Robert Finkelman

Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of Maryland - 2018

 1.                  Finkelman, R. B., 2020, The Value of Medical Geology to the Geosciences. Geoscience-2020. https://geoscience.madridge.com/keynote-speaker/Robert-Finkelman 2.                  Fillipelli, G. and Finkelman, R. B., 2020, EXPLORING THE INTERSECTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND URBAN MEDICAL GEOLOGY, GSA abstract. 3.                  Kamen, J. A. and Finkelman, R. B., Evidence of the Lignite-Water Syndrome in Louisiana. Geoscience 2020 abstract. https://geoscience.madridge.com/session-speaker/Jaden-Isaac-Kamen 4.                  Wang, Y., Tang, Y., Hurley, J. Guo, X., Finkelman, R. B., and Butler, S., 2020, Mineralogy and trace element geochemistry of entrained-flow coal gasification residues from Northwest China. GSA abstract. 5.                  Siegel, M., Selinus, O., and Finkelman, R. B., 2020, Practical Aspects of Medical Geology. Springer. 932 p. 6.                  Tang, Yuegang; Sun, Yewei; Wang, Xiaoshuai; Yan, Lulu; Shi, Quan; Ni, Hongxing; LI, Weiwei; Li, Xiaolong; Finkelman, Robert; Pang, Xueping, 2020, Composition and Structure of the Sulfur-containing Compounds in the Extracts from the Chinese High-Organic-Sulfur Coals. Energy and Fuels. 7.                  Kamen, J. I. and Finkelman, R. B., 2020, Balkan Endemic Nephropathy: What is it and can it occur in Turkey? 2nd International Industrial and Enviornmental Toxicology Congress, p. 94. 8.                  Finkelman, R. B., and Rodriquez, L. C.,  2020, Medical Geology in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.  2nd International Industrial and Enviornmental Toxicology Congress, p. 132. 9.                  Finkelman, R. B., and Rodriquez, L. C.,  2020, The Importance of Medical Geology in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.  2nd Congreso Internacional Geologia Medica Memorias. P.42. 10.              Luis F.O. Silva; Michael Schindler; Robert B. Finkelman; Marcos L.S. Oliveira, 2022, A review on nanoparticles formed during spontaneous coal combustions: modes of occurrences, combustion behaviour and analytical techniques. Journal of Environmental Quality. 11.              Tang, Yuegang; Chen, Cong; Li, Xiaolong; Wei, Qiang; Guo, Xin; Finkelman, Robert; Li, Weiwei; Huan, Xuan, 2021, The Evolution Characteristics of Organic Sulfur Structure in Various Chinese High Organic Sulfur Coals. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, Vol. 39, no. 1, p 336-353. 12.              Yafeng Wang, Yuegang Tang, Binbin Huan, Xin Guo, and Robert B. Finkelman, 2021,  Chemical Composition Changes during the Commercial Entrained-Flow General Electric and Gaskombinat Schwarze Pumpe Coal Gasification Processes. Energy & Fuels. Vol. 35, p.883-893. 

