopus22022 Morgado, E., Morgan, D. J., Harvey, J., Castruccio, A., Brahm, R., McGee, L. E., . . . Hammond, S. J. (2022). The Magmatic Evolution and the Regional Context of the 1835 AD Osorno Volcano Products (41°06'S, Southern Chile). Journal of Petrology, 63(11), 29 pages.
Scopus32021 Turner, S., McGee, L., Humayun, M., Creech, J., & Zanda, B. (2021). Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites experienced fluid flow within the past million years.. Science, 371(6525), 164-167.
Scopus11 Europe PMC12021 McGee, L., Reagan, M., Turner, S., Sparks, R. S., Handley, H., Didonna, R., . . . Barclay, J. (2021). U-series histories of magmatic volatile phase and enclave development at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Chemical Geology, 559, 119957-1-119957-13.
Scopus2 WoS22020 Friedrichs, B., Schmitt, A., McGee, L. E., & Turner, S. (2020). U–Th whole rock data and high spatial resolution U–Th disequilibrium and U–Pb zircon ages of Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan Quaternary stratovolcanic complexes (Central Anatolia). Data in Brief, 29, 7 pages.
Scopus15 WoS152020 Hopkins, J. L., Smid, E. R., Eccles, J. D., Hayes, J. L., Hayward, B. W., McGee, L. E., . . . Smith, I. E. M. (2020). Auckland Volcanic Field magmatism, volcanism, and hazard: a review. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 64(2-3), 23 pages.
Scopus55 WoS342020 Rowe, M. C., Graham, D. W., Smid, E., & McGee, L. (2020). Unusually homogeneous helium isotope composition of the Auckland Volcanic Field and its implications for the underlying mantle. Chemical Geology, 545, 13 pages.
Scopus1 WoS12020 Godoy, B., McGee, L., González-Maurel, O., Rodríguez, I., le Roux, P., Morata, D., & Menzies, A. (2020). Upper crustal differentiation processes and their role in 238U-230Th disequilibria at the San Pedro-Linzor volcanic chain (Central Andes). Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 102, 11 pages.
Scopus4 WoS42020 Friedrichs, B., Schmitt, A., McGee, L., & Turner, S. (2020). Corrigendum to ‘U–Th whole rock data and high spatial resolution U–Th disequilibrium and U–Pb zircon ages of Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan Quaternary stratovolcanic complexes (Central Anatolia)’ [Data in Brief 29 (2020) 105113] (Data in Brief (2020) 29, (S235234092030007X), (10.1016/j.dib.2020.105113)). Data in Brief, 31, 1 page.
2019 Ruprecht, P., Caricchi, L., & McGee, L. (2019). SOTA7: State of the [continental] arc. Elements, 15(1), 68.
2019 McGee, L. E., Reagan, M., Handley, H., Turner, S., Sparks, R. S., Berlo, K., . . . Turner, M. (2019). Volatile behaviour in the 1995-2010 eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat recorded by U-series disequilibria in mafic enclaves and andesite host. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 524, 115730-1-115730-11.
Scopus6 WoS62019 McGee, L., Morgado, E., Brahm, R., Parada, M., Vinet, N., Lara, L. E., . . . Nowell, G. (2019). Stratigraphically controlled sampling captures the onset of highly fluid-fluxed melting at San Jorge volcano, Southern Volcanic Zone, Chile. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 174(12), 102-1-102-24.
Scopus6 WoS52018 Brahm, R., Parada, M., Morgado, E., Contreras, C., & McGee, L. (2018). Origin of Holocene trachyte lavas of the Quetrupillán volcanic complex, Chile: Examples of residual melts in a rejuvenated crystalline mush reservoir. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 357, 163-176.
Scopus18 WoS152018 Handley, H., Reagan, M., Gertisser, R., Preece, K., Berlo, K., McGee, L., . . . Herd, R. (2018). Timescales of magma ascent and degassing and the role of crustal assimilation at Merapi volcano (2006–2010), Indonesia: constraints from uranium-series and radiogenic isotopic compositions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 222, 34-52.
