Justin, Duncan, Carlos and Ian visited the hydromagnesite-magnesite playas of Atlin, BC, Ian’s favourite field site! We worked alongside colleagues Sasha and Maija from The University of Alberta and Jenine and Decla from The University of Waterloo. Also, we met with Nat and Ed from The University of Winnipeg. We’re all very keen on learning about biosignatures in carbonates, mineral transformation reactions, and microbial carbonate precipitation. The Atlin playas are a fantastic place to learn about all those things! Our primary focus was collecting samples of aragonite that contain microfossils. This calcium carbonate mineral is commonly found in Mg-carbonate systems. It is a better medium for biosignature preservation due to its fast precipitation rates, relative stability, and ability to lithify. Thanks to everyone for making this an excellent trip!
