Peat Resources in Saskatchewan

Transcription

1 Saskatchewan Energy and Mines Saskatchewan Geological Survey Report 218 Peat Resources in Saskatchewan by D.R. Troyer 1985 Printed under the authorijy of the Minister of Energy and Mmes

2 Although the Department of Energy and Mines has exercised all reasonable care in the compilation, interpretation and production of this report, it is not possible to ensure total accuracy, and all persons who rely on the information contained herein do so at their own risk. The Department of Energy and Mines and the Government of Saskatchewan do not accept liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies that may be included in, or derived from, this report. Reviewed and edited by P. Guliov and R.F. Davie Geodata and Industrial Minerals Section Manuscript submitted April 1983 Review completed June 1984 Text to typesetter (on disk) February 1985 Printed May 1985 ii

3 Foreword This report is based largely on work funded under the Canada-Saskatchewan Interim Subsidiary Agreement on Mineral Exploration and Development. Independent funding by the Province has also contributed to the results. J.E. Christopher Director Saskatchewan Geological Survey January 1985 iii

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5 Abstract A preliminary investigation of Saskatchewan peatlands was initiated in 1974/ 75. The investigation revealed numerous extensive peatland areas in central Saskatchewan for which there was little physical or chemical data. A reconnaissance peat resource program commenced in 1976 to assess the distribution, quantity and quality of fuel and moss peat resources. The potentially economic peat areas of central Saskatchewan are concentrated in a wide belt on the Phanerozoic strata adjacent to the southern edge of the Precambrian Shield. Physiographically, the region consists of extensve uplands with intervening lowlands and plains. The peatlands in the upland regions are sparsely scattered and generally of small size. The lowlands and plains contain great concentrations of peatlands, some of which extend over vast areas. Four geographic regions were selected as having the greatest potential for peatland development. Of these, the Buffalo Narrows- Beauval and the Pinehouse LaRonge regions were subsequently surveyed. The peatlands in the two regions were selected for investigation on the basis of their size, vegetative cover, accessibility by helicopter and distance from potential markets. From 1978 to 1982, over 500 peatlands were investigated (seven of these in detail) for their peat type, thickness, humification, vegetative cover and subsoil type. Of these, 450 were sampled and over 200 analyzed for their suitability as sources of horticultural and energy peat. Radiocarbon dates were obtained from four deposits. The resource calculations compiled from the accumulated data indicate enormous reserves of fuel peat in the Buffalo Narrows- Beauval and Pinehouse LaRonge regions. Although the majority of the fuel peat resources in the study regions are too distant from potential markets to be considered economically mineable in the foreseeable future, there are substantial resources which are accessible. Of most immediate significance for some northern communities is the prospect of displacing heating oil by an abundant, relatively cheap, indigenous domestic fuel supply. Such use, however, would probably have to be linked to a large industrial peatland development for economic reasons. Future prospects also include peat briquetting, peat coke, thermal power generation or a combination of these. Many deposits in the regions have a high moss peat content, but most are too small or too shallow for economic consideration. Some are suitable for dual production of moss and fuel peat. Keywords: peatlands, central Saskatchewan, fuel peat, distribution, physical characteristics, humification, vegetative cover, analyses, radiocarbon dates, resource potential Troyer, D.R. (1985) : Peat Resources in Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Energy and Mines, Report 218, 74p. v

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7 Contents Foreword Abstract Contents Page iii v vii Introduction Purpose and Objectives of Reconnaissance Study Previous Work Present Studies Acknowledgements Global Peat Utilization Geology of Peat Deposits Peatland Types Peat Properties Absorption Acidity Ash Bulk Density Calorific Value Humification Moisture Content Volatile Matter Other Minor Properties Methods of Study Selection of Peatland Areas Peatland Sampling and Classification Survey Techniques Analyses Resource Calculations General Physiography and Vegetation of the Study Regions Topography and Surficial Geology Soils Vegetation Climate Field and Analytical Results of the Reconnaissance Studies Nipawin - Mistatim Region Greenbush Bog Bannock Peatland Mistatim Bog Snowden Peatland Garrick Peatland Choiceland Fen ' Analytical Trends Buffalo Narrows - Beauval Region Peatland BF Peatland BF-91 / Peatland BF Peatland BF Pinehouse - La Ronge Region Peatland SE Peatland SE Peatland LR vii

8 Page Resource Evaluation and Economic Potential Fuel Peat Moss Peat Selected Bibliography Appendix A: Field Data Appendix B: Analytical Data Tables 1. World peat resources , Peat resources of Canada Von Post degrees of humification Von Post moisture regime, fibre content and degree of woodiness Summary of properties designating nine pure coverage classes Peat analyses from the Nipawin - Mistatim region Comparison of peats from the Buffalo Narrows and Beauval areas Analytical results, peatland BF Analytical results, peatland BF-91 / Analytical results, peatlands BF-166 and BF Analytical results, La Ronge area Comparison of peats from the four regions surveyed Useable fuel peat resources (by individual peatland) Summary of fuel peat resources by region and economic potential Peatland size and tonnage requirements of four selected peat processes Figures 1. Potential peat areas of Saskatchewan south of the Precambrian Shield 2 2. Geographical regions with the greatest potential for peatland development south of the Precambrian Shield Frequency of muskeg occurrence in Canada Simplified diagram of ombrogenic peatland Simplified diagram of minerogenic peatland Peat resource survey areas Sample bog survey data sheet Physiography of the peatland region of Saskatchewan Soils of the peatland region of Saskatchewan Peatlands examined in the Nipawin - Mistatim region Greenbush bog: a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles Bannock peatland: (a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles Sample locations, Mistatim bog Mistatim bog: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Snowden peatland: a) sample locations; b) peat type profile; c) humification profile Sample locations, Garrick peatland Garrick peatland; a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Choiceland fen: a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles Peatland sample locations and peat resources, Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region (back pocket) 20. Sample locations and peat thickness, peatland BF Peatland BF-63: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles viii

9 Page 22. Sample locations and peat thickness. peatland BF-91 / Peatland BF-91 /92: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Sample locations and cover vegetation types, peatland BF Sample locations and isopachs, peatland BF Peatland BF-31 : a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Peatland sample locations and peat resources, Pinehouse - La Ronge - Montreal Lake region (back pocket) 28. Peatlands selected for detailed study in the La Ronge - Montreal Lake area Sample locations and isopachs, peatland SE Peatland SE-24: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Sample locations and isopachs, peatland SE Peatland SE-38: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Sample locations and isopachs, peatland LR Peat type profiles, peatland LR Humification profiles, peatland LR Plates 1. Greenbush bog, Mistatim area Bannock peatland, Mistatim area Mistatim bog (southeast), Mistatim area Garrick peatland, Nipawin area Choiceland fen, Nipawin area Confined bog (BF-122), Buffalo Narrows area Extensive fen, Beauval area Bog BF-19, Buffalo Narrows area Bog BF-95, Buffalo Narrows area Bog BF-208, Buffalo Narrows area Bog BV-5, Beauval area Bog BF-63, Buffalo Narrows area Bog BF-31, Buffalo Narrows area Bog BF-31; from left to right, fuel peat, moss peat, live moss Bog PH-66, Pinehouse area Bog LR-24, La Ronge area ix

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11 Introduction Purpose and Objectives of Reconnaissance Study The Saskatchewan Peat Resources Study was initiated on a modest scale in 1974/75 by Saskatchewan Mineral Resources (now Saskatchewan Energy and Mines) partially in response to an increasing number of inquiries about agricultural peat and peat as a source of energy. Initial investigations by the department concentrated on the Carrot River - Hudson Bay area. During these studies it became apparent that central Saskatchewan possessed numerous extensive peatland areas for which there was little physical or chemical data. A reconnaissance peat resource program was initiated in 1976 to assess the distribution, quantity and quality of fuel and moss peat resources. Deposits of significant quality and size favourably disposed to transportation facilities and potential markets were to be examined in greater detail. Of secondary interest was the evaluation of promising deposits in terms of technical and economic feasibility of development and utilization. The high and increasing cost of conventional energy sources, particularly in the remote towns in central Saskatchewan, stimulated this investigation into an alternative supply. The use of peat in Europe, especially Scandinavia, Ireland and the Soviet Union, for the generation of electricity and for heating attests to its potential value as an alternative in Canada. Consequently, any information obtained from a reconnaissance peat resource program could be valuable in the future and would assist a nation-wide peat resource inventory. The potentially economic peat areas of central Saskatchewan are concentrated in a 200 km wide belt on the Phanerozoic strata adjacent to the southern edge of the Precambrian Shield, and incorporate an area of approximately km 2 (Figure 1 ). Physiographically the region consists of extensive uplands with intervening lowlands and plains. Although peatlands are present in the upland regions, they are, with some exceptions, sparsely scattered and of smaller size. The lowlands and plains contain the great concentrations of peatlands, some of which extend over vast areas (Figure 1 ). The terrain has many forested areas and can be classified as semiwilderness. The study region encompasses a population of about distributed amongst 19 communities. The principal industries of the region are mining, forestry, trapping and tourism. The only commercial peat development in the province is the production of horticultural peat moss at Carrot River. A total of 100 ha are worked by a vacuum peat operation with an annual average production of approximately bales, 70 percent of which is exported to the United States. Previous Work During the early forties, H.A. Leverin of the federal Department of Mines and Resources conducted preliminary field surveys of eight peat deposits in central Saskatchewan. A summary report of his work noted, "Few of the bogs contained a good grade of peat moss and where such was found, the depth of the peat moss strata is 2 to 4 feet only" ( Leveri n, 1946, p. 85). Leverin's survey noted that the deposits were predominantly humified peat below varying thicknesses of surface moss. Present Studies Work by the author during 1978 included airphoto delineation of potential peatland areas south of the Precambrian Shield (Figures 30 and 40) and preliminary field surveys of six peat deposits in the Nipawin - Mistatim area. Eight borehole samples were analyzed by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). In March 1979, Saskmont Engineering (a Monenco Company), contracted under the Canada Saskatchewan Interim Subsidiary Agreement on Mineral Exploration, completed a six-month assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of energy peat utilization in northern Saskatchewan. The report (Saskatchewan Mineral Resources, 1979) discussed the composition and distribution of peat deposits in Saskatchewan with particular reference to distances from the communities selected for the study. The present energy systems were described in terms of the types of housing, types of fuel used, fuel consumption and energy costs. Capital and operating costs of present industrial, central domestic and single domestic heating systems, as well as the present nature and level of energy-related employment, were also discussed. The report also investigated current peat mining methods, transportation systems for each production method, the utilization of peat as an energy source for large- and small-scale systems, the advantages and disadvantages of using peat as an energy source, the feasibility of converting present energy systems to peat and several other commercial uses of peat. The economics of peat was viewed in light of the factors which influence the cost of production, the various levels of employment generated, the minimum economic levels of peat production and utilization, the costs of conversion to peat-fired systems and the forecast increase in energy costs. The findings and recommendations of the report dealt with technical and economic feasibility, preferred peat production and utilization schemes, and preferred regions for resource study, as well as case studies