Scopus17 WoS102017 Hopkins, J., Wilson, C., Millet, M., Leonard, G., Timm, C., McGee, L., . . . Smith, E. (2017). Multi-criteria correlation of tephra deposits to source centres applied in the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand. Bulletin of Volcanology, 79(7), 35 pages.
Scopus29 WoS212017 McGee, L., Brahm, R., Rowe, M., Handley, H., Morgado, E., Lara, L., . . . Valdivia, P. (2017). A geochemical approach to distinguishing competing tectono-magmatic processes preserved in small eruptive centres. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 172(6), 44-1-44-26.
Scopus19 WoS172016 McGee, L., & Smith, I. (2016). Interpreting chemical compositions of small scale basaltic systems: A review. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 325, 45-60.
Scopus61 WoS542015 McGee, L. E., Millet, M. A., Beier, C., Smith, I. E. M., & Lindsay, J. M. (2015). Mantle heterogeneity controls on small-volume basaltic volcanism: Reply. Geology, 43(11), e371.
Scopus4 WoS22015 McGee, L., McLeod, C., & Davidson, J. (2015). A spectrum of disequilibrium melting preserved in lava-hosted, partially melted crustal xenoliths from the Wudalianchi volcanic field, NE China. Chemical Geology, 417, 184-199.
Scopus18 WoS152015 Morgado, E., Parada, M. A., Contreras, C., Castruccio, A., Gutiérrez, F., & McGee, L. E. (2015). Contrasting records from mantle to surface of Holocene lavas of two nearby arc volcanic complexes: Caburgua-Huelemolle Small Eruptive Centers and Villarrica Volcano, Southern Chile. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 306, 1-16.
Scopus36 WoS302015 McGee, L., Millet, M., Beier, C., Smith, I., & Lindsay, J. (2015). Mantle heterogeneity controls on small-volume basaltic volcanism. Geology, 43(6), 551-554.
Scopus28 WoS242013 Le Corvec, N., Bebbington, M. S., Lindsay, J. M., & McGee, L. E. (2013). Age, distance, and geochemical evolution within a monogenetic volcanic field: Analyzing patterns in the Auckland Volcanic Field eruption sequence. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 14(9), 3648-3665.
Scopus37 WoS262013 McGee, L. E., Smith, I. E. M., Millet, M. A., Handley, H. K., & Lindsay, J. M. (2013). Asthenospheric control of melting processes in a monogenetic basaltic system: a case study of the Auckland volcanic field, New Zealand. Journal of Petrology, 54(10), 2125-2153.
Scopus99 WoS842012 McGee, L. E., Millet, M. A., Smith, I. E. M., Németh, K., & Lindsay, J. M. (2012). The inception and progression of melting in a monogenetic eruption: Motukorea Volcano, the Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand. Lithos, 155, 360-374.
Scopus70 WoS602011 McGee, L. E., Beier, C., Smith, I. E. M., & Turner, S. P. (2011). Dynamics of melting beneath a small-scale basaltic system: A U-Th-Ra study from Rangitoto volcano, Auckland volcanic field, New Zealand. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 162(3), 547-563.
Scopus54 WoS48
January 2022- present: ANZIC (Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium) Legacy grant for the project: "Metal isotopes applied to the start of subduction: testing the fluid transfer of copper from slab to surface" in collaboration with Prof Mark Reagan (University of Iowa) and A/Prof Julie Prytulak (Durham University). Awarded $16,500 AUD to analyses a suite of samples from the Bonin oceanic arc which preserve a record of the magmatic products of subduction initiation, sampled by IODP Exp. 352. We will examine the role of the slab in the transition from decompression melting to fluid fluxed melting due to dehydration. Fluid-sensitive Cu isotopes on pristine glasses taken through the forearc to arc transition should fingerprint the first low temperature aqueous fluid contributions from the slab, ultimately determining the source of Cu: the slab or the mantle. This has significance for our understanding of magma petrogenesis during subduction initiation, in addition to processes which may transport and potentially concentrate chalcophile elements.
