About
Stephen Foley is an Honorary Professor at the School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems. His research focuses on mantle processes, magmatic systems, and geochemical evolution, with a strong emphasis on experimental petrology. Foley investigates carbon cycling, mantle metasomatism, and the origins of alkaline and carbonatite magmas, often linking these processes to crustal evolution and ore-forming systems. His work integrates field studies, geochemical analyses, and high-pressure experimental techniques to unravel mantle dynamics and magmatic evolution.
- Key Projects:
- Australian Virtual Experimental Laboratory (geoscience facility)
- Macquarie University Planetary Research Centre
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems
- Research Themes:
- Mantle melting and metasomatism
- Carbonate-silicate interactions
- Alkaline and carbonatite magmatism
- Metallogenesis of Ni and Au deposits
- Subduction zone geochemistry
His recent work highlights the role of hydrous minerals and carbonated melts in shaping mantle fertility and crustal evolution. Collaborations span global regions, including India, Africa, and Australia, with a focus on continental margins and ophiolite belts. Foley’s experimental studies on mantle-derived melts provide critical insights into trace element behavior and redox processes.
Grants & Funding: Multiple ARC grants, including the ARC Laureate Project (2019–2023) focused on deep Earth cycles of carbon, water, and nitrogen.
Labs/Teams: Active in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems and the Macquarie Planetary Research Centre.
