Dr Emma Humphreys-Williams

Dr Emma Humphreys-Williams

Chemical Laboratories Manager

Department: Core Research Laboratories
Division: Imaging and Analysis Centre
Specialisms: CHNS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, alkali fusions, elemental analysis, geochemistry, intraplate volcanism, mantle, mantle xenoliths, petrology, sample preparation, solution chemistry, volcanic carbonatites
Contact: email
Phone: 02079425497

Summary

I manage the chemical labs at the NHM, which specialise in the elemental analysis of natural and applicable synthetic samples. My research interests include; geochemistry of volcanic rocks and their relationship to melting processes; using intraplate volcanism to understand mantle melting processes and its evolution through time; volcanic carbonatites composition and occurrence; Mantle xenoliths as tracers of metasomatic processes; Alkaline rocks and carbonatites – a global view

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • PhD, University of Bristol, UK, 2007 - 2011
  • MSci (hons), University of Durham, UK, 2003 - 2007

Grants

HiTech AlkCarb - New geomodels to explore deeper for High-Technology critical raw materials in Alkaline rocks and Carbonatites
Funding: H2020 Societal Challenges
Total value £3,668,801.45 (to Museum £94,265)
Dates: 2016 - 2020

Publications

Pinzari F, Cuadros J, Jungblut AD, Najorka J, Humphreys-Williams E (2022) Fungal strategies of potassium extraction from silicates of different resistance as manifested in differential weathering and gene expression. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 316 : 168 - 200. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2021.10.010

Zaccaria D, Vicentini N, Perna MG, Rosatelli G, Sharygin VV, Humphreys-Williams E, Brownscombe W, Stoppa F (null) Lamprophyre as the Source of Zircon in the Veneto Region, Italy. Minerals, 11 (10) : 1081 - 1081. doi: 10.3390/min11101081

Perna M, Zaccaria D, Rosatelli G, Stoppani F, Curti E, Spratt J, Humphreys-Williams E, Najorka J, Brownscombe W, Nestola F, Stoppa F (null) Dissolution-Repackaging of Hellandite-(Ce), Mottanaite-(Ce)/Ferri-Mottanaite-(Ce). Minerals, 11 (6) : 610 - 610. doi: 10.3390/min11060610

Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kukliński P (null) The patterns of elemental concentration (Ca, Na, Sr, Mg, Mn, Ba, Cu, Pb, V, Y, U and Cd) in shells of invertebrates representing different CaCO<sub>3</sub> polymorphs: a case study from the brackish Gulf of Gdańsk (the Baltic Sea). Biogeosciences, 18 (2) : 707 - 728. doi: 10.5194/bg-18-707-2021

Bhanot KK, Downes H, Petrone CM, Humphreys-Williams E, Clark B (2020) Micro-CT investigation of garnet-spinel clusters in mantle peridotite xenoliths. Lithos, 352-353 : 105250 - 105250. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2019.105250

Zaitsev AN, McHenry L, Savchenok AI, Strekopytov S, Spratt J, Humphreys-Williams E, Sharygin VV, Bogomolov ES, Chakhmouradian AR, Zaitseva OA, Arzamastsev AA, Reguir EP, Leach L, Leach M, Mwankunda J (2019) Stratigraphy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Upper Laetolil tuffs including a new tuff 7 site with footprints of Australopithecus afarensis, Laetoli, Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 158 : 103561 - 103561. doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103561

King AJ, Russell SS, Schofield PF, Humphreys‐Williams ER, Strekopytov S, Abernethy FAJ, Verchovsky AB, Grady MM (null) The alteration history of the Jbilet Winselwan CM carbonaceous chondrite: An analog for C‐type asteroid sample return. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, doi: 10.1111/maps.13224

Iglikowska A, Ronowicz M, Humphreys-Williams E, Kukliński P (2018) Trace element accumulation in the shell of the Arctic cirriped Balanus balanus. Hydrobiologia, 818 (1) : 43 - 56. doi: 10.1007/s10750-018-3564-5

Khondoker R, Weiss D, van de Flierdt T, Rehkämper M, Kreissig K, Coles BJ, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Dong S, Bory A, Bout-Roumazeilles V, Smichowski P, Cid-Agüero P, Babinski M, Losno R, Monna F (2018) New constraints on elemental and Pb and Nd isotope compositions of South American and Southern African aerosol sources to the South Atlantic Ocean. Geochemistry, 78 (3) : 372 - 384. doi: 10.1016/j.chemer.2018.05.001

Iglikowska A, Borszcz T, Drewnik A, Grabowska M, Humphreys-Williams E, Kędra M, Krzemińska M, Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Kukliński P (2018) Mg and Sr in Arctic echinoderm calcite: Nature or nurture?. Journal of Marine Systems, 180 : 279 - 288. doi: 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2018.01.005