13.              Yafeng Wang; Yugang Tang, Ruiqing Li; Xin Guo; John P Hurley; Robert B Finkelman, 2021, Measurements of the Leachability of Potentially Hazardous Trace Elements from Solid Coal Gasification Wastes in China. Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 759. #143463, 12p. 14.              T.N. Nichols, R. Finkelman  T. Brokowski, 2025, Saharan Dust and Pediatric Asthma in the Windward Islands, Caribbean. GSA conference abstract.  15.              Yafeng Wang; Binbin Huan; Xin Guo; Robert B. Finkelman, 2021, Mineralogical examination of the entrained-flow coal gasification residues from northwest China. Advanced Powder Technology, Vol. 32, p. 3990-4003.   See 868 16.              Na Xu, Chuanpeng Xu, Robert B. Finkelman, Shifeng Dai, Li Qing, Mengmeng Peng, Lizhi He, Bin Huang, Yuchen Yang, 2022, Coal elemental (compositional) data analysis with hierarchical clustering algorithms. International Journal of Coal Geology. Vol. 49, #103892.  14p. 17.              Wang, Yafeng; Tang, Yuegang; Huan, Binbin; Guo, Xin; Finkelman, Robert, 2021, Chemical composition changes during the commercial GE and GSP entrained-flow coal gasification processes Energy & Fuels, Vol. 35, p. 883-893. 18.              Li, P., Finkelman, R., Zhang, C., 2021, Preface: Selected papers from MEDGEO 2019 conference on Recent Progress in Medical Geology. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Vol. 43, p. 1089-1090. 19.              Yafeng Wang, Yuegang Tang, John P. Hurley, Xin Guo, Robert B. Finkelman, Shane K. Butler, Alexander Azenkeng, 2020, Size Distributions and Chemistry of Inorganic Particles in Residues Produced from Two Commercial Entrained-Flow Coal Gasification Plants in China. International Pittsburgh Coal Conference. Abstract. 20.              Leah N. Thompson, Robert B. Finkelman, Sergey I. Arbuzov, David H. French, 2021, An unusual occurrence of ferroan magnesite in a tonstein from the Minusinsk Basin in Siberia, Russia. Chemical Geology, Volume 568, 5 May 2021, 120131. 21.              Jaden I. Kamen and Robert B. Finkelman, 2021, The link between aquifer water, low-rank coal and kidney disease in the Gulf Coast states. Gulf Coal Geology conference proceedings pages 157-163. 22.              Robert B. Finkelman, Sukalyan Chakraborty, Wasim Akram Shaikh, Abhishek Kumar, and Leah Thompson, 2021, Emissions of exceptionally high fluorine from uncontrolled coal fires in Jharia, India. Abstract Book of 37th TSOP Annual Meeting, p.18-19. 23.              Yafeng Wang, Yuegang Tang, Binbin Huan, Xin Guo, and Robert B. Finkelman, 2021, Mineralogical examination of the entrained-flow coal gasification residues and the feed coals from northwest China. Advanced Powder Technology, Vol. 32, no. 11, p.3990-4003 24.              Finkelman, Robert B., 2021, Health Impacts of Uncontrolled Coal Fires. GSA Abstracts with program, Vol. 53, N0. 6. 216-8. 25.              S.I. Arbuzov, Igor Yu. Chekryzhov , Shifeng Dai, Ian Feole, Bruce C. Folkedahl, James C. Hower, A.D. Mangs, Victor P. Nechaev, N.J. Wagner, Robert B. Finkelman, 2022, Metalliferous coals of Cretaceous age: A review. Minerals  See 887  26.              