12 f Carswell Lake Area covered by Peatland % PRECAMBRIAN SHIELD 20-60% ~ %,,. QuillLakel ' / \ i ' \ y~ioo \ ~=-4":=--+~~~~ L~~~!...---j_...~-+-~--1~i... ~.. -=-=--=~==='---'e===----"vd -""' o,1,1e,t,,oo... -==- srl Figure 1. Potential peat areas of Saskatchewan south o f the Precambrian Shield 2

13 relating to individual and district domestic heating, horticultural peat production and large-scale electrical power generation. Four geographical regions (Figure 2) selected in the report as having the greatest potential for peatland development are: 1) Buffalo Narrows, lie-a-la-crosse, Canoe Narrows and Beauval; 2) Pinehouse; 3) Weyakwin - La Ronge; 4) Nipawin, Cumberland House and Hudson Bay. In 1979, over 330 peatlands were investigated by the author in the La Loche - Buffalo Narrows - ile-a-la Crosse - Beauval region (hereafter referred to as the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region). Analyses were performed on samples obtained from 150 of the peatlands. In 1980, 169 peatlands were investigated in the Pinehouse - La Ronge - Weyakwin region. Selected samples, totalling 46, were analyzed by the Saskatchewan Research Council. In late 1980, the Buffalo Narrows Peat Utilization Study was initiated by Saskatchewan Mineral Resources (now Saskatchewan Energy and Mines) (Guliov and Troyer, 1981 ), when Saskmont Engineering was contracted to investigate the economic and technical viability of fuel peat (and moss peat) production and utilization in the Buffalo Narrows area. The need for a practical demonstration project to test the economic and technical aspects of fuel peat production and utilization was identified (Saskatchewan Mineral Resources, 1981). In the fall of 1981, the practical Demonstration Project commenced under the Federal Provincial Conservation and Renewables Agreement. During the summer of 1982, Saskatchewan Energy and Mines, with contractual help from Saskmont Engineering, studied 43 previously selected peatlands within 100 km of La Ronge for their fuel peat potential. Considering drainability, location, accessibility, tree cover and funds available for the study, these were narrowed to three upon which semidetailed surveys and sampling were carried out. The objective of the 1982 project was to locate sufficient economically favourable fuel peat areas to assure a minimum of 25 years reserve of domestic fuel for La Ronge, as well as to determine the existence of suitable reserves for small- to medium-scale industry (e.g., power plant, briquetting plant, pelletizing plant, coking plant, gasification plant). Acknowledgements The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the following: P. Guliov of the Saskatchewan Geological Survey and E. Korpijaakko of Monenco, as well as other Monenco personnel, for their helpful and stimulating discussions; P. Guliov, E. Korpijaakko, J.E. Christopher and R.F. Davie for critically reviewing the manuscript; and K.G. Jones for preparation of the figures. I am also grateful to the following people for their very capable assistance in the field: N. Samoluk in 1977 and 1978; R. Long and L. Brochu in 1979; S. Fowler and D. Worme in 1980; and especially E. Korpijaakko in 1981 and Lastly, I wish to thank the skilful helicopter pilots for getting us into and out of the numerous treed peatlands encountered during this study. 3

14 / Carswell Lake PRECAMBRIAN SHIELD 1. Buffalo Narrows. lie-a-la-crosse, Canoe Narrows, Beauval 2. Pinehouse 3. La Ronge, Weyakwin 4. Nipawin, Cumberland House, Hudson Bay renchman Figure 2. Geographical regions with the greatest potential for peat/and development south of the Precambrian Shield 4

15 Global Peat Utilization The latest estimates indicate that Canada has more peatlands, by area, than any other country in the world (Table 1 ). However, due to a relative abundance of other fossil fuels, Canada is behind the European countries in resource studies, conservation policy and utilization. Among the world leaders are Finland, Ireland and the Soviet Union (Newfoundland and Labrador Peat Association, 1977; Farnham, 1979, 1980; Punwani, 1980; Hutchinson and Ryan, 1977): 1) Finland - Peatlands of Finland cover one-third of the country (10 million ha) and contain an estimated 120 billion m 3 of peat; ha have been protected for conservation. Approximately 40 billion m 3 (equivalent to 2 billion tons of oil) are suitable for fuel use, sufficient for 40 years at the current rate of consumption. The utilization of fuel peat is rapidly expanding and currently supports 300 MW of electrical generation and 600 MW equivalent of district steam heating. The process industry is also important as a peat consumer. Small-scale use, such as in small industry, farming, military facilities and home heating, is also growing. In these applications, peat is often substituted for light fuel oil or electric heating. A minor horticultural peat moss industry is present. 2) Ireland - The total area of peatland in Ireland is ha (9.4 billion m 3 ), of which ha (5.5 billion m 3 ) are suitable for economic exploitation. Bord na Mona is the largest producer of peat in Ireland (4 million t of peat fuels, 0.35 million t of peat briquettes for home use and 1 million m 3 of horticultural moss in 1974) and is recognized as a world leader in peat harvesting and combustion technology. In 1974, an additional Table 1. World Peat Resources (Klvlnen and Pakarlnen, 1980) Country Biological Peat Production (tonnes x 103) Peat/and (ha x 106) Fuel Peat Moss Peat Total Canada USSR USA Indonesia 26.0 Finland Sweden China Norway Malaysia 2.4 United Kingdom Poland Ireland West Germany Total Total (approx.) million tons of peat were hand cut for fuel and m 3 of peat moss were produced for the manufacturing of peat pots. The use of peat for power generation commenced in Current peat-fired generating capacity is more than 420 MW, representing about 30 percent of total generating capacity; a further 160 MW will be added by ) Soviet Union - The Soviet Union has developed its peat resources, which are the second largest in the world, to such an extent that the peat-fired power generating capacity was approximately 8500 MW in 1979, about 2 percent of the total. There are more than 80 peat-fired power plants, the largest of which is 1000 MW. The latest power plant, commissioned in 1982, is a 3 x 210 MW installation near Leningrad. Table 2. Peat Resources of Canada (Tibbetts, 1980) Province Newfoundland Nova Scotia PEI New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Potential/Inferred Pea t Resources (hectares) (tonnes x 10')' (hectares) Measured Peat Resources ( tonnes x 106)' NWT and Yukon - not available - Total Percentage of Total Peat/and Area 'at 50 percent moisture 5

16 Power production consumes only one-third of the annual total peat production of million t. Peat is also used in the form of sods and briquettes for small industries and household heating. Also, low-btu gas is produced in small quantities. Peat production alone, without power-plant personnel, employs about people. Other countries using peat or seriously studying the uses of peat are Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Poland, the United States and a number of African countries. The distribution of Canadian peatland, an estimated 170 million ha (40 percent of the world total), is illustrated in Figure 3. The provincial breakdown is listed in Table 2. Current estimates indicate that approximately 50 million ha of Canadian peatland may contain potential energy resources of about 81.6 billion t (Tibbetts, 1981 ). The most extensive use of peatland in Canada at present is for horticultural peat moss production, which amounts to only 0.2 percent of the world total production of 220 million t. All ten provinces have a peat moss industry, with Quebec and New Brunswick being the largest producers, followed by Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Studies of peat resources and alternative uses for Canadian peat, mainly as a fuel, are gaining momentum. Nearly every province is engaged in peatrelated studies of one type or another. These include peat resource inventory, peat inventory techniques, peat mining studies, peat dewatering and processing investigations, peat utilization, mobility on peatlands and peatland environmental investigations. 6

17 Geology of Peat Deposits Peat accumulation and peatland formation are controlled by the climate, geology, hydrology, topography and vegetation of the surrounding area. Climate is the single most important factor in peatland development, and the initial development of Canadian peatlands was closely related to glaciation, a result of significant climatic changes. Peatland development requires a positive water balance and an accumulation of organic material at a rate greater than its rate of decomposition. A high rate of decomposition in the tropics and a negative water balance in desert areas generally prove unfavourable for peatland development. However, in a cool, moist, maritime climate peatland cover can develop on almost any substrate and physiographic feature (i.e. it is not restricted to depressions or lowland areas). As the ratio of precipitation plus water inflow to evaporation plus runoff decreases and the ratio of organic debris accumulation to decomposition decreases, peatland development gradually becomes restricted and confined to lowland areas and local depressions (Tibbetts, 1981 ). Peat is a heterogeneous material consisting of partially decomposed plant matter (various types of mosses, sedges, grasses, reeds, shrubs and trees) and inorganic minerals which have accumulated over thousands of years in poorly drained, flat or depressional areas with high water tables and stagnant reducing conditions. Growth of the deposit is outward and upward, and under favourable conditions is relatively rapid. On average it takes 3000 to 4000 years to accumulate one metre of peat. Decomposition is mainly a disintegration of plant matter accomplished by microorganisms. Peat accumulates usually in locations with high water table and, consequently, more or less anaerobic conditions. This, combined with cool climatic conditions, slows down microbial activity and results in the accumulation of organic matter in the form of peat. At somewhat deeper levels, decay can proceed only anaerobically (i.e., the microorganisms existing in the lower levels depend on oxygen chemically stored in the plant residues). At greater depths, most of the chemically stored oxygen has also been consumed. ~High ~ Medium.... Low Figure 3. Frequency of muskeg occurrence in Canada 7

