Dr William McCarthy
Senior Lecturer
Research areas
My research focusses on understanding the architecture of igneous intrusions and the ore deposits hosted. I am an enthusiastic field geology and rock magnetic analysis (AMS, AMR and palaeomagnetism) is my area of analytical expertise. I established the University of St Andrews M2Ore Magnetics Lab (Magam, Minerals and Ore Lab) in 2017 to facilitate my research groups work. Beyond the lab my interests are largely outdoors, I enjoy kayaking, mountain biking and free diving.
PhD supervision
- Malou Pelletier
Selected publications
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Open access
Intrusions are sensitive, temporally constrained strain archives
Latimer, B., McCarthy, W., Mattsson, T. & Reavy, J., 1 Jan 2026, In: Journal of the Geological Society. 183, 1, p. 1-15 15 p., gs2025-066.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Late Ordovician regional high-pressure metamorphism in Scotland, UK: Caledonian metamorphic climax predated the closure of the Iapetus Ocean
Lamont, T. N., McCarthy, W., Strachan, R., Roberts, N. M. W., Mackay-Champion, T., Bird, A. & Searle, M., 1 Mar 2026, In: Geological Society of America Bulletin. 138, 3-4, p. 977-992 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Subduction zone magnetism: the influence of metamorphism and serpentinization in the mantle wedge
Li, Y., Lindquist, P. C., Han, D., Fish, B., Harrison, R. J., McCarthy, W., Palin, R. M., Condit, C. B. & Nichols, C. I. O., 5 Mar 2026, In: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 27, 3, 28 p., e2025GC012354.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The significance of magnetic fabrics preserved in hydrothermally altered rocks
Latimer, B., McCarthy, W., Mattsson, T. & Reavy, J., 10 Mar 2026, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 131, 3, 29 p., e2025JB033102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Igneous layering and magma dynamics in alkaline intrusions: textural evidence for gravitational settling and compaction within cumulates
Jones, E., McCarthy, W., Magee, C., Mattsson, T., Piazolo, S., Hutchison, W. & Humphreys, M. C. S., 7 Jul 2025, In: Journal of the Geological Society. 182, 4, p. 1-19 19 p., jgs2024-181.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Microstructures reveal mechanical compaction and volatile-rich liquid migration in the layered alkaline Ilímaussaq complex, South Greenland
Jones, E., McCarthy, W., Piazolo, S., Magee, C., Humphreys, M. C. S. & Hutchison, W., 8 Aug 2025, In: Journal of Petrology. 66, 8, 26 p., egaf067.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The magnetic fingerprint of pulsed granite magma emplacement and alteration: Slaufrudalur Pluton, Iceland
Quintela, O., Burchardt, S., Mattsson, T., Almqvist, B., Stevenson, C., McCarthy, W., Óskarsson, B. V., Pitcairn, I., Rhodes, E., Witcher, T., Greiner, S. H. M. & Latimer, B., 2 Sept 2025, In: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 26, 9, e2025GC012199.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Enclaves as mushy magma strain archives: new perspectives on composite magmatic fabrics in plutons
Latimer, B., McCarthy, W., Mattsson, T. & Reavy, J., 1 Oct 2024, In: Geosphere. 20, 5, p. 1390-1410 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Magnetic fabrics in laminated rocks of the Ilímaussaq Igneous Complex, Southern Greenland
O’Driscoll, B., Petronis, M. S., Marks, M. A. W., McCarthy, W. J., Mariani, E., Stevenson, C. T. E., Clay, P. L. & Geissman, J. W., 18 Dec 2024, In: The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology. 62, 6, p. 821-846 26 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Transport of magma in granitic mush systems; an example from the Götemar Pluton, Sweden
Mattsson, T., McCarthy, W. & Schmiedel, T., 3 Jan 2024, In: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 25, 1, 16 p., e2023GC011061.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review