Shifeng Dai, Robert B.Finkelman, David French, James C.Hower, Ian T.Graham, Fenghua Zhao, 2021, Modes of occurrence of elements in coal: A critical evaluation, Earth-Science Reviews. Volume 222, November 2021, 103815. 27.              Watts, M.J., Barbieri, M., Brown, A., Finkelman, R., Gibson, G., Humphrey, O., Hursthouse, A.S., Middleton, D.R.S., Potgieter, S., Olatunji, A.S., Osano, O., Potgieter, S., Torrance, K., Wong, M.H., Zia, M. et al……2022, Editorial: The Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH): 50 years and beyond. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-01192-7(0123456789().,-volV() 0123458697().,-volV) 28.              Finkelman, R. B., 2005, Application of Medical Geology to Vector Borne Diseases and Other issues. 2005, Force Health Protection Conference. Abstract 2573, p. 155. 29.              M. L. Tuttle, G.N. Breit, Richard G. Stanley, R. B. Finkelman, E.I. Robbins, and C.B. Cecil, 1999, Environmental issues associated with fossil fuel resources; an evaluation of research opportunities for the U.S. Geological Survey's Energy Resources Program. U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-590. 30.              L.E. Bool III; C.L. Senior; F. Huggins; G.P. Huffman; N. Shah; J.O.L. Wendt; T.W. Peterson; A.F. Sarofim; I. Olmez; T. Zeng; S. Crowley; R. Finkelman, 1996, TOXIC SUBSTANCES FROM COAL COMBUSTION -- A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.Quarterly Technical Report, Reporting Period: 10/01/1996 - 12/31/1996. 31.              LE Bool, Connie L Senior, F Huggins, Gerald P Huffman, N Shah, J OL Wendt, TW Peterson, AF Sarofim, I Olmez, Taofang Zeng, S Crowley, R Finkelman, 1996, TOXIC SUBSTANCES FROM COAL COMBUSTION -- A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT, Quarterly Report DOE/PC/95101-T4; PSI-1245 (10/96). 32.              Nichols, N. T.Y., Manay, N, and Finkelman, R. B. (compilers), 2021, Proceeding of the First International Student Conference on medical Geology and Enviornmental health: Latin America Edition. 23 p. Posted on IMGA, GSA Geology and Health Division, AGU GeoHealth Section, SEGH, IEHSC. Clay Minerals Society, Brazil Geological Survey. 33.              Dai, S., Dai, S., Nechaev, V.P., Zhang, S., French, D., Graham, I.T., Spiro, B., Finkelman, R.B., Hou, Y., Wang, Y., Zhang, R., 2022. Granite-bauxite provenance of abnormally enriched boehmite and critical elements (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ga) in coals from the Eastern Surface Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, Shanxi Province, China. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 239, 107016. 34.              Henery R. Dodds, Robert B. Finkelman and Naomi Ty Ashsa Nichols, 2023, What do Volcanoes and uncontrolled coal fires have in common? GSA. 35.              Robert B. Finkelman and Sergey Arbuzov, 2021, Radioactive elements in coal and their possible impacts. RADIOACTIVITYAND RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS IN ENVIRONMENT, PROCEEDINGS OF VI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE,                Volume 1, p. 47-49.35. 36.              Naiomi Ty Asha Nichols and R. B. Finkelman, 2023, Uncontrolled Coal Fires: How Medical Geology Can Save Lives. Medical Geology: En route to One Health, Chapter 24. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119867371.ch24 

