Research

My current research focuses on the geochemistry of the Hawaiian Islands with implications that range from island-scale volcanism to the processes and chemical heterogeneities in Earth's mantle. For example, systematic sampling of lavas from the shield-building stage of the island of Kaua’i, coupled with radiogenic isotope analyses, major and trace element concentrations, olivine compositions, and argon geochronology, has helped us assess the geochemical and magmatic evolution of the Kaua’i volcano and constrain the long-term isotopic trends along the entire Hawaiian-Emperor volcanic chain that are controlled by the dynamics of the Hawaiian mantle plume and the Pacific tectonic plate: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019GC008451

Teaching

UBC:

  • EOSC 220: Introductory Mineralogy
  • EOSC 221: Introductory Petrology
  • EOSC 333: Elemental and Isotopic Geochemistry
  • EOSC 523: Isotope Geology

Carleton University:

  • ERTH 1006: Introductory Geology
  • ERTH 2104: Igneous Systems, Geochemistry and Processes
  • ERTH 3205: Hydrogeology
  • ERTH 3204: Mineral Deposits

CV upon request

Peer-reviewed publications

2023, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, Garcia, M.O. Emergence of the Loa mantle component in the Hawaiian Islands based on the geochemistry of Kaua‘i shield-stage basalts. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2023GC010980, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010980 (link is external)

2023, Weis, D., Harpp, K., Harrison, L., Boyet, M., Chauvel, C., Farnetani, C., Finlayson, V., Lee, K., Parai, R., Shahar, A., Williamson, N.M.B. Earth’s mantle composition revealed by mantle plumes. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00467-0(link is external)

2023, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, Garcia, M.O. 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of basalts from Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i: Implications for shield-stage evolution of Hawaiian volcanoes. Bulletin of Volcanology 85(37), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-023-01649-w(link is external)

2021, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., and Prytulak, J. Thallium isotopic compositions in Hawaiian Lavas: Evidence for recycled materials on the Kea side of the Hawaiian mantle plume. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 22(9), e2021GC009765, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC009765(link is external)

2020, Weis, D., Harrison, L.N., McMillan, R., and Williamson, N.M.B. Fine-scale structure of Earth’s deep mantle resolved through statistical analysis of Hawaiian basalt geochemistry. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 21(11), e2020GC009292, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009292(link is external)

2019, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J.S., Pelletier, H., Garcia, M.O. Tracking the geochemical transition between the Kea-dominated Northwest Hawaiian Ridge and the bilateral Loa-Kea trends of the Hawaiian Islands. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 20(9): 4354-4369, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008451(link is external)

2016, Williamson, N.M.B., Ootes, L., Rainbird, R.H., Bédard, J.H., and Cousens, B. Initiation and early evolution of the Franklin magmatic event preserved in the 720 Ma Natkusiak Formation, Victoria Island, Canadian Arctic. Bulletin of Volcanology 78(3):1-19 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-016-1012-9(link is external)

2016, Jamieson, J., Hannington, M.D., Tivey, M.K., Hansteen, T., Williamson, N., Stewart, M., Fietzke, J., Butterfield, D.A., Frische, M., Allen, L., Cousens, B., and Langer, J. Precipitation and growth of barite within hydrothermal vent deposits from the Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 173:64 85 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016703715006031(link is external)

Published datasets

2023, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J. S., Garcia, M.O. Data for: Emergence of the Loa mantle component in the Hawaiian Islands based on the geochemistry of Kaua‘i shield-stage basalts. V2, Borealis. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/ULSUYN(link is external)

2021, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Prytulak, J. Data for: Thallium isotopic compositions in Hawaiian lavas: evidence for recycled materials on the Kea side of the Hawaiian mantle plume. V1, Borealis. https://doi.org/10.5683/SP2/3U9N8G(link is external)

Internally-reviewed publications

2016, Bédard, J.H., Hayes, B., Hryciuk, M., Beard, C., Williamson, N., Dell’Oro, T.A., Rainbird, R.H, Prince, J., Baragar, W.R.A., Nabelek, P.I. , Weis, D., Wing, B., Scoates, J., Naslund, H.R., Cousens, B., Williamson, M.-C., Hulbert, L.J., Montjoie, R., Girard, É.,  Ernst, R., and Lissenberg, C.J.; Geochemical database of Franklin sills, Natkusiak Basalts and Shaler Supergroup rocks, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories, and correlatives from Nunavut and the mainland; Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8009, 1 .zip file. https://doi.org/10.4095/297842(link is external)

2013, Rainbird, R.H., Bédard, J.H., and Williamson, N., Geology, Takiyuaqattak, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories; Geological Survey of Canada, Canadian Geoscience Map 104 (ed. Prelim.), scale 1:50 000, https://doi.org/10.4095/293344(link is external)

2013, Williamson, N., Bedard, J., Ootes, L., Rainbird, R., Cousens, B., and Zagorevski, A., Volcanostratigraphy and significance of the southern lobe Natkusiak Formation flood basalts, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories; Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research 2013-16, 13 p. https://doi.org/10.4095/292706(link is external)

Conference abstracts

2023, Williamson, N.M.B., Armstrong, C., Weis, D., Harrison, L.N., Scoates, J.S., Garcia, M.O. The Enriched Loa mantle component in Hawai‘i: new insights from Wai‘anae and Ko‘olau volcanoes. 2023 AGU Conference.

2023, Weis, D., Harpp, K.S., Harrison, L.N., Boyet, M., Chauvel, C., Farnetani, C.G., Finlayson, V.A., Lee, K.K.M., Parai, R., Shahar, A., Williamson, N.M.B. Earth's mantle composition revealed by mantle plumes, geochemical and geodynamic perspectives. Where are we now, and where are we going? 2023 AGU Conference.