18 Below the level of anaerobic activity, virtually all change ceases (Tibbetts, 1981 ). Most peat deposits are less than years old and occur primarily in glaciated areas exhibiting cool humid climates, principally in the northern hemisphere. Thus, the Maritimes, the Arctic and much of the interior of Canada are favourable for peatland formation (Figure 3). The Prairies. due to higher soil salinity and drier summer climate, do not favour bog formation. Peatland Types (after Monenco Ontario Ltd., 1981) Peatlands can be divided into a classification series of ombrogenic/ oligotrophic - minerogenic/ eutrophic types (Figures 4 and 5) with a continuum of gradual change between end members. This nutritional change is reflected in the vegetation cover and the nature of the layering within peat deposits and results from varying climatic, hydrologic and geologic factors. Ombrogenic peatlands (Figure 4). commonly referred to as bogs, occur in areas of high water surplus and are oligotrophic (i.e., extremely deficient in nutrients) and acidic (ph 3.04 to 4.50), as virtually all of their nutrients are supplied by atmospheric water. A high water surplus originates from various combinations of hydrologic (closed drainage, low evapotranspitation rates. high rate of precipitation) and pedologic (impervious soil) factors. Raised and dome-shaped bogs are typical of peatlands formed under these conditions. Thus. hummocks of sphagnum peat accumulate in patterns of more or less concentrically arranged arched ridges and rimpis (flashets), at 90 to the water flow. The peat in bogs is predominantly sphagnum peat because sphagna characteristically inhabit low nutrient environments and can retain large quantities of water in their special cellular structure. The high water level, very low oxygen saturation and rapid plant growth ensure a low degree of humification (H2 to HS, see Table 3) of peat. Ombrogenic peatlands, normally covered with sphagnum, may have sedges. trees and a layer of low shrubs (e.g., labrador tea) as subordinate members of their floral community. Conditions for ombrogenic peatlands are most favourable in the cool, humid coastal climates, as the widespread bogs in eastern and western Canada testify. This type of peat is best suited for horticultural purposes. Minerogenic peatlands (Figure 5), or fens. develop in areas of restricted drainage where oxygen saturation is low. Usually very slow internal drainage occurs through seepage down very low gradients. Minerogenic peatlands are characteristically more featureless than bogs. They are normally without ridges and rimpis, except in more northerly areas where nonconcentric string fens abound. Vegetation cover is dominated by sedges, although grasses and reeds may be associated; sphagnum is subordinate or absent. Often there is abundant low to medium height shrub cover and a sparse layer of trees. The peat layers in minerogenic peatlands are slightly thinner and contain more sedges, wood and eutrophic plant species than ombrogenic peats. The nutrient content is mesotrophic to eutrophic (medium to high) and ph is closer to neutral (ph 4.0 to 6.5) than in bogs. Due to a slower plant growth rate, less absorbent cell structure and higher aeration, the peat is characteristically well humified (HS to H10), especially Mineral Terrain Peatland Mineral Terrain A B c B A ;.... : ', '. :;:; :,:..:. Mineral Soil Figure 4. Simplified diagram of ombrogenic peat/and (a fter Monenco Ontario Ltd., 1981 ). A, Lagg Zone: minerogenic area of active paludification with a vegetative cover of stunted trees, herbs, etc., near edges, sedges and sphagna in the middle and increasing quantities of sphagna and shrubs towards the centre of the bog; peat is sedge-sphagnum peat with a moderately high degree of humification (H4 to H6). 8, Slope Zone: a semi-ombrogenic zone of microbial activity, temporarily increased due to improved drainage; surface vegetation is commonly stunted black spruce, various shrub and sphagna; peat is predominantly sphagnum with wood remnants and a moderate degree of humification (H2 to HS ). C, Central Zone: The zone of mature raised bog characterized by poor drainage, ponds and ridges; vegetation varies from shrubsphagnum cover to pure sphagnum and occasional areas of cotton grass; peat is predominantly composed of sphagnum with a low degree of humification (HI to H3). Note that vertical scale is exaggerated for pictorial clarity. 8

19 Mineral Terrain Peatland A Mineral Terrain Peatland B Peatland c Figure 5. Simplified diagram of minerogenic peat/and (after Monenco Ontario Ltd., 1981 ). A, pond being filled in by vegetation to form peat: 1, open water; 2, semi-aquatic vegetation, partly floating; 3, submerged aquatic vegetation and debris from the floating mat. B, peat/and formed by paludification of forest through spill-off effect from adjacent Peat/and C; vegetation is sphagna on the lower slope and dying trees on the upper slope; downslope(4) the established peat is covered by sedge-herb-shrub vegetation, and composed predominantly of sedges with a generally high degree of humification (H5 to HB). C, peat/and formed on higher ground in waterlogged conditions; vegetation consists of occasional islands of low trees in large areas of sedge dominated vegetation; peat is predominantly composed of sedge types near the surfce and of forest peats near the base; degree of humification varies from H3 to H5 near the surface(5) to HB to H9 near the base(6). Note that vertical scale is exaggerated for pictorial clarity. toward the base, and better suited for in situ agriculture and forestry (if thin) or for mining energy peat (if thick). Minerotrophic peatlands are found in larger quantities in the continental climatic regions. However, both bogs and fens can be found interlaced, depending on the local climate and hydrological conditions. Acidity The acidity of peat should be known for such purposes as soil amelioration (lime addition is usually required for in situ agriculture), soil balance for horticultural moss peat (sphagnum is found in acidic bogs (Graham, 1979) and corrosiveness in the handling and fire box systems for fuel peat. The ph generally ranges from 2.5 to 6.5. Peat Properties Not only is the formation of peat dependent upon botanic, hydrologic, geomorphic and climatic factors of the region, but it follows that the physical and chemical properties of the peat would be influenced by them. Peat consists largely of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, varying amounts of nitrogen, sulphur and ash, and various animal residues. Plant and animal residue in wet peat may account for as little as 10 percent of the weight. Only in poorly humified peats are the plant residues identifiable by the naked eye. Visual examination is a reliable field method for evaluating the quality of the peat. In order to supplement the field descriptions of the physical characteristics, laboratory procedures are employed to measure a number of other characteristics. The various field and lab parameters are outlined below. Absorption The absorptive capacity of peat depends directly on its state of humification and on the peat type; for example, a high absorption value, high fibre content, elasticity and water retention are characteristic of poorly humified sphagnum moss. Sphagnum peat can commonly hold 15 to 30 times its weight in water. These parameters are desirable in a horticultural product. Ash The ash content varies (for Canadian peat, from 0.5 to 25 percent) with botanical origin, humification and foreign material such as roots or admixed mineral matter. In general, the lower the ash content the better the fuel quality (Graham, 1979). High ash values decrease the heat value of the fuel, create ash handling problems and may cause corrosion and slagging problems in large-scale applications. Moderately high ash content does not reduce the horticultural value of peat. Bulk Density Bulk density is perhaps the most difficult factor to determine. Its importance, however, is paramount in resource calculations and transportation cost analyses. Bulk density of peat varies directly with the water content, the degree of humification and the peat type. For example, the bulk density of air-dried peat can vary from a low of 60 kg/m 3 for moss peat to a maximum of 560 kg/ m 3 for fuel peat. Calorific Value Calorific value of peat is dependent on moisture content, ash content, peat type and the degree of humification. Generally, the calorific value of peat on a dry ash-free basis increases with the degree of 9

20 humification; for example, the calorific value of moss peat (H1 to H4) can be as low as 7,000 BTU/ lb. (3900 kcal/ kg) and of fuel peat (greater than H4) can be as high as 11,000 BTU/lb. (6700 kcal/ kg). Humification A commonly used method of classifying humification, the von Post system (Table 3), grades the degree of decomposition of peat from nonhumified to fully humified. Decomposition occurs in an anaerobic environment by bacterial decay where toxic compounds are diluted by water flow, and at greater depths by biochemical decay nourished by oxygen chemically stored in the organic matter. When most of the chemically stored oxygen has been consumed, all change ceases. Up to that point, however, the degree of decay usually intensifies with increasing depth. However, due to variations in the climatic conditions that have taken place during recent ge0logical history (i.e., to years B.P.), layers of slightly humified peat may alternate with layers of more humified peat. A hydrologically active bog may have a more rapid toxic compound dilution and higher aeration than stagnant bogs, resulting in a higher degree of humification. The physical properties and chemical composition of peat change with the degree of humification. Poorly humified peat is usually light in colour, fibrous and elastic, and has a low bulk density, a high absorptive value, very small amounts of colloids or gels and larger quantities of recognizable plant residues. Humified peat is usually dark in colour and amorphous to granular in texture, and has a high bulk density and colloidal content, a low absorptive value and few plant residues recognizable as to their origin. The best horticultural peat is unhumified or slightly humified moss peat falling in the H1 to H4 range on the von Post scale. Depending on the peat type and the end use. peats with higher degrees of humification can also be used in horticulture. Fuel peat falls within the H4 to H10 range on the von Post scale, although, if mixed with material of higher values, H3 peat may be satisfactory. Fuel peat in the H4 to H10 range varies in appearance from peat showing evidence of decomposed plant structure to completely decomposed material without visible plant structure. The degree of humification and the peat type combine, in many cases, to determine the suitability of the peat as a fuel. Thus, sphagnum peats should have a degree of humification of HS or more and sedge peats of H4 or more. Moisture Content The moisture content of a peat in situ can be as high as 98 percent (by weight) but generally ranges from 80 to 95 percent (80 to 90 percent for well-humified sedge peats, 90 to 95 percent for sphagnum peats). This high and variable moisture content in peat is a Table 3. Von Post Degree of Humlflcatlon Degree of Humification H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8 H9 H10 Description Completely undecomposed peat which, when squeezed, releases almost clear water; plant remains easily identifiable; no amorphous material present Almost completely undecomposed peat which, when squeezed, releases clear or yellowish water; plant remains still easily identifiable; no amorphous material present Very slightly decomposed peat which, when squeezed, releases muddy brown water, but for which no peat passes between the fingers; plant remains still identifiable, and no amorphous material present Slightly decomposed peat which, when squeezed, releases very muddy dark water; no peat passed between the fingers but plant remains are slightly pasty and have lost some of the identifiable features Moderately decomposed peat which, when squeezed, releases very " muddy" water with also a very small amount of amorphous granular peat escaping between the fingers; structure of plant remains quite indistinct, although still possible to recognize certain features; residue strongly pasty Moderately strongly decomposed peat with very indistinct plant structure; when squeezed, about one-third of the peat escapes between the fingers; residue strongly pasty but shows plant structure more distinctly than before squeezing Strongly decomposed peat; contains a lot of amorphous material with very faintly recognizable plant structure; when squeezed, about one-half of the peat escapes between the fingers; water. if any released, very dark and almost pasty Very strongly decomposed peat with a large quantity of amorphous material and very dry indistinct plant structure; when squeezed, about two-thirds of the peat escapes between the fingers; small quantity of pasty water may be released ; plant material remaining in the hand consists of residues such as roots and fibres that resist decomposition Practically fully decomposed peat in which there is hardly any recognizable plant structure; when squeezed, almost all of the peat escapes between the fingers as a fairly uniform paste Completely decomposed peat with no discernible plant structure; when squeezed, all the wet peat escapes between the fingers major complicating factor in the reserve evaluation of a peat deposit. 10