Loxton J, Najorka J, Humphreys-Williams E, Kuklinski P, Smith AM, Porter JS, Spencer Jones M (2017) The forgotten variable: Impact of cleaning on the skeletal composition of a marine invertebrate. Chemical Geology, 474 : 45 - 57. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.10.022

Bridgestock L, Rehkämper M, van de Flierdt T, Murphy K, Khondoker R, Baker AR, Chance R, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Achterberg EP (2017) The Cd isotope composition of atmospheric aerosols from the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (6) : 2932 - 2940. doi: 10.1002/2017gl072748

Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Kukliński P, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Najorka J, Iglikowska A (2017) Size effect on the mineralogy and chemistry of Mytilus trossulus shells from the southern Baltic Sea: implications for environmental monitoring. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189 (4) : doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-5901-y

Konstantinidou K, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kearney M (2017) Identification of cellulose nitrate X-ray film for the purpose of conservation: Organic elemental analysis. Studies in Conservation, 62 (1) : 24 - 32. doi: 10.1080/00393630.2016.1150411

Marković T, Manzoor S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kirk GJD, Vilar R, Weiss DJ (2017) Experimental Determination of Zinc Isotope Fractionation in Complexes with the Phytosiderophore 2′-Deoxymugeneic Acid (DMA) and Its Structural Analogues, and Implications for Plant Uptake Mechanisms. Environmental Science & Technology, 51 (1) : 98 - 107. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b00566

Bridgestock L, van de Flierdt T, Rehkämper M, Paul M, Middag R, Milne A, Lohan MC, Baker AR, Chance R, Khondoker R, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Achterberg EP, Rijkenberg MJA, Gerringa LJA, de Baar HJW (2016) Return of naturally sourced Pb to Atlantic surface waters. Nature Communications, 7 (1) : doi: 10.1038/ncomms12921

Bhanot KK, Downes H, Petrone CM, Humphreys-Williams E (2017) Textures in spinel peridotite mantle xenoliths using micro-CT scanning: Examples from Canary Islands and France. Lithos, 276 : 90 - 102. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2016.08.004

Larner F, Woodley LN, Shousha S, Moyes A, Humphreys-Williams E, Strekopytov S, Halliday AN, Rehkämper M, Coombes RC (null) Zinc isotopic compositions of breast cancer tissue. Metallomics, 7 (1) : 112 - 117. doi: 10.1039/c4mt00260a

Bhanot K, Downes H, Humphreys-Williams E, Petrone C (2014) CT scanning of Spinel-Pyroxene Clusters in Mantle Peridotite Xenoliths from the Massif Central, France and Lanzarote, Canary Islands.. Presented at ToScA symposium.

Runsey M, Welch M, Origlieri M, Creasy G, Kampf A, Burgio L, Spratt J, Humphreys_Williams E, Kirk C (2014) A redefinition of Claringbullite to Cu4ClF(OH)6; the importance of type material and group/series based studies. 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 19 9 - 1 9 9375 - 375.

(2013) H – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013. Mineralogical Magazine 77 (5) : Mineralogical Society : 1239 - 1351. doi: 10.1180/minmag.2013.077.5.8

Niu Y, Wilson M, Humphreys-Williams E, O'Hara MJ (2012) A trace element perspective on the source of ocean island basalts (OIB) and fate of subducted ocean crust (SOC) and mantle lithosphere (SML). Episodes: journal of international geoscience, 35 (2) : 310 - 327.

Niu Y, Wilson M, Humphreys ER, O Hara MJ (2011) The origin of intra-plate ocean island basalts (OIB): the lid effect and its geodynamic implications. Journal of Petrology, 57 : 1443 - 1468.

Humphreys ER, Bailey K, Hawkesworth CJ, Wall F, Najorka J, Rankin AH (2010) Aragonite in olivine from Calatrava, Spain-Evidence for mantle carbonatite melts from > 100 km depth. GEOLOGY, 38 (10) : 911 - 914. doi: 10.1130/G31199.1

Humphreys ER, Niu Y (2009) On the composition of ocean island basalts (OIB): The effects of lithospheric thickness variation and mantle metasomatism. Lithos, 112 (1-2) : 118 - 136. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2009.04.038

Humphreys ER, Bailey DK, Hawkesworth CJ, Wall F, Hammond S (2008) Mantle xenoliths from the Calatrava volcanic province, Spain – Evidence for carbonatite-silicate interaction in the upper mantle.

Courses taught

Postgraduate: Soils and Regolith: from Parent Rock to Critical Resource
2/2015.

