Brian Frederick Windley (1936 – 2025)
An outstanding field geologist who evolved our understanding of Proterozoic plate tectonics
Brian Windley (© Judith Windley)
Brian Windley’s progress from studying geology at the University of Liverpool with an arts background to becoming an authority on the evolution of the oldest mountain belts on Earth is remarkable.
Emerging expert
As a PhD student at the University of Exeter he was introduced to the Proterozoic rocks of West Greenland and later joined the Geological Survey of Denmark, with whom he developed his skills as a field geologist. He mapped a vast area of Archaean crust and discovered extensive bodies of anorthosite, notably the Fiskenæsset Complex. These were of great petrological and mineralogical interest, which he explored using a newly developed microprobe under the tutelage of John Victor Smith, with whom he collaborated for many years. Brian was appointed to a lectureship in geology at the University of Leicester in 1968 and was instrumental in the acquisition of a microprobe there so he could continue his research on Archaean rocks.
His work on the gross structure of Archaean belts extended to Africa, India and Scotland. He also worked on deeply eroded Cordilleran batholiths in Chile, California and British Columbia for comparison with deeply eroded Precambrian orogenic belts. These studies enabled him to produce models to improve our understanding of plate tectonics in the Proterozoic.
The plate tectonic paradigm led to a revolution in the content of geology degree courses and new textbooks had to be written. One was required for Peter Sylvester-Bradley’s unifying course on the history of the Earth and the result was Brian’s The Evolving Continents, most of which was concerned with his specialty of the Precambrian. It is on the reading list of geology courses worldwide and is also within arm’s reach on bookshelves for consultation by most established researchers in tectonics.
Brian’s book is on the reading list of geology courses worldwide and within arm’s reach on the bookshelves of most established researchers in tectonics.
Global service
Brian served the international community with distinction through his inspirational research leadership and invited lectures, as a member of committees and councils, an editor of journals, and leader of international field trips. His scientific output was phenomenal, with over 450 papers and books widely used by students and researchers. He continued with these activities after his retirement in 2001, when he was made an Emeritus Professor, and was a visiting professor at various universities in Japan and China since then.
His expertise has been recognised through numerous honours, including the Lyell Fund, Bigsby Medal and Murchison Medal, awarded for significant contributions to hard rock studies. He also received the University of Helsinki’s Bronze Medal and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America.
Brian maintained his passion for research right through to his final year, actively working on the fourth edition of The Evolving Continents. He dedicated all of his books to his wife Judith, who survives him. She was a lifelong enthusiastic supporter of his work and often accompanied him on field projects to remote parts of the planet.
By Aftab Khan, with contributions from Judith Windley, Mark Allen, John Dewey, Hugh Rollinson and Mike Searle