21 Moisture content of peat deposits may vary with depth, peat type and degree of humification. Consequently, the in situ moisture content should be measured throughout the stratigraphic section. This enables a more realistic in situ peat resource calculation. Drainage of a peat deposit is accompanied by a volumetric decline, the magnitude of which is a function of specific peat type and grade of decomposition. The higher the percentage of sedge peat and degree of humification, the lower the rate of volumetric change during drainage. Volatile Matter Volatile matter, generally in the 50 to 70 percent range, and the fixed carbon content are the main peat components which affect the combustion energy. Determination of volatile matter is critical in the design of combustion and heat transfer systems, particularly in such large-scale utilization as power plants and district heating plants. Other Properties Other parameters to be considered for fuel peat quality control are the percentages of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. The principal characteristics of a good energy peat are a high degree of humification, high bulk density, relatively low ash content, low content of potential pollutants (S, Hg) and a high calorific value. Characteristics of a good horticultural peat are a low degree of humification, low bulk density, and high absorption, cation exchange capacity, pore space, permeability, compressibility and capability of resuming original structure after compression. 11

22 Methods of Study Selection of Peatland Areas Six peatlands in the Nipawin - Mistatim area (Figure 6) were ground surveyed in 1978 using an all-terrain vehicle. The peatlands were chosen, from aerial photographs, for their relatively low tree count, accessibility and proximity to towns. Of the four priority regions selected by Saskmont Engineering in their 1979 report, three were subsequently surveyed: the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region in 1979 and the Pinehouse - La Ronge region in 1980 (Figure 6). The areas studied in the two regions are within a 30 km radius of each community and lie within 16 km of the regional road network. This perimeter was considered the economic limit for transporting energy peat from a deposit to the market. Prospective peat deposits of greater than 40 ha were selected from airphotos on the basis of drainability, vegetative cover and accessibility by helicopter. The number of peatlands surveyed per day using a helicopter depended on the distance between peatlands, the size and thickness of each deposit, the number of sample locations per peatland, surface conditions, vegetative cover and weather. In the La Ronge region, 43 selected peatlands meet the transportation and resource guidelines outlined for deposits of economic potential. These peatlands were selected through airphoto interpretation and then, by helicopter reconnaissance and ground follow-up, were narrowed to three deposits when drainability, location, accessibility, landability and budgetary limits for the study were considered. Detailed surveys were performed on these three peatlands. Peatland Sampling and Classification The equipment required for a peat sampling program includes a peat sampler (Hiller type), sealable waterproof sample containers, field data sheets to record pertinent information at each station, airphotos for plotting the sample locations and vegetative distribution, and a camera. The first procedure in a reconnaissance inventory is to establish the thickn~ss of the peat deposit at its centre, avoiding any mineral subsoil islands which may be present. If the deposit meets minimum thickness requirements, entire vertical sections were continuously sampled; each 0.5 m of core was placed in a container labelled as to location and the interval sampled. The peat is described according to a modified von Post classification (Figure 7). Other descriptive elements include topography, surface water, presence or absence of permafrost, thickness of peat and subsoil type. When the sampling and description are completed, the sampler is cleaned and the site is flagged. On a helicopter survey, the deposit is circled to record the exact sample location and vegetative cover distribution on an airphoto, and is photographed. Peat is usually the of remains of a number of plant groups, rather than a single group. According to the von Post system, the peat type is classified on the basis of the recognizable features of the original plant constituents which formed the peat. The most common plants forming peat and the symbols used for them in the peat formula are: Sphagnum(S), Carex(C), Eriophorum(E), shrubs(n), wood(l) and mosses other than sphagnum. It has been customary in some European countries to mention the less significant constituents first, as is the practice for soil classification systems in general. According to this principle, a peat composed mainly of Carex but with smaller amounts of Sphagnum would be called Sphagnum-Carex peat (SC peat). This practice is followed throughout this report. The degree of humification, which is indicated by the letter 'H', is divided into ten categories as shown in Table 3. Table 4 includes additional elements of the peat formula, including moisture regime, fibre content and degree of woodiness. The Radforth cover classification system (a component of the Radforth peat classification system) is widely used in North America and Europe to categorize the basic botanical structure of the peatland surface cover. Table 5 describes this system. The peat formula determined for a particular sampling site might look something like the following: Site BL 10 ( Site No. 10 on the Baseline) Cover Fl 0-30 SC H' "2 8 3 F 0 R 2 W 0 Table 4. Von Post Moisture Rag/ma, Fibre Content and Degree of Woodiness (Korp/Jaakko and Woolnough, 1977) Moisture Regime 'B ' (scale 1 to 5) Fine Fibre Content 'F' (scale Oto 3) Coarse Fibre Content 'R' (scale Oto 3) Woodiness 'W' (scale Oto 3) B, Dry Peat B, Low moisture content BJ Moderate moisture content B, High moisture content B,Very high moisture content Fo Nil F, Low content F, Moderate content f 3 High content Ro Nil R, Low content R2 Moderate content RJ High content WoNil W, Low content W2 Moderate content WJ High content 12

23 ~ PRE.CAMBRIAN SHIELD Quill ukes I M8\vi\le,.. 1 I \ \,.. 1 \ \...,,,.,... Figure 6. Peat resource survey areas 13

24 BOG SURVEY DATA SHEET BOG NO. SURVEYOR, QA)'. MO. YB I I I SITE I N.T. S., I I I I I I I I I I I NUMBER I I I I I I I I I I I I I NUMBER I I I I I I I I I I AIR PHOTOI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I NUMBER I I I I I I I I I I UTM ZONE I I I NUMBER I I UTM EI BOG TYPE' I I I SAMPLE TYPE, I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I UTM I I I I I I NI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I COVER' I I I I I I TYPE I I I I I CHEM PHYS MIC MAC C II D D D D D I I DEPTH PEAT TYPE HUM. B F R w SNAGS in METERS s c N L E OTHER n/10 REMARKS SUBSOIL DEPTH (M) SUBSOIL TYPE PERMAFROST? SURFACE WATER REMARKS PHOTOGRAPH NO. Figure 7. Sample. bog survey data sheet 14

25 Tabla 5. Summary of Properties Designating Nina Pura Coverage Classes (from Radforth, 1952) Coverage Woodiness Type versus Stature Tex ture (class) Non-woodiness (approx. height) ( where re quired) Growth Habit Example A woody 15 ft. or over tree form spruce, larch (6m) B woody ft. young or dwarfed tree spruce, larch ( m) or bush will ow, birch c non-woody 2-5 ft. tall grass-l ike grasses ( m) D woody 2-5 ft. tall shrub or very willow, birch, ( m) dwarfed tree labrador tea E woody 0-2 ft. low shrub blueberry, laurel (0-0.6 m ) F non-woody 0-2 ft. mats, clumps or patches, sedges, (0-0.6 m) sometimes touching grasses G non-woody 0-2 ft. singly or loose orchid, (0-0.6 m) association pitcher plant H no n-woody 0-4 in. leathery to c risp mostly continuous mats li c hens (0-10 c m) non-woody 0-4 in. soft o r velvety often continuous mats, mosses (0-10 cm) sometimes in hummocks NOTE: Included in cover formula only if over 25 percent of total; listed in order of abundance Survey Techniques After selecting the Nipawin - Mistatim peatlands, tentative traverses were plotted on aerial photographs to obtain profiles along the short and long axes. These traverses were occasionally altered in the field due to changes in the vegetative cover, hydrology, access point, or other factors mostly post-dating the aerial photographs. Field stations, approximately 400 m apart, were located with the help of a rangefinder. At each station, information was recorded on the data sheets. The subsurface information was obtained by sampling with a Hiller auger. At the deepest point in each peatland, a representative sample was recovered with a piston sampler. These samples were extruded into plastic tube-bags, sealed, labelled and eventually frozen to prevent water loss and decay. Photographs of the vegetative cover, peat sample (both wet and squeezed dry) and other pertinent features were taken at most stations. Reconnaissance survey techniques for the 1979 and 1980 field seasons followed the procedure defined in the "Peatland Sampling and Classification" section. The reconnaissance data were evaluated in the field and peatlands showing economic potential were surveyed in detail. The detailed peatland surveys were performed by sampling and recording data at stations spaced 100 to 150 m apart along the long axis of the peatland. Lines were also run perpendicular to the baseline (every second station), with samples and data recorded every 100 m until the deposit perimeter was encountered. Station spacing was established by basic foot pacing and, due to the irregular surface, proved to be slightly inaccurate. The data from the detailed sampling were used in the construction of isopach maps, humification and peat type profiles, and the estimation of quality and reserves. The detailed survey technique for the 1982 season varied slightly from earlier work. Sampling procedures remained unchanged, but as a result of time and budget restraints, only one line was traversed down the long axis of each peatland, with stations located every 100 m. The pacing was more accurate than in earlier years due to the use of a hip chain (topofil). Peat classification and depth probes alternated every 100 m until persistent readings of less than 1.0 m of peat were recorded. Samples, taken at 0.5 m vertical intervals (until mineral soil was encountered) at the midpoint of each traverse line, were stored in labelled plastic tube-bags. Analyses Analyses for horticultural purposes (moisture content, organic matter, absorptive value, ph and nitrogen) and for energy peat (moisture content, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon, calorific value, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur and ph) were performed by the Saskatchewan Research Council on selected samples from the study areas, utilizing modified ASTM analytical procedures. A minor number of sites from the Buffalo Narrows area were analyzed for Ca, Mg, Na, K, so. P, total N, ammonia, Cl, As, Hg and S. 15

