Richard Palin

Richard Palin
Associate Professor of Petrology
St Peter's College
Tutor
01865 610512
richard.palin@earth.ox.ac.uk

I completed my DPhil (PhD) at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, UK, in 2013, where I studied the thermal and structural evolution of parts of the Himalayan Range and Tibetan Plateau. I then worked as a lecturer and postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Geosciences, JGU Mainz, and subsequently joined the Colorado School of Mines, USA, as an Assistant Professor of Metamorphic Geology. I recently returned to Oxford in 2020 as the Associate Professor of Petrology.

Please use the dropdown boxes below to check out my research interests, teaching, publications, and other cool information!

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I am principally a metamorphic petrologist, but frequently integrate geochemistry, isotope geochronology, and structural geology into my work. My major research interests include (but are not limited to):

Process- or technique-oriented studies:

  • The mechanisms and physico-chemical effects of fluid–rock and melt–rock interactions in different metamorphic environments and geodynamic settings
  • Developing and testing new activity–composition (a–x) relations and computational techniques for use in petrological phase equilibrium modeling
  • Early-Earth evolution, and secular changes in metamorphism, magmatism, and tectonic styles since the Archean, including geological environments relevant to the formation of early life
  • The geology and geological evolution of terrestrial (rocky) bodies in our solar system, including 4-Vesta, Mars, and the Moon
  • The generation of critical metal-bearing magmas (e.g. Li-pegmatites and Sn-granites) in the crust

Studies of regional interest:

  • I have performed much work on the Himalayan–Karakoram–Tibetan orogen, and have studied rocks from many regions on both the Indian and Asia sides of the suture zone.
  • I also have an active interest in the geology of the United Kingdom, and have performed fieldwork in northeast Scotland (Barrow Zones), northwest Scotland (Assynt and the Outer Hebrides), and ophiolites and their associated metamorphic sole from the Lizard Complex, Cornwall, southwest England.
  • I have also worked on collaborative projects on rocks located in China, Greenland, the USA, Canada, and Australia.

I lead the undergraduate fieldtrip to the Assynt region of NW Scotland. I also teach a few courses, including Natural Resources (3rd Year elective), Plate Tectonics (3rd Year elective), Metamorphic Petrology (2nd Year), and I have previously covered Planet Earth (1st year)

Feel free to email me if you want a copy of my CV for some reason!

doctorrokk

I'm a massive Minecraft nerd. Here is my Youtube channel with episodes of my Let's Play: https://www.youtube.com/@Doctorrokk

Publications