37.              Finkelman, R. B., 1995, Enviornmental impacts of coal utilization Phase I: Charachterization of solid waste products – A teamwork approach. TSOP Newsletter, Vol. 12, no. 1, p8-10. 38.              Palmer, C. A., Finkelman, R. B., Krasnow, M. R., Sellers, G. A., and Aruscavage, 1989, Behavior of selected elements during sequential leaching of 10 lignite and bituminous coals, International Conference on Trace Elements in Coal, p.1. 39.              J. Yang, Chenglong Tu, Ph.D; Quan Jiang; Timothy A Quine; Lingling He; Jianying Wang; Longbo Li; Robert B Finkelman; Changhu Lin; Guanghong Yang, 2023, Analysis of multiple pathways and levels of fluoride intake in fluorosis areas of Southwest China. Heliyan 9. https://www.researchgate.net/deref/https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.heliyon.2023.e13651 40.              Somtochukwu Nnachetta and Robert B. Finkelman, 2022, The Dangers of Uncontrolled Coal Fires in Africa: A Review. International Student Conference on Medical Geology and Enviornmental Health. 41.              Nova Mahaffey and Robert B. Finkelman, 2022, The Extraordinary Variety and Complexity of Minerals in a Single Keokuk Geode from the Lower Warsaw Formation, Hamiliton, Illinois USA. Minerals. 10.3390/min12070914  42.              Shifeng Dai, Sergey I. Arbuzov, Igor Yu. Chekryzhov, David French, Ian Feole, Bruce C. Folkedahl, Ian T. Graham, James C. Hower, Victor P. Nechaev, Nicola J. Wagner and Robert B. Finkelman, 2022, Metalliferous coals of Cretaceous age: A review. Minerals, vol. 12, 1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12091154. 43.              Micaela Arlete Jose Chapo Cossaa, Hassina Mourib, Vicente Albino Manjatec, Kim Dowlingd, Robert B. Finkelman, xxxx, Geochemical Analysis of Potential Harmful Elements (PHEs) in water, Sediments, Coal ash and Coal of Moatize District, Tete Province, Mozambique. 44.              James C. Hower, Robert B. Finkelman, Cortland F. Eble, Barbara J. Arnold, 2022,Understanding coal quality and the critical importance of comprehensive coal analyses. International Journal of Coal Quality. Volume 263,104120. 45.              Yongjie Hou, Shifeng Dai,Victor P. Nechaev, Robert B. Finkelman, Hongdong Wang,Shaowei Zhang, Shaobo Di, 2023, Mineral matter in the Pennsylvanian coal from the Yangquan Mining District, northeastern Qinshui Basin, China: Enrichment of critical elements and a Se-Mo-Pb-Hg assemblage, International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 266, 104178. 46.              Nichols, N. T. and Finkelman, R., B., 2023, Uncontrolled Coal Fires: An Opportunity for Medical Geologist. MedGeo Mexico abstract. 47.              Sarina Mohanlal and Robert B. Finkelman, 2023, Balkan Endemic Nephropathy: Where else in the world can it occur? MedGeo Mexico abstract 48.              Na Xu, Wei Zhu, Ru Wang, Qiang Li, and Zhiwei Wang, Robert B. Finkelman, 202X, Application of self-organizing maps to coal elemental data. International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 277, 104358. 49.              Robert B. Finkelman and Henry Dodds, 2023, Underground coal fires – A global post-mining catastrophe. EGU23. 50.              Na Xu, Zhiwei Wang, Robert B. Finkelman, Qiang Li, Wei Zhu, Ru Wang, 2023, Prediction of higher heating value of coal based on gradient boosting regression tree model. International Journal of Coal Geology. vol. 274, 104293. 51.              Henry R. Dodds and Robert B. Finkelman, 2023, What can scanning electron microscopy tell us about the potential health impacts of uncontrolled coal fires?  Microscopy Conference. 52.              Na Xu, Wei Zhu, Bin Huang, Mark A. Engle, Qiang Li, Robert B. Finkelman, 2023, Modes of occurrence in high-germanium coals using correlation analysis algorithm. Applied Geochemistry, vol 152, 105647. 53.              Robert B. Finkelman Henry R. Dodds, Ty Asha Nichols and Glenn Stracher, 2023, Coal fire condensates: Are we missing something?  Sustainability, vol. 15(23), 16262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316262  54.              Junlin Yang, Chenglong Tu, Quan Jiang, Jianying Wang, Longbo Li, Robert B Finkelman2022, The combination of living habits and soil geochemical anomalies of fluoride resulted in the prevalence of fluorosis in rural areas of southwest China. SSRN  4298210. papers.ssrn.com 55.              Dai S, Finkelman, R. B., Hower, J. C., French, D., Grahamn I. T., and Zhao, L., 2023, Inorganic Geochemistry of Coal. Elsevier, 438 p.                          2024 Dal Swaine Award for non-refereed publication.