26 A radiocarbon date was obtained from one peat deposit in the Buffalo Narrows region in 1979 and three deposits near La Ronge in The dating was carried out by the Saskatchewan Research Council. Resource Calculations Volume and tonnage figures for the deposits surveyed in detail were obtained as follows: a) Volume(m 3 ) = average thickness(m) x area(ha) x 10 OOO(m 2 / ha) The area with less than 1.0 m of peat was assumed to have an average thickness of 0.5 m, while for the area with 1.0 m or more of peat the average thickness was based on the results of boring. b) Tonnage= average thickness of peat of 1.0 m or more x area(ha) x 1460 t(of dry matter)/ m-ha The figure 1460 t/m-ha is derived from bulk density measurements of Buffalo Narrows fuel peat. To determine tonnages at 50 percent moisture content (M.C. at which milled fuel peat is delivered for briquetting and power generation), the tonnage as calculated above is doubled. In so doing, it is assumed that moisture content and weight have a linear relationship. c) Type 3 (unknown economic potential) - not sampled; assessed strictly from airphoto interpretation; meet area, access and drainability specifications and are in the proximity to potential markets. With the deposits categorized, resource calculations in terms of area and tonnage for each study region were based on the following assumptions: 1) An average of 70 percent of peatland areas contain more than 1.0 m of peat. This figure is based on data collected from all surveyed peatlands of greater than 1.0 m in thickness. 2) The average total thickness in the areas thus delineated was calculated by averaging all of the holes with more than 1.0 m of peat. 3) Two components of the average thickness were then discounted before calculating useable tonnage: a) 35 percent of the average total thickness to account for the poorly humified, non-fuel top layer. This percentage is equivalent to the average for a poorly humified layer based on all of the detailed surveys. b) 0.5 m of the basal layer for possible mineral soil contamination in the peat. To determine tonnages at 35 percent moisture content (M.C. at which fuel peat sods are delivered for domestic heating and coke/ briquetting) the factor of 1.54 is applied to the calculated tonnage. To produce a 'useable' tonnage figure, the average thickness of the slightly humified surface layer (HI to H3) and the basal 0.5 m of peat (due to mineral soil contamination) were discounted. Peatlands of varying economic potential were classified according to selected standards: 1) thickness of 2.0 m or more; 2) area of 100 ha or more in the La Ronge region and 50 ha or more elsewhere; 3) humification of H4 or greater; 4) sedge peat type; 5) reasonable access (close to major, logging or winter roads) ; 6) good proximity to potential markets (within 100 km in the La Ronge area and 30 km elsewhere); and 7) good drainability. On this basis, the deposits were divided into the following categories: a) Type 1 (good economic potential) - sampled and found to meet all specifications. b) Type 2 (possible economic potential) - sampled and found to meet all specifications except access and proximity to markets. Even after applying the above criteria, it is possible for a peatland containing only minor fuel peat to be included in the resource estimates. Therefore, detailed site-specific surveys would be required before any development is considered. Specific resource figures were obtained: a) by multiplying the area (ha) of each bog by 160 t/ha/yr (estimated annual yield of milled peat at 50 percent M.C.) or 115 t/ha/yr (estimated annual yield of sod peat at 35 percent M.C.), depending on the type of peat material required for specific uses, to obtain the tonnage per year each deposit could supply and therefore the processes each deposit could support; b) by dividing the total tonnage in each deposit by the processes' annual requirements to obtain the production life for each process supported by that deposit; and c) by dividing the annual requirement by the annual production per hectare to obtain the minimum bog size for each process. 16

27 General Physiography and Vegetation of the Study Regions Topography and Surficial Geology The Nipawin - Mistatim study area is divided into two smaller areas, one located just north of Saskatchewan River, west of Tobin Lake and south of Cub Hills and the other at the southwestern end of the 817 m (a.s.l.) Pasquia Hills (Figure 8). The lowlands of this area are generally lower in elevation than those of the study areas to the west, and continue to decrease in elevation toward the northeast. Scarce information indicates the presence of a gently rolling, sandy till plain with associated lacustrine deposits. The majority of the area has been cleared for agriculture. The Saskatchewan River system, flowing northeast into the deltaic area around Cumberland House, forms the major drainage system of the area. All minor rivers between the Precambrian Shield edge and the Pasquia Hills eventually drain into the Saskatchewan River. Those rivers south of the Pasquia Hills flow southeast into the Red Deer River, which drains to the east. The Buffalo Narrows - Beauval and Pinehouse - La Ronge study areas lie adjacent to and south of the Precambrian Shield. The region consists of extensive lowlands and plains with surrounding uplands. A widespread occurrence of lakes and associated peatlands is characteristic of the region. Various glacial and associated deposits of Pleistocene age form a continuous mantle over the area. The upland areas (Figure 8) within and surrounding the study regions consist of the Mostoos and Grizzly Bear Hills to the west, the Wapawekka and Cub Hills to the east and the Thunder Hills in the south-central part. Minor highs extend northwest from the Thunder Hills, dividing the Beauval and Pinehouse study regions. Elevations of the uplands generally increase in an easterly direction, from 610 min the Grizzly Bear Hills and 670 m in the Mostoos Hills, through 701 m in the Thunder Hills to 732 and 762 m in the Wapewekka and Cub Hills, respectively. The majority of the upland surficial deposits consist of 3 to 15 m of sandy till with varying amounts of clay, pebbles and boulders. Topographic till features, such as fluted, ovoid and hummocky surfaces, give a strongly rolling appearance to the upland areas (Langford, 1973; Simpson, 1975). Peatlands are generally small and sparse in these regions. The intervening lowlands and plains (Figure 8), the target areas for the majority of the peatland study, contain the most extensive and numerous peatlands. The lowland elevations decrease from west to east (from 457 to 396 m) and from south to north (from 518 to 396 m) across the area. One exception is the 457 to 518 m plateau surrounding Montreal Lake. This general decrease, coupled with the corresponding upland elevation increase, results in more prominent uplands to the east. While only minor research has been completed on the physiography of the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, the Pinehouse - La Ronge study area has been covered in detail by two reports; Simpson (1975) investigated the central region around Pinehouse Lake and Langford (1973) worked in the eastern region encompassing La Ronge and Montreal Lakes. The Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region has been described as a sandy till plain cut by fluvioglacial deposits and modified by postglacial lacustrine activity (Paterson et al., 1978). A sandy till plain, exhibiting a variety of surface features and attaining a maximum thickness of 90 m, blankets the majority of the Pinehouse - La Ronge region. The till contains 10 to 30 percent boulders with an increased clay content to the south. Other deposit types occur in minor concentrations or thin veneers. Three areas reveal fluvioglacial kame and kettle[ outwash complexes of sand and gravel: east of lie-a-lacrosse, south of Besnard Lake and southwest of Cub Hills. A flat till plain with a thin lacustrine veneer surrounds and extends northwest of Montreal Lake and is present south and east of Pinehouse Lake. A narrow belt of thin outwash veneer encompasses the till plain around Montreal Lake on the west, north and east sides. Lacustrine deposits cover a majority of the till plain surrounding and extending eastward from Lac La Plonge. North of Lac La Plonge and west of Pinehouse Lake, the sandy till plain is associated with extensive esker/ esker-kame complexe~. Drumlins and ridges become dominant northeast of lie-a-la-crosse and from west and south of La Ronge to beyond Montreal Lake. Of minor interest are eolian dunes in scattered locations throughout the study area, colluvium on the slopes of the Wapawekka Hills and alluvial fans at the foot of the Thunder Hills. The study area occupies the southern portion of the Churchill River drainage basin, with the Churchill River system itself located along the northern limits of the area. The large elongate lakes probably resulted from proglacial meltwater channels, while the smaller elongate lakes are oriented due to kame/ esker and drumlin complexes. Kettle lakes are semicircular in outline. Major river systems of the area reflect the prevalence of low relief and high water tables in their intricate meander systems and flanking oxbow lakes (Simpson, 1975). Drainage patterns parallel the upland perimeters, resulting in various drainage trends across the region: a northwest trend in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, changing to northeast in the area between the Mostoos and Thunder Hills; an easterly trend in the area west of La Ronge; and a northerly trend around Montreal Lake between the Thunder and Wapawekka/ Cub Hills. Peatland areas parallel these regional trends. 17

28 1 57! 1 o_ --, 0 1 Oi..:9: :_:1 o-;a~ --~1~0::._ r:... '.1~0~6 '.1~0:.5 1'._~o:_4 1~0-=-3 --r---: 1 ~ 02 ~7 PRECAMBRIAN I SHIELD l I ~ I... -\ 53 \ i 1,--: I.Q.. J L~~- ----=~~: Kilometres Kllometres Miles Miles Study Areas, Q Pinehouse - La Range ~ Buffalo Narrows - Beauval [].. Nipawin - Mistatim Figure 8. Physiography of the peat/and region of Saskatchewan Soils Soils throughout most of the study region are classified as Gray Luvisolic (formerly termed Gray Wooded Luvisols and Gray Podzols), which are dominantly well drained with poorly drained associates (Figure 9). The soils in two 25 km wide areas, one extending from the south end of Kazan Lake to south of Dore Lake and the other extending from the east side of Lac La Plonge to Lac La Ronge with small arms north to Pinehouse Lake and south to Montreal Lake, are classified as Organic Fibrisols and Mesisols (i.e., peatlands). In addition, a 35 km wide area along the south side of the Pasquia Hills and a 25 km wide area extending west from Tobin Lake to Prince Albert 18

29 / Carswell Lake 0 Organic PRECAMBRIAN SHIELD Chernozemic 0 Podzolic Weybur ~ "'- -(> Yo r~ton I M0\ville 10)",.. 1 i \ I 1... \ \ \ 1... Figure 9. Soils of the peal/and reg ion of Saskatchewan 19

30 contain Dark Gray Chernozemic soils (Clayton et al., 1977). Luvisolic soils are generally shallow (25 to 60 cm), develop under the influence of growth and decomposition of forest vegetation in mild to cold climates and are underlain by sand or gravel. Their main characteristic is a light-coloured eluvial layer overlying illuvial textural horizons. These horizons were influenced by and developed through leaching of the soluble decomposition products of forest litter, and consequent downward movement and concentration of clays with other associated colloidal materials (Clayton et al., 1977). Chernozemic soils are humus rich and develop on calcareous glacial till or lacustrine deposits by the accumulation and decomposition of grass and forest vegetation associated with transitional grassland-forest communities. The Luvisolic soils of the study region largely developed under cyroboreal (cold to moderately cold) and humid (slight moisture deficit) climatic conditions. The Chernozemic soils in the eastern region developed under cyroboreal and subhumid (significant moisture deficit)/ humid conditions. The Organic soils in the western and central region developed under cyroboreal and aquic (saturated for moderately long periods)/ humid conditions (Clayton et al., 1977). Kupsch (1954) published soil analyses for the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval area. These illustrated that the soils are "moderately to strongly acidic... generally of light, sandy texture, and of low, natural fertility with only small percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter. The soils have a high content of potash, which is evidently derived from the decomposition of granitic rocks in the drift. In general, the soils are shallow, with the presence of a boulder or gravel layer at depths varying from 10 to 25 inches... " (Kupsch, 1954, p. 8-9). Vegetation (from Clayton et al., 1977) The majority of the study area falls within the Boreal forest region. This forest region type is dominated by conifers, mainly white and black spruce with less prominent tamarack, balsam, fir and jack pine. The less dominant deciduous trees are represented by white birch, aspen and balsam poplar (poplar is most prolific in central and southern Boreal sections). The Nipawin - Mistatim area lies within the Boreal Forest - Grassland Transition region where moisture limitations restrict forest growth but favour grass cover production. Luvisolic areas are populated by a dense growth of jackpine and black spruce with associated xero to xeromesophytic shrub and forest floor species in the well-drained uplands and jackpine, white spruce, birch and aspen poplar with associated mesophytic species in the variably drained forest sites. The poorly drained Luvisolic areas are identified by balsam poplar, balsam fir and black spruce. Chernozemic soils are covered mainly by grass, with the poorly drained areas exhibiting hydrophytic communities of grass and sedge, and aspen poplar occurring abundantly in groves at the periphery of humid microtopographic depressions. Peatland (organic soil) areas of subaquic to aquic moisture regimes are characterized by black spruce and tamarack with their associated mesohydrophytic and hydrophytic floor plants. Very poorly drained or wet organic soil sites exhibit poor growth due to excess moisture or prolonged cold or frozen conditions. Climate Climate is one of the main physical controls determining the feasibility of peat mining operations. The principal climatic factors affecting peat development, either individually or in combination, are temperature, precipitation, sunshine, wind and the length of the frost free period. Other factors, such as potential evapotranspiration and average annual water deficiency, are useful as regional climatic indicators. These factors must be subjected to a careful interpretation, in that climatic conditions of a specific area may be suitable for a peat mining operation, but day-to-day weather may hamper or even occasionally preclude the operations. Consequently, a necessary prerequisite to any peatland development is a detailed analysis of local climate and weather over the production period being considered. This develops fundamental input for determining size of operation, selection of mining methods, equipment and, possibly, peat products. Detailed information relating climate to peat production rates is currently unavailable. Studies have been suggested in order to develop an index based on climate and other factors to determine the suitability of a particular area for producing peat. The climate of central Saskatchewan is essentially continental, with long cold winters and short warm summers that are interrupted by frequent cool periods. The absence of major relief forms or large bodies of water establishes the relative latitude as the principal factor influencing local cl imate. The following detailed climatic data, obtained from Environment Canada, are for Buffalo Narrows and La Ronge, the only two recording stations in the study region. Data for intermediate areas is interpolated from these two stations. The information described is for the 20