Previous grants: August 2019 - November 2021: ANZIC (Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium) Legacy grant for the project: "Calibrating metal isotope proxies in modern hydrothermal environments for ancient ore deposit applications". Awarded $19,500 AUD to investigate the metal transport system in modern, active hydrothermal systems using a combination of redox sensitive metal isotopes and radiogenic magmatic-environmental sensitive isotopes. Studying in detail the behaviour of metal species in modern-day oceanic settings allows us to relate chemical behaviour directly to processes, something which is much harder to establish in ancient terrestrial settings, and which is critical for the new age of mineral exploration. Partner investigators: Dr Juraj Farkas (University of Adelaide) and Dr Chris Yeats (Geological Survey of New South Wales)
October 2013-October 2016: University of Chile. FONDECYT (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico - national funds for the development of science and technology) Iniciación en Investigación (initiation of research), Project number 11130296. “Investigating the link between volcano size and melting dynamics along the Andean arc: a study of Chilean monogenetic volcanic fields”. In collaboration with researchers at Macquarie University, the University of Iowa and the University of Durham. Value approximately 100.000.000 CLP (c. 200,000 USD) over three years.
Semester 1: Igneous and Metamorphic Geology III (GEOLOGY_3016) (Igneous 6 weeks)
Winter school: Extra-Terrestrial Geoscience I (GEOLOGY_1300) (course coordinator)
Semester 2: Igneous and Metamorphic Geology II (GEOLOGY_2502) (Igneous 4 weeks)
Available to tutor Principles and Practice in Research II and III (BSc Adv course)
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Principal Supervisor Petrographical insights and elemental-metal partitioning dynamics in chondrites Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jake Craig Jolly 2024 Principal Supervisor Volcanic eruptions through volcanic stratigraphy: Using geochemistry to understand the evolution of eruptions and subsurface systems. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Joshua Luke Coker 2024 Co-Supervisor Investigating crustal anomalies in the Curnamona-Mundi Mundi region using an integrated geophysical approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hamid Bizhanikalatehahmad 2024 Co-Supervisor The critical metal niobium: from source to commodity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Holly Maddison Cooke 2023 Principal Supervisor Cu and Zn isotope characterisation of an IOCG: a spatially constrained pilot project at Olympic Dam Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Sumitha Gunatilake 2022 Principal Supervisor Tracing the movement of metals through the mantle and crust using Cu isotopes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Oliver Thomas Pring 2022 Principal Supervisor Crystal and isotopic constraints on magma genesis and ascent in modern and ancient arcs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Francisca Constanza Mallea Lillo 2021 Co-Supervisor Tracing subsurface ore deposits through the isotope analysis of regolith/cover in Australia: Coupled Cu and S isotope approach applied to a rock-soil-water-plant system. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Zara Jean Frances Woolston -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Sediment-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag (+ Cu) deposits in the Mount Isa region: An epigenetic approach to mineralisation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bradley Wade Cave -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2022 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Copper movement in active volcanic systems University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Conor Dalton 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor What role do mafic magmas play in metal transport from mantle to crust? University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Oliver Pring 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Petrogenesis of magmas in the Antillanca volcanic complex (S. Chile) over space and time University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Declan Gear 2020 - ongoing External Supervisor Integrated framework for the igneous evolution of the greater Delamerian Orogen University of South Australia - Doctorate Part Time Stacey Curtis 2020 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Sr Nd isotopes at the Kanmantoo Cu-Au deposit, South Australia University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time William Rowe 2019 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Cu isotopes in the Gawler Range Volcanics: applications for mineral exploration The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Chris Lowczak
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2020 - ongoing Member Specialist Group in Geochemistry, Mineralogy & Petrology Geological society of Australia Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2018 - 2021 Board Member Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Elsevier Netherlands
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