2023, Boyet, M., Doucelance, R., Seghi, J., Auclair, D., Williamson, N., Weis, D., Deep mantle chemical heterogeneities: new insight from the measurement of the 138La-138Ce and 146,147Sm-142,143Nd systematics in Hawaiian basalts. 2023 Goldschmidt Conference.

2022, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J., Garcia, M.O., How atypical is Kaua‘i’s Loa-Kea geochemical trend? 2022 Goldschmidt Conference. https://doi.org/10.46427/gold2022.10638(link is external)

2020, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J., Volcanic evolution of the Kaua‘i shield, Northern Hawaiian Islands. 2020 Goldschmidt Conference.

2020, Weis, D., Williamson, N.M.B., Harrison, L.N., Bilenker, L.D., Loa-Kea Hawai‘i Geochemical Trends: Recent Findings and Future Directions. 2020 Goldschmidt Conference.

2020, Bilenker, L.D., Weis, D., Williamson, N.M.B., Gordon, K., Whole-rock Fe isotope compositions as a tool for exploring the origin and alteration of Hawaiian shield-stage lavas. 2020 Goldschmidt Conference.

2019, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J.S., Garcia, M.O., Pelletier, H., Time-progressive changes in Hawaiian mantle plume composition between the Northwest Hawaiian Ridge and Molokaʽi from 7 to 2 Ma. 2019 AGU Conference.

2019, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Prytulak, J., Origin of enriched Hawaiian mantle signatures: insight from the thallium isotopic compositions of shield lavas. 2019 Goldschmidt Conference.

2019, Weis, D., Harrison, L.N., Williamson, N.M.B., The different stories told by Hawaiian shield, post-shield, and rejuvenated lavas. 2019 Goldschmidt Conference.

2018, Weis, D., Harrison, L.N., Williamson, N.M.B., What makes Hawaiʻi a unique mantle plume? 2018 Goldschmidt Conference Invited speaker.

2018, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J.S., Garcia, M.O., Pelletier, H. Assembling the Hawaiian geochemical puzzle: insight from high-precision Pb isotopes from the Kauaʻi shield. 2018 Resources for Future Generations Conference.

2017, O’Connor, A.R., Prytulak, J., Weis, D., Williamson, N. Tracing Contributions to Cascade Magmatism using Thallium Isotopes. 2017 GSA Conference.

2017, Williamson, N.M.B., Weis, D., Scoates, J.S. Geochemistry of shield basalts from the island of Kaua’i and the emergence of the Hawaiian geochemical trends. 2017 GAC-MAC Conference.

2013, Bédard, J.H., Hayes, B., Hryciuk, M., Wing, B., Beard, C., Dell’Oro, T., Weis, D., Scoates, J.S., Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Naslund, H.R., MacDonald, W., and Nabelek, P. The Neoproterozoic Franklin Large Igneous Province on Victoria Island. 2013 GAC-MAC Conference.

2012, Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Ootes, L., Bédard, J., Rainbird, R., Dell’Oro, T. Volcano-stratigraphy and major element geochemistry of the Southern Lobe of the Natkusiak Formation flood basalts of Victoria Island: Insights into the initiation of the Neoproterozoic Franklin magmatic event. 2012 GAC-MAC Conference.

2012, Engelbert, M.S., Jamieson, J.W., Cousens, B.L., Williamson, N.M.B., Hannington, M.D. Barite precipitation in submarine hydrothermal vents: insights from Sr-isotope ratios. 2012 Goldschmidt Conference.

2011, Bédard, J.H., Williamson, N. et al., Emplacement and eruption style in the Franklin Large Igneous Province, Victoria Island, Arctic Canada. 2011 AGU Fall meeting.

2011, Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Ootes, L., Zagorevski, A., Rainbird, R., Physical volcanology of the Neoproterozoic Natkusiak Formation Flood Basalts of the Franklin Magmatic Event, Victoria Island, NWT, Canada. 2011 GAC-MAC Conference.

2011, Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Ootes, L., Zagorevski, A., Rainbird, R., Physical volcanology of the Neoproterozoic Natkusiak Formation Flood Basalts of the Franklin Magmatic Event, Victoria Island, NWT, Canada. 2011 Advances in Earth Science Research Conference.

2011, Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Ootes, L., Zagorevski, A., Rainbird, R., Physical volcanology of the Neoproterozoic Natkusiak Formation Flood Basalts of the Franklin Magmatic Event, Victoria Island, NWT, Canada. PDAC 2011 Ottawa-Carleton Alumni Reception and Minerals Colloquium.

2011, Bédard, J.H., Williamson, N., Dell’Oro, T.A., Hayes, B., Hryciuk, M., Winpenny, A., Scoates, J.S., Weis, D.A., Nabelek, P.I. , Naslund, H.R., MacDonald W.D. Emplacement and Eruption Style in the Franklin Large Igneous Province, Victoria Island, Arctic Canada, 2011 AGU conference.

2010, Williamson, N., Cousens, B., Ootes, L., Zagorevski, A., Rainbird, R., Physical volcanology of the Neoproterozoic Natkusiak Formation Flood Basalts of the Franklin Magmatic Event, Victoria Island, NWT, Canada. 2010 Yellowknife Geoscience Forum.

2010, Williamson, N. M-B., Jamieson, J.W., Hannington, M.D., Occurrence and Genesis of Hydrothermal Barite Along The Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge. 2010 Advances in Earth Science Research Conference.

2010, Williamson, N. M-B., Jamieson, J.W., Hannington, M.D., Occurrence and Genesis of Hydrothermal Barite Along The Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge. PDAC 2010 Ottawa-Carleton Alumni Reception and Minerals Colloquium.