31 prospective May to September (inclusive) production season. Temperature: The mean daily temperatures for the period May to September are 12.6 C for La Ronge C for Buffalo Narrows and 12.7 C for the region. The mean daily maximum of 18.4 C for the region is favourable for the field drying of peat. These temperatures are comparable to those found in peatproducing areas of New Brunswick and Finland. Precipitation: Mean precipitation is 337 mm for La Ronge and 286 mm for Buffalo Narrows. while the regional average is 310 mm. La Ronge, which receives half of its precipitation in June/ July, and Buffalo Narrows, which receives half in July/ August, have essentially symmetrical precipitation curves for the May to September periods. The average curve for the region peaks in July. These recorded precipitation values are comparable to or lower than other peatproducing areas in Ontario, New Brunswick and Finland. Sunshine: The mean value of 1250 hours of sunshine for the study region during the production period is well above the 1000 hour minimum determined by Saskmont Engineering (Saskatchewan Mineral Resources, 1981) as necessary for favourable production conditions. While direct sunshine is not necessary for the successful field drying of peat, it is one of the most important factors affecting the rate of evaporation and therefore a good indicator of solar drying conditions. The Saskatchewan average in the peatland region is higher than those of the peatproducing areas of Ontario, New Brunswick and Finland. Production should therefore be possible. Wind: The winds in the Buffalo Narrows area average 11.6 km/ hr over the May to September period with 1.5 percent calm days, whereas La Ronge winds average 11.0 km/ he with 10.4 percent calm days. The mean for the study region is 11.3 km/ hr winds with 6 percent calm days. The influence of wind velocity on the rate of evaporation from surface layers of peat has not been quantitatively measured; however, a steady wind will have the greatest effect on the evaporation rate. That is, peat regions with fewer calm days will not necessarily exhibit more production days, but they will have a higher evaporation rate and therefore a higher rate of production per hectare. Frost-Free Days: The duration of the frost-free period is an indication of the length of the peat production season, provided other climatic parameters are favourable. Usually, anywhere from two to four weeks of bog drainage are required following the last spring frost before peat production can begin, while production terminates with the first fall frost. The frostfree period is therefore the first constraint in calculating bog production days. In the study region, the mean production season will be 12 to 14 weeks, commencing in early June and ending in early September. These figures are comparable to the peat producing areas of Ontario and New Brunswick and meet the standards indicated by Saskmont Engineering (Saskatchewan Mineral Resources, 1981) for the required length of a production season. The study region has a widely varying frost-free period over a 12-year observation period. The mean shortest production period is 6 to 8 weeks and the mean longest production period is 16 to 18 weeks. Central Saskatchewan lies between the -2 C and 4 C mean annual isotherms and is therefore on the southern fringe of the discontinuous permafrost zone. Permafrost occurs in scattered patches varying in extent from less than three square metres to several hectares. The thickness of these patches is usually less than a half metre (near La Loche). The occurrence of permafrost will therefore have to be considered in selecting an area of production. The climatic characteristics of the study region indicate that a peat mining operation with an annual 12 to 14 week duration appears feasible. Production feasibility in the Nipawin - Mistatim area has already been proven with the success of the Carrot River Peat Moss facility over the past 18 years. However, a local weather survey should be completed on any area selected for potential use. 21

32 Field and Analytical Results of the Reconnaissance Studies Nipawin - Mistatim Region The Nipawin - Mistatim study region (Figure 10) encompasses a total area of 3800 km 2, divided into 2500 km 2 west of Nipawin (Twp. 50 to 53, Rge. 15 to 20W2) and 1300 km 2 in the Mistatim area (Twp. 44 and 45, Rge. 5 to 11W2). A modest field program in the region in 1978 represented the initial step by the provincial government in assessing the economic potential of the vast peatlands south of the permafrost region. The selection of peatlands for examination was based on their accessibility and proximity to the commercial moss peat operation at Carrot River. shaped with a 64 ha pond in the centre. Accessibility is good, as the bog lies adjacent to and south of Highway 3. The bog has an area of 385 ha (Figure 11a). a maximum thickness of 3.5 m (Figure 11 b) and an average thickness of 2.6 mover the seven stations sampled. It is underlain by a grey gumbo clay. The majority of the deposit is characterized by ABE and BEi cover with minor areas of El and EFI (Plate 1 ). The western third of the bog is dominated by DFI with small patches of Fl and FEI. Sphagnum mounds are present and EFI ridges appear in the Fl areas. The water level is at or above the surface in the open areas. The six peatlands selected for semidetailed study in 1978 (Figure 10) are accessible by all-terrain vehicle and have minimal tree cover. A total of 102 samples were recovered, six of which were selected for analysis. Analytical determinations included moisture content, ash content, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content, absorptive value, ph, specific density and calorific value. Later findings indicated that bulk density is a more practical parameter than specific density for resource calculations. Peat type, excluding the live surficial sphagnum layer, is generally sedge and varies little with depth at any one site but changes with vegetation cover (i.e., fine fibrous and slightly woody in the A and B areas, coarse fibrous and nonwoody in the D areas and fine fibrous in the F localities). Humification throughout the bog ranges from H3 near the surface to HS and H6 at depth (Figure 11 b). Table 6 gives the analytical results from sample sites 2 and 5. Greenbush Bog The Greenbush bog (Sec. 34 and 35, Twp. 44, Rge. 5W2 and Sec. 2 and 3, Twp. 45, Rge. 5W2) is oval Drainability determinations are difficult without surface elevation measurements. However, from airphoto interpretation, the bog appears to drain to the southwest into the Greenbush River. Kilometres Miles Kilometres Miles Figure 10. Peat/ands examined in the Nipawin - Mistatim region 22

33 a) Greenbush (385 hectares) _J L km b) i;n1~w i? Legend ~ 6 4 3E S - Sphagnum C-Sedge LC - Woody Sedge km 1.0 c) N 4 5 s ~~ H3 rj) Q)... H4 -a; E 3 Legend H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) I 127 H3 = H4 =4 H5 = 5-10 rj) ~ -a; E km E 1.0 Figure 11. Greenbush bog: a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles 23

34 Table 6. Peat Analyses from the Nlpawln - Mlstatlm Region Parameter Greenbush Bog Mis tatim Bog Garrick Peat/and Choice/and Fen Range Mean Range No. of Samples Mean Range Mean Range Mean 7 3 Moisture Content(%) Ash(% dry matter) Absorptive Value Carbon(%) Hydrogen (%) Nitrogen (%) Calorific Value (kcal/ kg) The total volume of the Greenbush bog is 7.58 million m 3, of which an estimated 7.0 million m 3 occurs in an area where the peat is 1.0 m or more in thickness. The estimated tonnage figures for the same area are 1.02 million t (dry matter), 2.04 million t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 0.94 million 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Bannock Peatland The Bannock peatland (Sec. 4, 5, 8 and 9, Twp. 45., Age. 8W2) covers approximately 580 ha, is roughly circular in shape and includes a small pond at its northern edge (Figure 12a). A logging road extending north from Highway 3 bisects the bog and affords excellent accessibility. Peat thickness. ranging up to 1.2 m, averages 0.35 m throughout the deposit (Figure 12b). Grey clay underlies the peatland. The majority of 13 stations were located on the logging trail (Figure 12a) due to the heavy A, Band D cover over 90 percent of the area (Plate 2). The only grassy locality is south of the pond where the thickest peat profile was encountered. The peat type is a fine to coarse fibrous, slightly woody sedge peat overlain by a thin mat of live sphagnum moss (Figure 12b). The degree of humification is H2 to H3 (Figure 12c). Analyses and resource calculations were not undertaken for Bannock due to its shallowness. Mlstatlm Bog The Mistatim bog (W V2, Twp. 44, Age. 10W2; Twp. 44, Age. 11W2; SWV. Twp. 45, Age. 10W2; SY2, Twp. 45, Age. 11W2), located southwest of the town of Mistatim, is easily accessible as it is bounded on the north by Highway 3 and on the east and west by grid roads. Its oval shape covers approximately ha and exhibits excessive ponding with in the central area. Two traverses were completed, across the southeastern and northeastern sections, with 19 and 18 sampling stations respectively (Figure 13). The southeastern area, averaging 0.9 m in thickness with 1.5 m maxima, is shallower than the northeastern area, which averages 1.4 m with 2.0 m maxima (Figure 14). The majority of stations in the northeast area exhibit thicknesses over 1.0 m, whereas only the five northernmost stations in the southeast area reveal more than 1.0 m of peat. The mineral subsoil is grey clay. Most of the vegetation in the southeast is Fl with abundant microtopographic DFI/DEF ridges. EFI mounds and ADF/ABD islands (Plate 3). Class D cover gradually takes over northward to give a DFI cover with ADF/ADI islands. Surficial water is present in the southeast but gradually disappears northward. A thin surficial layer of sphagnum moss is present throughout the study area. The underlying, slightly humified (H4 to HS), fine to slightly coarse fibrous sedge peat exhibits minimal change over area or depth (Figure 14). The coarse fibres become more evident in A, Band D areas. Table 6 gives the analytical results for samples extracted from sites 8(SE) and 6(NE). Drainage of the deposit could prove difficult, as a number of creeks in the northeast and west drain into the bog, while only one, Horsehide Creek on the southeast, drains out of the bog. The excessive ponding in the central region would severely hamper drainage. The total volume of Mistatim bog is estimated to be million m3, of which million m 3 occur in the area where the peat is 1.0 m or more in thickness. The estimated tonnage figures for the same area are 33.3 million t (dry matter), 66.6 million t (at 50 percent M. C.) and 21.8 million 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). These figures were obtained by extrapolating the 24