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Bhanot K
Co supervisor(s): Petrone CM
Anomalous mantle xenoliths in the Mediterranean area
Birkbeck, University of London, London, London, United Kingdom
Natural History Museum, London, London, United Kingdom
1/10/2012 - 30/9/2022.

Introduction

Summary

I manage the chemical labs at the NHM, which specialise in the elemental analysis of natural and applicable synthetic samples. My research interests include; geochemistry of volcanic rocks and their relationship to melting processes; using intraplate volcanism to understand mantle melting processes and its evolution through time; volcanic carbonatites composition and occurrence; Mantle xenoliths as tracers of metasomatic processes; Alkaline rocks and carbonatites – a global view

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • PhD, University of Bristol, UK, 2007 - 2011
  • MSci (hons), University of Durham, UK, 2003 - 2007
Projects

Grants

HiTech AlkCarb - New geomodels to explore deeper for High-Technology critical raw materials in Alkaline rocks and Carbonatites
Funding: H2020 Societal Challenges
Total value £3,668,801.45 (to Museum £94,265)
Dates: 2016 - 2020

Publications

Publications

Pinzari F, Cuadros J, Jungblut AD, Najorka J, Humphreys-Williams E (2022) Fungal strategies of potassium extraction from silicates of different resistance as manifested in differential weathering and gene expression. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 316 : 168 - 200. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2021.10.010

Zaccaria D, Vicentini N, Perna MG, Rosatelli G, Sharygin VV, Humphreys-Williams E, Brownscombe W, Stoppa F (null) Lamprophyre as the Source of Zircon in the Veneto Region, Italy. Minerals, 11 (10) : 1081 - 1081. doi: 10.3390/min11101081

Perna M, Zaccaria D, Rosatelli G, Stoppani F, Curti E, Spratt J, Humphreys-Williams E, Najorka J, Brownscombe W, Nestola F, Stoppa F (null) Dissolution-Repackaging of Hellandite-(Ce), Mottanaite-(Ce)/Ferri-Mottanaite-(Ce). Minerals, 11 (6) : 610 - 610. doi: 10.3390/min11060610

Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kukliński P (null) The patterns of elemental concentration (Ca, Na, Sr, Mg, Mn, Ba, Cu, Pb, V, Y, U and Cd) in shells of invertebrates representing different CaCO<sub>3</sub> polymorphs: a case study from the brackish Gulf of Gdańsk (the Baltic Sea). Biogeosciences, 18 (2) : 707 - 728. doi: 10.5194/bg-18-707-2021

Bhanot KK, Downes H, Petrone CM, Humphreys-Williams E, Clark B (2020) Micro-CT investigation of garnet-spinel clusters in mantle peridotite xenoliths. Lithos, 352-353 : 105250 - 105250. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2019.105250

Zaitsev AN, McHenry L, Savchenok AI, Strekopytov S, Spratt J, Humphreys-Williams E, Sharygin VV, Bogomolov ES, Chakhmouradian AR, Zaitseva OA, Arzamastsev AA, Reguir EP, Leach L, Leach M, Mwankunda J (2019) Stratigraphy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Upper Laetolil tuffs including a new tuff 7 site with footprints of Australopithecus afarensis, Laetoli, Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 158 : 103561 - 103561. doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103561

King AJ, Russell SS, Schofield PF, Humphreys‐Williams ER, Strekopytov S, Abernethy FAJ, Verchovsky AB, Grady MM (null) The alteration history of the Jbilet Winselwan CM carbonaceous chondrite: An analog for C‐type asteroid sample return. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, doi: 10.1111/maps.13224

Iglikowska A, Ronowicz M, Humphreys-Williams E, Kukliński P (2018) Trace element accumulation in the shell of the Arctic cirriped Balanus balanus. Hydrobiologia, 818 (1) : 43 - 56. doi: 10.1007/s10750-018-3564-5

Khondoker R, Weiss D, van de Flierdt T, Rehkämper M, Kreissig K, Coles BJ, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Dong S, Bory A, Bout-Roumazeilles V, Smichowski P, Cid-Agüero P, Babinski M, Losno R, Monna F (2018) New constraints on elemental and Pb and Nd isotope compositions of South American and Southern African aerosol sources to the South Atlantic Ocean. Geochemistry, 78 (3) : 372 - 384. doi: 10.1016/j.chemer.2018.05.001

Iglikowska A, Borszcz T, Drewnik A, Grabowska M, Humphreys-Williams E, Kędra M, Krzemińska M, Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Kukliński P (2018) Mg and Sr in Arctic echinoderm calcite: Nature or nurture?. Journal of Marine Systems, 180 : 279 - 288. doi: 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2018.01.005

Loxton J, Najorka J, Humphreys-Williams E, Kuklinski P, Smith AM, Porter JS, Spencer Jones M (2017) The forgotten variable: Impact of cleaning on the skeletal composition of a marine invertebrate. Chemical Geology, 474 : 45 - 57. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.10.022

