Frances Wall

Frances Wall Dr
Wall in 2025
Alma mater	Queen Mary University of London University of London
Awards	William Smith Medal (2019) OBE (2026)
Scientific career
Institutions	University of Exeter Natural History Museum
Thesis	Mineral chemistry and petrogenesis of rare earth-rich carbonates with particular reference to the Kangankunde carbonatite, Malawi  (2000)

Frances Wall is a British geochemist who is a professor of applied mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter. She is a president of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. Wall is an expert in geology and process mineralogy of rare-earth elements.

Early life and education

Wall earned her bachelor's degree at the University of London, where she studied at Queen Mary University of London. ^[1] Her doctorate explored carbonates rich in rare-earth minerals, focusing on the Kangankunde carbonatite in Malawi. ^[2] She worked at the Natural History Museum. ^{[3] [4]}

Research and career

In 2007, Wall moved to Cornwall ^[3] and in 2008, she was appointed Head of the Camborne School of Mines, the first woman to hold the position. ^[5] Wall is an expert in the geology of critical minerals. Critical minerals underpin the global transition to a low carbon economy. ^[6] Wall has explored geological resources in South West England, including: tin, tungsten, lithium and geothermal energy. These resources are key to electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. She is interested in the creating value at every stage of their lifecycle. ^[7]

Walls served as president of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Cornish Institute of Engineers. When she was elected president of the Mineralogical Society in 2014, she was the first woman to hold the position.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2019, Wall was awarded the William Smith Medal by the Geological Society of London and in 2026 an OBE. ^{[8] [9]} In 2023, she was made the president of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. ^[10]

Wall leads the Critical Minerals Challenge Centre at the University of Exeter. ^[11] The Critical Materials Challenge Centre looks to support innovation in critical minerals and accelerate the UK's transition to net-zero emissions. In 2022, Wall contributed to the UK Critical Minerals Strategy and Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy.^{[ citation needed ]}

Selected publications

• Kathryn M. Goodenough; Frances Wall; David Merriman (20 April 2017). "The Rare Earth Elements: Demand, Global Resources, and Challenges for Resourcing Future Generations". Natural Resources Research. 27 (2): 201–216. doi:10.1007/S11053-017-9336-5. ISSN   1520-7439. Wikidata   Q57923463.
• H.A.L. Elliott; F. Wall; A.R. Chakhmouradian; et al. (February 2018). "Fenites associated with carbonatite complexes: A review". Ore Geology Reviews. 93: 38–59. doi:10.1016/J.OREGEOREV.2017.12.003. ISSN   0169-1368. Wikidata   Q57939901.
• Michael Anenburg; John Mavrogenes; Corinne Frigo; Frances Wall (9 October 2020). "Rare earth element mobility in and around carbonatites controlled by sodium, potassium, and silica". Science Advances . 6 (41). Bibcode:2020SciA....6.6570A. doi:10.1126/SCIADV.ABB6570. ISSN   2375-2548. PMC   7546697 . PMID   33036966. Wikidata   Q100511846.

References

1. "Queen Mary staff and alumni recognised in 2026 New Year Honours". www.qmul.ac.uk. 2025-12-29. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
2. "Mineral chemistry and petrogenesis of rare earth-rich carbonates with particular reference to the Kangankunde carbonatite, Malawi | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
3. "Professor Frances Wall". CSM Trust. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
4. "Frances Wall | Speaking at Speakers Details". minesandmoney.com. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
5. BBC. "Female head for CSM". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
6. Yassine, Mohamad (2025-12-31). "Professor Frances Wall and the University of Exeter's Leadership in". Study in UK. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
7. "Frances Wall". Green Futures Solutions. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
8. Sandes, Duncan (2025-12-30). "World-leading critical minerals expert awarded OBE". University of Exeter News. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
9. "Articles | News archive | University of Exeter". news-archive.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
10. "Officers – Royal Geological Society of Cornwall" . Retrieved 2026-01-02.
11. "Project team - Critical Minerals Challenge Centre". 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2026-01-02.