Alex McCoy-West

Dr Alex McCoy-West is a Senior Lecturer in Exploration Geochemistry at James Cook University, leader of the IsoTropics Geochemistry Laboratory, and a key member of the Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU). His research focuses on the development and application of novel isotope approaches to understand Earth's evolution, critical mineral systems, environmental processes and resource exploration. He is internationally recognised for pioneering stable neodymium (Nd) isotope geochemistry and has expertise across a broad range of radiogenic (Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb-Os) and stable (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo and Nd) isotope systems.

Since joining JCU, Dr McCoy-West has established a nationally recognised isotope geochemistry capability supporting research, government and industry projects across northern Australia. His research combines internationally competitive fundamental science with applied geochemistry, translating high-precision isotope tools into solutions for critical minerals exploration, environmental monitoring and resource characterisation. He currently leads the Critical Minerals Trailblazer project Emerging Technologies for Advanced Geochemical Exploration Undercover and is a Chief Investigator on several additional projects spanning rare earth elements, exploration geochemistry and advanced analytical technologies.

Dr McCoy-West has attracted more than $5 million in research funding through ARC, government, industry and Critical Minerals programs, and has developed active collaborations with Geoscience Australia, Geological Survey of Queensland, CSIRO, ANSTO and multiple industry partners. His research has been applied to problems ranging from contamination associated with the world's largest mining disaster to the development of new isotopic approaches for critical minerals exploration, resource characterisation and supply-chain monitoring.

He serves as Associate Editor of Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, the leading international journal in geochemistry, and plays a central role in developing JCU's isotope geochemistry capability. His current research group includes HDR candidates, postdoctoral researchers and technical staff working across isotope geochemistry, environmental science and critical minerals research.

Dr McCoy-West coordinates the MSc Geology Major and teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including the large first-year subject Evolution of the Earth and advanced geochemistry courses. His teaching emphasises industry-relevant problems, while his supervision model embeds students within externally funded projects that combine scientific excellence with real-world applications. Through this approach, he is committed to developing the next generation of geoscientists for careers in research, government and industry.

Research Interests

• Stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry | • Critical minerals and rare earth elements | • Exploration geochemistry and mineral systems | • Environmental geochemistry and isotope tracing | • Earth evolution and continental growth | • Mass spectrometry and analytical method development

My research applies stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry to contemporary challenges in critical minerals, environmental monitoring and resource exploration. I use isotopic fingerprinting, analytical method development and geochemical modelling to investigate mineral systems, rare earth element deposits, weathering processes and sustainable resource development.

I also use novel isotope tracers to understand the formation, evolution and differentiation of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. This work focuses on planetary formation, continental growth and the evolution of Earth's major geochemical reservoirs, providing new insights into the processes that have shaped our planet through geological time.

My teaching focuses on  Earth's evolution, geochemistry and mineral resources, with a strong emphasis on developing students' quantitative reasoning, data interpretation and problem-solving skills. I am particularly interested in using authentic geochemical datasets and real-world case studies to connect fundamental Earth science concepts with contemporary challenges in critical minerals, environmental management and resource exploration. Through active learning, I aim to prepare students for careers in research, government and industry while fostering curiosity about Earth processes and the role of geoscience in addressing societal challenges.