 56.              James C. Hower, Maheteme Gebremedhin, Demetrio P. Zourarakis, Robert B. Finkelman, David French, Ian T. Graham, Harold H. Schobert, Lei Zhao, Shifeng Dai, 2024, Is hyperaccumulation a viable hypothesis for organic associations of minor elements in coals? Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 254, July 2024, 104802. 57.              Shaobo Di, Shifeng Dai, Victor P. Nechaev, David French, Ian T. Graham, Lei Zhao, Robert B. Finkelman, Hongdong Wang, Shaowei Zhang, Yongjie Hou, 2023, Mineralogy and enrichment of critical elements (Li and Nb-Ta-Zr-Hf-Ga) in the Pennsylvanian coals from the Antaibao Surface Mine, Shanxi Province, China: derivation of pyroclastics and sediment-source regions. International Journal of Coal Geology, vol. 273, 104262. 58.              Na Xu, Qiang Li, Wei Zhu, Qing Li, Robert B. Finkelman, Mark A. Engle, Ru Wang and Zhiwei Wang, 2023, Advocating the use of Bayesian network in analyzing the modes of occurrence of elements in coal. ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c04109 59.              Robert B. Finkelman, Jose A. Centeno, Olle Selinus, 2024, Medical Geology: 20 Years of Progress. Galway Conference abstract. 60.              Robert B. Finkelman, Teresa Kline and Kyle Crane, 2024, Health Concerns related to Residential Coal Combustion in the U.S. Appalachian Region and on the Navajo Reservation. Galway Conference abstract. 61.              Mia C. Rudin, Wesley R. Brown, Robert B. Finkelman, and Ignacio Pujana, 2024, Magnetic particles extracted from a deep sea manganese nodule: Preliminary observations. Gulf Coast Geological Societies. 62.              Robert B. Finkelman, Jose A. Centeno, Oussama Makhlouf, Amoudi, Ahmed Y. 2024, A Medical Geology Mapping Project in Saudi Arabia: An Overview. Abstract - Hold 63.              Rongjie Wang, Shifeng Dai, Robert B. Finkelman, David French, Ian T. Graham, Victor P. Nechaev, 2025, Near surface lithium isotopic fractionation and lithium enrichment in coal-hosted Li-rich clays from the South China Block. International Journal of Coal Geology. Vol. 306, 104803. 64.               Chaosheng Zhang, Anna Ladenberger, Jose Centeno, Robert Finkelman, Hassina Mouri, 2024, Medical Geology: A Tribute to Olle Selinus (1943–2023). Applied Geochemistry, 105955. And IMGA Medical Geology Newsletter April 2004. 65.              K’tso Nghargbu, Robert B Finkelman, Jose Centeno, Suleiman B Mohammed, 2024, Opportunities and platforms for Medical Geology Training in Africa: the Jose Centeno International Center for Medical Geology Research, Conference at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria. 66.              Robert B. Finkelman, J. A. Centeno, Hassina Mouri, Chaosheng Zhang, Anna, Ladenberger, 2024, Olle Selinus (1943-2023) The Founder of Modern Medical Geology​, 37 International Geological Congress, abstract. 67.              Rida Choudhry, Kristina Butler, Robert Finkelman, Niloofar Mesbah, 2024, Lithium and Pyritic Sulfur in Appalachian Basin Coals. UTD. 68.              Wei; Shen, Lishan; Xu, Na; Kong, Jiapei; Engle, Mark; Finkelman, Robert; Li, Fei; Wang, Qingfeng; Li, Pengfei; ZHANG, Shaowei; Dai, Shifeng, 2025, Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium in Chinese Coals: Distribution and Potential Exploitation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 212, 115423. 

