Abundant dolomite and MgCl2-rich brines, but the energy-intensive metal route has no Alberta champion.
Alberta formation waters hold 2–136 kg/m² of magnesium by area and Devonian dolomite is everywhere in the Front Ranges, yet the province produces only calcium and magnesium chloride brines. Magnesium metal via Pidgeon or electrolytic routes is energy-intensive and dominated by China at about US$2,300/t. Only brine-derived MgCl2 and MgSO4 products are realistic near term.
Prairie Evaporite MgCl2 brines and Devonian dolomitePermissive only
Magnesium from bittern brines (carnallite) or dolomite (Pidgeon / electrolytic) · 0–2K m
Carnallite-bearing Prairie Evaporite in east-central Alberta
Abundant Devonian dolomite in the Front Ranges; energy cost is the obstacle
Source: Speculative — no Alberta project.
DATASETS THAT TEST THE TARGET
Stack these layers on the integrated map
Discriminating datasets first, then every catalogued public dataset tagged to this commodity. Verified endpoints draw directly; link-only entries open the publisher page.
Prairie Evaporite / Lotsberg salt thickness (publication)Alberta Geological Survey · Structure, depth & isopach · link onlyThick, undissolved halite is the target for solution mining and caverns and the seal for CO2 storage; dissolution edges control McMurray karst collapse.Source ↗
Bedrock geology of Alberta (Map 600 tiles)Alberta Geological Survey · Bedrock geology · drawable · verifiedWhich formation is at the bedrock surface: the first screen for outcropping targets such as silica sand, limestone, ironstone, bentonite, ammonite shell and shallow coal.Source ↗