William Smellie (geologist)

William Smellie (1897-1963) was a Scottish geologist and petrologist known for his contributions to the understanding of igneous petrology, particularly in Scotland and the Arabian Peninsula.

Smellie studied at the University of Edinburgh, earning his doctorate in 1924. He subsequently joined the staff of the Royal School of Mines in London, where he lectured in petrology. He served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War II, specializing in photographic interpretation.

After the war, Smellie returned to academia, joining the University of St Andrews as a senior lecturer in geology. He became a Reader in Geology in 1953 and remained at St Andrews until his retirement in 1962.

Smellie's research focused primarily on the petrology of igneous rocks, with a particular emphasis on the Tertiary igneous province of northwest Scotland, including the islands of Skye, Mull, and Ardnamurchan. He also conducted significant work on the volcanic rocks of Aden and the surrounding region in what is now Yemen, providing important insights into the tectonic and magmatic history of the area.

His publications include numerous papers in geological journals and the book Basic Magmas: Their Relationship to Heat and Earth Currents (1955), which explored the genesis and evolution of basaltic magmas. He was a fellow of the Geological Society of London and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.