35 a) Bannock (580 hectares) N cj;:==:<] r 7 w 6/ t 2/ \-._ \.4 " 5 s E _J L km b) jo3j~ t Legend S LC - Woody Sedge km. c) 1:3~~ t Legend S E H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = f-3 H4 = 4 H5 = km Figure 12. Bannock peal/and: a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles 25

36 _J L 11 Mistatim ( hectares) 14a Mistatim NE. NE 12 1 ; 9a. /11 5 4/ 02 10a, - - E 13a w - - / 3 12a a/6 9 11a /10 7 sw e (Jj 2.0 I 0 I km \ :,., 2.0 I \,. '... SE NE a 10 5.a 8 5 6_..- - NE NW central {a 3a?a 4 " 3 2a ' '. 2 Ba \.1 ' 1a\ se.,..., 0 Mistatim SE km Figure 13. Sample locations, Mistatim bog average thickness, for the study area, over the whole deposit. Snowden Peatland The Snowden peatland (Sec. 25 and 36, Twp. 52, Age. 19W2; Sec. 1, 12 and 13, Twp. 53, Age. 19W2) covers approximately 160 ha just north of the town of Snowden (Figure 15a). The southern portion is being converted to farmland. Access is provided by a grid road along the western margin of the bog. Peat thickness averages 1.0 m, with a maximum of 1.9 m in the northern end (Figure 15b). The vegetative cover is essentially FEI mounds with minor D class on the ridge areas. The seven peat samples taken revealed a fine fibrous, slightly humified (H3) sedge peat overlying light brown sandy clay. A 0.1 m thick basal layer of highly humified black peat was observed at a few sites. Analyses and resource calculations were not completed for the Snowden deposit because of its shallowness. Garrick Peatland At the Garrick peatland (Sec. 2, 3, 4, 11 and 12, Twp. 51, Age. 17W2), 23 stations were sampled on two traverses of a string fen. The 160 ha deposit is divided equally between western and eastern lobes (Figure 16). Access is provided by a farming road along the northern perimeter. The eastern lobe, averaging 1.9 m in thickness with a maximum of 2.5 m, is consistently thicker than the western one, which averages 1.5 m with a 2.4 m maximum (Figure 17). The vegetative cover consists of mounded FEI flashets and minor DFI strings in the western lobe (Plate 4) and FEI flashets with abundant A-, 8- and D-covered strings in the more mature eastern lobe. Surficial water is present in the flashets. The uppermost 0.5 m is H2 to 3 sphagnum peat; the remainder of the deposit is a fine fibrous, slightly humified (H4 to H5) sedge peat overlying 0.1 to 0.2 m of fine fibrous/granular, highly humified (H8) peat. The lower peat grades into a grey silty clay subsoil. The eastern lobe of the deposit does not possess the highly humified layer throughout, and the upper sedge reveals an increase in coarse fibres (a result of more prolific A, Band D class cover). Analyses for the Garrick peatland are listed in Table 6. Drainage in the area is possible but difficult, due to the minimal local gradient. Drainage would occur to the east where a small creek empties northward into the Whitefox River. 26

37 Mistatim Northeast Mistatim Southeast a) w E ;tt 12a 10a "' I c ~ ICLV ai E NW central f Legend ~ 1 I I ] c v= C - Sedge NE NE SE SW NE :l1=-c "' ~ ai E ~y NW central ~ 2 3 c I~ 4 3 2a 2 1 1a I c I I I I :==r::::----= km. SE b) w E 12a 10a a 1JI I H4 NW central 4a H4 I! ~ ~ ~ 2 t 3 Legend H - Von Post System (Humification 1-1 0) H3-1-3 H4 ~ 4 HS = 5-10 ICLV 9 ]7 NE NE SE SW w-=-cl NE "' H4 I~ ~ ai E NW central 4 w "' ~ ai E 3 2a 2 1 1a I I H4 I I 1=.==r::= km. SE Figure 14. Mistatim bog: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles Volume estimates for the deposit are 2.25 million m 3 total, with 2.0 million m 3 in the area underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. Tonnage estimates are t (dry matter), t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Cholceland Fen The Choiceland string fen (Sec. 6 and 7, Twp. 51, Rge. 17W2; Sec. 1, 2, 11 and 12, Twp. 51, Rge. 18W2) lies 3 km west of the Garrick peatland and covers 288 ha. The area, accessible by Highway 6 along the east end, was sampled at 15 stations (Figure 18a). The average thickness is 1.3 m, with a 2.7 m maximum (Figure 18b). Of the areas surveyed in the Nipawin - Mistatim region, this deposit had the greatest thickness of peat. The surface is characterized by mounded FEI with minor D in the flashets and A, Band/ or D strings interfingered throughout (Plate 5). The central area has surficial water in the flashets, but this decreases outward to a dry periphery. The top 1.0 to 1.5 m of peat is high in sphagnum content (Figure 18b) and has a humification of H2 to H3 (Figure 18c). The lower peat is a fine fibrous sedge, with minor coarse fibres appearing in the 0-covered perimeter area, and a moderate humification of H4 to H5. The basal 0.05 m, present in the thickest sections, has a high humification (HS) and a granular to fine fibrous texture. The mineral subsoil is brown silty clay. Analyses are listed in Table 6. Drainability of this fen is questionable, as three or four creeks drain into the deposit but the local gradient is not sufficient for any obvious drainage outlet. Volume estimates are 3.25 million m 3, with 2.8 million m 3 in the area underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. The same area contains t (dry matter), t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Analytical Trends While individual analytical data vary from peatland to peatland (Table 6), the general analytical trends, with 27

38 a) Snowden ( 1 60 hectares) s Figure 15. Snowden peat/and: a) sample locations; b) peat type profile; c) humification profile km b) N s : 3 ~~--'-i----~l~~~c-r:})7 Legend C-Sedge c) N s i : 3, ~ ---'-1-- J Legend ---.!..:H:::'...3_cv H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 =4 HS= 5-10 km km depth, are similar for the six deposits. Except for the surficial layer, the deposits studied are composed of sedge peat and the analytical trends behave accordingly. Moisture content and absorptive value, initially high near the surface where sphagnum content reaches its peak, decrease with depth as sedge peat and degree of humification increase. Conversely, the ash content and calorific value increase with depth. The C:N ratios, generally less than 20:1, are indicative of a sedge-type peat. Buffalo Narrows - Beauval Region The Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region is located at the western end of the peatland belt (Figure 6) and covers km 2 (1.1 million ha). Over 290 peatlands were sampled during the summer of 1979, encompassing approximately ha (Figure 19, back pocket). A small number were rechecked to verify continuity of thickness and humification throughout the deposit. Many were not sampled due to their small size or to Garrick (160 hectares) _J L,, km Figure 16. Sample locations, Garrick peat/and 28

39 restrictions caused by surface water, vegetative cover and permafrost. Of the 290 peatlands sampled, 150 were selected for analysis (89 for moss peat and 61 for fuel peat). Detailed surveys were completed on peatlands BF-63, BF-91 /92, BF-166 and BF-31. The latter two were selected as alternatives for a fuel peat demonstration project. Peatland BF-31 was eventually chosen for such a project. Of 13 samples collected from peatland BF-63, ten were analyzed for Ca, Mg, Na, K, so. P, total N, ammonia, Cl and Hg. Several other peatlands were also tested for Hg, as native mercury has been reported in the area. The peatlands of the region are either equidimensional or elongate in outline, a result of paludification of ponds/lakes or ancient drainage networks, respectively. The equidimensional and small elongate peatlands tend to be confined bogs, whereas large a) N s (/) ~ a> E WEST LOBE I ~ W E 1:~ N 8 S EAST LOBE 3 Legend S - Sphagnum C -Sedge SC - Sphagnum Sedge km b) N WEST W E (/) ~ a> E LOBE N S i:~ 3 Legend EAST LOBE :r~ W -, E I H3f;::1 I~ E HS HS 3 H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 =4 H5 = km Figure 17. Garrick peat/and: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles 29

40 a) Choiceland (288 hectares)...il "l r km b) N S W E ~:~ 3 t Legend S - Sphagnum C - Sedge SC - Sphagnum Sedge km c) N S i~[~ E : Legend H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 =4 H5 = km Figure 18. Choice/and fen: a) sample locations; b) peat type profiles; c) humification profiles 30