Bridgestock L, Rehkämper M, van de Flierdt T, Murphy K, Khondoker R, Baker AR, Chance R, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Achterberg EP (2017) The Cd isotope composition of atmospheric aerosols from the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (6) : 2932 - 2940. doi: 10.1002/2017gl072748

Piwoni-Piórewicz A, Kukliński P, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Najorka J, Iglikowska A (2017) Size effect on the mineralogy and chemistry of Mytilus trossulus shells from the southern Baltic Sea: implications for environmental monitoring. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189 (4) : doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-5901-y

Konstantinidou K, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kearney M (2017) Identification of cellulose nitrate X-ray film for the purpose of conservation: Organic elemental analysis. Studies in Conservation, 62 (1) : 24 - 32. doi: 10.1080/00393630.2016.1150411

Marković T, Manzoor S, Humphreys-Williams E, Kirk GJD, Vilar R, Weiss DJ (2017) Experimental Determination of Zinc Isotope Fractionation in Complexes with the Phytosiderophore 2′-Deoxymugeneic Acid (DMA) and Its Structural Analogues, and Implications for Plant Uptake Mechanisms. Environmental Science & Technology, 51 (1) : 98 - 107. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b00566

Bridgestock L, van de Flierdt T, Rehkämper M, Paul M, Middag R, Milne A, Lohan MC, Baker AR, Chance R, Khondoker R, Strekopytov S, Humphreys-Williams E, Achterberg EP, Rijkenberg MJA, Gerringa LJA, de Baar HJW (2016) Return of naturally sourced Pb to Atlantic surface waters. Nature Communications, 7 (1) : doi: 10.1038/ncomms12921

Bhanot KK, Downes H, Petrone CM, Humphreys-Williams E (2017) Textures in spinel peridotite mantle xenoliths using micro-CT scanning: Examples from Canary Islands and France. Lithos, 276 : 90 - 102. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2016.08.004

Larner F, Woodley LN, Shousha S, Moyes A, Humphreys-Williams E, Strekopytov S, Halliday AN, Rehkämper M, Coombes RC (null) Zinc isotopic compositions of breast cancer tissue. Metallomics, 7 (1) : 112 - 117. doi: 10.1039/c4mt00260a

Bhanot K, Downes H, Humphreys-Williams E, Petrone C (2014) CT scanning of Spinel-Pyroxene Clusters in Mantle Peridotite Xenoliths from the Massif Central, France and Lanzarote, Canary Islands.. Presented at ToScA symposium.

Runsey M, Welch M, Origlieri M, Creasy G, Kampf A, Burgio L, Spratt J, Humphreys_Williams E, Kirk C (2014) A redefinition of Claringbullite to Cu4ClF(OH)6; the importance of type material and group/series based studies. 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 19 9 - 1 9 9375 - 375.

(2013) H – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013. Mineralogical Magazine 77 (5) : Mineralogical Society : 1239 - 1351. doi: 10.1180/minmag.2013.077.5.8

Niu Y, Wilson M, Humphreys-Williams E, O'Hara MJ (2012) A trace element perspective on the source of ocean island basalts (OIB) and fate of subducted ocean crust (SOC) and mantle lithosphere (SML). Episodes: journal of international geoscience, 35 (2) : 310 - 327.

Niu Y, Wilson M, Humphreys ER, O Hara MJ (2011) The origin of intra-plate ocean island basalts (OIB): the lid effect and its geodynamic implications. Journal of Petrology, 57 : 1443 - 1468.

Humphreys ER, Bailey K, Hawkesworth CJ, Wall F, Najorka J, Rankin AH (2010) Aragonite in olivine from Calatrava, Spain-Evidence for mantle carbonatite melts from > 100 km depth. GEOLOGY, 38 (10) : 911 - 914. doi: 10.1130/G31199.1

Humphreys ER, Niu Y (2009) On the composition of ocean island basalts (OIB): The effects of lithospheric thickness variation and mantle metasomatism. Lithos, 112 (1-2) : 118 - 136. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2009.04.038

Humphreys ER, Bailey DK, Hawkesworth CJ, Wall F, Hammond S (2008) Mantle xenoliths from the Calatrava volcanic province, Spain – Evidence for carbonatite-silicate interaction in the upper mantle.

Teaching and students

Courses taught

Postgraduate: Soils and Regolith: from Parent Rock to Critical Resource
2/2015.

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Bhanot K
Co supervisor(s): Petrone CM
Anomalous mantle xenoliths in the Mediterranean area
Birkbeck, University of London, London, London, United Kingdom
Natural History Museum, London, London, United Kingdom
1/10/2012 - 30/9/2022.