69.              Finkelman, R., Olle Selinus: A friend, a colleague, a pioneer, an inspiration, 2024, GSA conference. 70.              Na Xu, Wei Zhu, Ru Wang, Qiang Li, Zhiwei Wang, Robert B. Finkelman, 2023, Application of self-organizing maps to coal elemental data. International Journal of Coal Geology, volume 277, 1 September 2023, 104358. 71.              Na Xu, Pengfei Li, Jiapei Kong, Mark A. Engle, Wei Zhu, Qing L, Robert B. Finkelman, 2025, Predicting the concentrations of rare earth elements and yttrium in Chinese coal using machine learning. Natural Resources Research. Volume 34, pages 1467–1479.  72.              Finkelman, R.B., 2024, Forward for Medical Geology for Beginners 73.              Finkelman, R. B., 1970, Physical and chemical analyses and suggested origin of the glass beads from the Apollo 11 lunar sample. Masters Thesis, The George Washington University May 4, 1970, 95 p. 74.              T Nield, T Rosswall, C Smith, J Ogg, F Gradstein, O Selinus, J Centeno, R Finkelman, 2006,  UN declares 2008 “International Year of Planet Earth” Episodes, Vol. 29, no. 12, p. 62. 

75.              Finkelman, R. B., XXXX, Chapter11. Progress in International Coal Geology. 76.              Micaela Arlete Jose Chapo Cossa, Hassina Mouri, Robert B. Finkelman, Vicente Albino Manjate, Kim Dowling, 2025, Assessment of the Impacts of Potential Toxic Elements (PTEs) from Coal Mining on Water: A Case Study of Moatize, Tete, Mozambique. 77.              Chakraborty, S., Finkelman, R. B., Shaikh, W. A., Kumar, A., Nichols, N. T., XXXX, Geochemical characterization of environmental samples from spontaneous coal fire regiopns of Jharia, India. 78.              Choudhry, Rida, Butler, Kristina, Finkelman, Robert B., Niloofar, M. and Benson, Tom, 2025, Rida, Domestic Potential for Lithium from Coal and Coal Byproducts, GSA abstract 79.              Finkelman, R. B. and Petrovic, Slabodan, XXXX, Global Energy Mix. Chapter 25. 80.              Glenn B. Stracher, Donald L. Johnson, J. Marion Wampler, Paul Schroeder, Robert B. Finkelman, XXXX, Thermodynamics of Coal-Fire Gas and Mineralogy of the Centralia Mine Fire, Pennsylvania. 81.              Shifeng Dai, James C. Hower, Robert B. Finkelman, Marina P. Ketris, Yakov E. Yudovich, Yutang Zhang, Jingjing Liu, Changqiu Zhao, Na Xu, Ian T. Graham, David French, XXXX, Abundances of Elements in Global Coals. International Journal of Coal Geology. 82.              Finkelman, Robert B., 2025, Evolution from Medical Geology to GeoHealyh and future development prospects. China Geology, vol. 8, p.471-474.        

  



- publications

Dalway Swain Award - TSOP [2024]

John Castano Award - TSOP [2022]

GSA’s Geology and Health Division’s Distinguished Career Award - GSA’s Geology and Health Division [2021]

Distinguished Professorship - China University of Mining and Technology [2019]

Fulbright Specialist for India, - Fulbright Committee [2019]

Distinguished Service Award - GSA Geology and Health Division, 2013 [2013]

U.S. State Dept., Embassy Science Fellow, South Africa - State Dept. [2004]

Gilbert H. Cady Award, - Geological Society of America, 2004 [2004]

Gordon H. Wood Jr. Memorial Award, - AAPG Eastern Section [1999]

Nininger Meteorite Award, - University of Arizona [1969]

U.S. Coal Panel Taps Expertise of UT Dallas Prof

A report to Congress on coal’s future as a U.S. energy source draws on the expertise of UT Dallas Professor Robert Finkelman, an authority on the effects of coal production and use. Dr. Finkelman, a professor in the Geosciences Department of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has devoted his career to understanding coal’s properties, economic byproducts, and environmental and health impacts. He specializes in the field of Medical Geology, which seeks to understand the impacts of geologic materials and processes on animal and human health.Dr. Finkelman’s help was sought after Congress asked the National Research Council to organize a committee to study coal-related research and development. Dr. Finkelman was a member of the committee and a co-author of the recently published NRC report Coal: Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy.

Ancient Volcanic Eruptions Still Taking Lives

A cancer epidemic under way in southeast China may have been initiated by a string of Siberian volcanoes that spewed ash across the Earth 250 million years ago, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Nonsmoking women in the Xuan Wei County, Yunnan Province, China suffer from the world’s highest known rate of lung cancer, and Geosciences Research Professor Robert Finkelman, one of the study’s co-authors, said researchers believe the answer is in the coal that women in the province use for heating and cooking. “Peak lung cancer mortality in women in one specific area of China—Xuan Wei—has been reported at 400 deaths per 100,000 people, which is nearly 20 times the mortality levels in the rest of China,” Finkelman said. The extraordinarily high rate of lung cancer and the constant use of coal by women for heating and cooking led geoscientists to study the native coal from area mines.

Rock and Rhetoric Stars: Geoscientist, Professor Receive Honors

Dr. Robert Finkelman, a geosciences lecturer and research scientist at The University of Texas at Dallas, recently earned national recognition for his more than 25 years of leadership in the emerging field of medical geology — the science dealing with the relationship between geological factors and health problems in humans, animals and plants.