Last month, Jamie, a master's student from the PowerGeolab, had the opportunity to travel to Northwestern British Columbia to conduct fieldwork at the beautiful and renowned Atlin magnesite-hydromagnesite carbonate playas. This was made possible by a Canadian Northern Scientific Training Program research grant.
There, she met with researchers from the University of Alberta and spent many days out in the field. At the playas, Jamie collected surface hydromagnesite samples and a core sample up to 3 m in depth to collect magnesite and lansfordite, as well as some groundwater. Jamie and the team spent a day hiking up Monarch Mountain (A X̲eegí Deiyí Shaa) and exploring the surrounding area to check out the geology and found some dunite, listvenite, harzburgite, serpentinite, and granite outcrops.
This field site was really special, unique, and interesting. Having focused her master's thesis research on MgO and Mg(OH)2 carbonation, she has developed a profound interest in the diverse magnesium carbonate system, and it was incredible to see these unusual formations in nature. This was an incredible learning experience, and the time spent in Atlin will be cherished for a lifetime.
Undergraduate student Ian Power in 2004.
Master’s student Jamie Burnett in 2026.