41 fens occupy the widespread drainage systems or old lacustrine plains (Plates 6 and 7). As peatland size depends on the dimensions of the paludified area, the fens of the Beauval area are much larger (600 percent) and more abundant than those around Buffalo Narrows due to the extensive ancient drainage systems dominant throughout the Beauval area. Peatland size remains relatively constant throughout the region, ranging up to 1750 ha in the Buffalo Narrows area with a gradual increase to 3720 ha around Beauval. The average sizes for the two areas are 80 and 304 ha, respectively. Surface vegetation and microtopography indicate a wide variety of peatlands in all stages of development. The bogs of the Buffalo Narrows area are characterized by E-class cover on mounds of orange sphagnum a metre in diameter (Plate 8), with minor scattered A and Band a narrow, wet Fl perimeter (Plate 9). The fens of the same area exhibit Fl or FEI cover with scattered D-class. Mounds or ridges are common where E appears on the fens. The peatlands of the Beauval area exhibit similar surface cover. although an increase in A, Band D (trees and tall bushes) cover is apparent. Other surface features include strings of A, B, D and/or E with wet Fl or FEI flashets (Plate 10), water-filled traps in the D-cover areas, tree-covered 'tear drop' islands indicating direction of water movement (Plate 11) and round bog plateaus occurring as islands in flooded fens (Plate 10), as well as many other singular features. The string peatlands range from string fens (Plate 10) to string bogs (Plate 11 ). Two additional features noted in the region were surficial water and permafrost. The presence of surficial water up to 0.5 m deep was common on fen peatlands throughout the region but not so on bogs. This condition is attributed to peatland type, location, poor drainage and lack of highly moisture absorbent sphagnum in the fens. The majority of the permafrost encounters (up to 20 cm thick) were recorded in bogs of the Buffalo Narrows area, a situation attributed to a thick, insulating sphagnum cover, early June sampling and relatively low isotherm values in the region. Peat thickness ranges up to 5.0 m across the region. The mean thickness is 1.5 m around Buffalo Narrows, increasing to 2.0 m in the Beauval area. This increase reflects the difference in bog size between the two areas and the percentage of peatlands with more than 1.0 m of peat, 71 percent in the Buffalo Narrows area and 94 percent in the Beauval area. There appears to be no significant thickness difference between fens and bogs. The dominant peat type, excluding the live surficial mosses, is sedge, even in the sphagnum-covered bogs. Specific types include sedge-sphagnum (CS), sphagnum-sedge (SC), sedge (C), woody sedge (LC) and woody sphagnum-sedge (LSC), with an obvious decrease in sphagnum in favour of sedge and an increase in wood from Buffalo Narrows to Beauval; this is a result of increased tree/bush cover and fen peatlands. Also present in minor amounts are woody sedge-sphagnum peat, seeds, Bryales mosses and Equisetum. The degree of humification of bog and fen peats ranges from H1 to H9, with a mean of H4 to H5 throughout the area. A slight increase in the percentage of peatlands exhibiting a humification of H4 or greater is evident from Buffalo Narrows to Beau val. The majority of the peatlands are underlain by sand, with clay and gravel occurring in minor and equivalent proportions. Subsoil does not appear to affect peatland type; however, fens are most commonly underlain by clay and gravel. Overall, there appear to be no significant differences in the analytical findings for Buffalo Narrows and Beauval peat deposits (Table 7). Fuel analyses fall within the limits exhibited by good European fuel peats (Table 8), a minor exception being low calorific values related to high ash content or low humification. The mercury and sulphur content of the peats proved insignificant. The minor sphagnum content and an absorptive value considerably lower than the high quality moss peats of eastern Canada suggest poor moss peat prospects for the region. Fen peats of the region are slightly higher in moisture, ash, nitrogen Table 7. Comparison of Peats from the Buffalo Narrows and Beaunl Areas Parameter Buffalo Narrows Beauval Range Mean Range Mean Bog Area (ha) Humification Woody Content(%)' 5 12 Permafrost(%)' Surface Water (m) Moisture Content (% wet wt.) Organic Matter (% dry matter) Ash Content (% dry matter) Absorptive Value Volatile Content (% dry matter) , BTU/ lb. (dry) Sulphur(%) Mercury (ppt) Nitrogen (%) ' Percentages shown represent the proportion of the total number of bogs sampled. 31

42 and calorific value, and slightly lower in organic and volatile matter compared to bog peats. Preliminary field and analytical data indicate a potentially large number of fuel peatlands within the region. The economic and resource potential of the region are discussed in the concluding chapter. the deposit is 2.0 million m 3, with 1.85 million m 3 in the area underlain by more than 1.0 m of peat. Tonnage estimates for the same 74 ha area are t (dry ' ' 56 15''-l---.--=,,.----t j-56 15' Peatland BF-63 Peatland BF-63 is located 22 km southeast of Buffalo Narrows, 7 km west of Highway 155 and 7 km south of the Dillon road (Figure 20). The roads provide the 55 45'--f"'<--7"'; +-~--t-tr-'t""~ 55 45' nearest access to the deposit. The peatland is square to rectangular in shape and covers approximately 100 ha, 74 ha of which are underlain by more than 1.0 m of peat. A total of 20 sample sites, one of them hand-dug to extract bulk samples (Plate 12), were located on three survey lines, one north-south and two east-west. The average thickness of the peatland is w 1s -----J' ''-----f------~~-'-t m, with a 2.5 m mean in the area with greater than ' 1.0 m of peat (Figure 21 ). The subsoil is sand with minor occurrences of gravel. km Eutrophic Fl fen vegetation occurs in a wet narrow perimeter on the west and east, which increases in width to the south and southeast. A densely treed (A class) border is present on the northern perimeter, with partial extensions southward on the east side. The BEi vegetative cover of the central region characterizes an oligotrophic bog: a thick, dry, orange spahgnum mat with small bushes and scattered, healthy coniferous trees (Figure 20, Plate 12). Permafrost was encountered throughout the bog area. Peatland BF-63 (100 hectares) The surface layer (H1 to H3) of peat, primarily sphagnum overlying minor sedge in the southern area, varies in thickness from 0.4 to 2.0 m, averages 1.3 m and constitutes 57 percent of the deposit. The surficial layer, thickest in the central and southern bog areas, generally thins in the fen area. The majority of the basal peat (H4 or greater), averaging 1.2 m in thickness, is sphagnum-sedge; the northern area exhibits a thick sedge-sphagnum basal layer (Figure 21 ). The mean humification, low because of the thick, poorly humified sphagnum layer, is H3.9, although values range up to H9. All of the peat with a humification of H4 or greater can be classed fuel peat (Figure 21 b). Analyses (Table 8) indicate good fuel qualities; however, the thick sphagnum layer makes BF-63 more promising for moss peat than fuel peat. A radiocarbon age of 6165 ± 120 years was obtained for the base of this peatland. Drainability appears good toward the south or west into adjacent peatlands and eventually westward into the Kazan River. Inlets into the peatland on the north would have to be diverted. The total volume of peat in Legend metres 15 - Peat moss cover thickness (decimetres) 15/ Total peat th ickness (metres) Figure 20. Sample locations and peat thickness, peat/and BF-63 32

43

44

45 109' 30' 108' 30' 107' 30' northwest-southeast and covers 210 ha, of which 56' 15'-+---,-,-=-----j i- 56' 15' 145 ha contain more than 1.0 m of peat. The four sample sites spaced evenly down the long axis reveal a common thickness of 2.0 m. The subsoil is sand. The distribution of vegetation in this fen shows a wide DFI perimeter with a central area of Fl in the northern quarter and mounded EFl(D) in the southern area. 55' 45' Dead B class, scattered throughout, increases in concentration southward (Figure 24). Surficial water occurs throughout the entire fen but is most abundant in the flat DH perimeters and toward the southern end; minor amounts of water are found between mounds in the central area. 55' 15' ~ , ~~-'-t-55' 15' The sparse sample sites reveal a surficial layer (H1 to H3) of sphagnum-sedge averaging 0.6 m thick. The 25 o 25 basal layer, with a humification of H4 or greater, consists of sedge with minor sphagnum, wood and km shrubs, and averages 1.4 m in thickness. The mean humification of the fen is H4.7, with a mean of H6.3 for the fuel peat. The analytical data (Table 10) reveal excellent fuer peaf qualities. Drainage of BF-166 appears to be in a southerly direction at a slow rate. 1 r The volume of the ten is 3.23 million m 3, of which 2.9 million m 3 are in the area underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. Tonnage estimates are t (dry matter), t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Peatland BF-91 /92 (65 hectares) metres 200 Peatland BF-31 Peatland BF-31 (Plate 13), selected as the fuel peat demonstration site, is situated 10 km southeast of Buffalo Narrows, immediately east of Highway 155 at the Dillon road junction. The northwest corner touches the highway and the remainder of tne western edge lies within 200 m of the road, making accessibility excellent (Figure 25 ). The deposit, roughly equidimensional, extends over 40' ha, of which 2S ha are underlain by more than 1.0 m of peat. The initial survey consisted of two traverses and nine sample sites. Subsequent surveys for surface elevations traversed six north-south lines and resulted in 80 additional depth probes. The peat thickness averages 1.4 m and reaches a maximum of 2.3 m; a mean of 1.7 m was calculated for the defined 28 ha area (Figure 25). The subsoil is consistently sand and boulders. Legend 15/ = Peatmoss cover thickness (decimetres) 2.5 = Total peat thickness (metres) Figure 22. Sample locations and peat thickness, peat/and BF-91 /92 s The vegetation cover indicates an ombrotrophic bog with minor fen areas. A mounded, thick, orange sphagnum mat is the base for the small bushes and trees (BEi) dominant in the bog area. Larger trees (A class) are common in the southeast. Minor surface water occurs between the mounds. The south, west and north perimeters, as well as a large area on the 35

46 a) U) ~ ai E I N BF -91 E BF D -92 c B A s SC N R s s underlying material of bog BF 9 1 / 92 va ries between clay, sand, silt, and gravel w, E, D H Legend W2 E2 BM L iffw 4 W3 QPO N i\~w E3 S - SC - Sphagnum Sphagnum Sedge metres 200 b) N BF -91 E BF D-92 C B A N R s s underl ying materi al of bog BF 9 1 /92 vari es between c lay, sand, silt, and gravel ~~i!:. 2 Q) E 3 4 w, E, D H Legend W2 E2 BM L ft~ rjl ~ ai E w3 QPO N ~t~ 2 H4 3 H5 4 E3 H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 =4 H5 = metres 200 Figure 23. Peal/and BF-91 /92: a) pea t type profiles; b) humifica tion profiles 36

47 Table 9. Analytlcal Results, Peat/and BF Sample Sample Moisture Location Interval Peat Humification Content (see Fig. 22) {m) Type (van Post scale) (%) A s SC c c s cs SC E s cs SC H s SC SC J s SC SC M s SC c N s SC SC s SC SC R cs SC s cs SC Organics Ash Volatiles Calorific s (% dry (% dry (% dry Value (% dry matter) matter ) matter) (% dry matter) matter) north side, are grassy ponded fens with sedge cover (FEI). The surficial peat (H1 to H3) is a sphagnum mat up to 0.7 m thick and averaging 0.5 m. The remainder of the peat profile is sphagnum-sedge peat of H4 or more, averaging 1.2 min thickness (Figure 26a, Plate 14). The mean humification for the deposit is H4.9, with values ranging up to H8 (Figure 26b). The analytical data (Table 10) confirm the fuel peat properties observed in the field. Airphoto and topographic interpretations indicate that peatland BF-31 is located on a local height of land with a slope toward the north and northeast and a considerable drop to the adjacent peatlands. Drainage is towards McBeth Channel in the east and Churchill Lake to the northeast. Drainage to the surrounding terrain is therefore good, provided a carefully planned drainage system is installed. The volume of BF-31 is m3, of which m 3 is in the area underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. Tonnages are t (dry matter), t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Pinehouse - La Ronge Region The Pinehouse - La Ronge region was surveyed during the two-month summer field season of The region (Figure 6), situated in the centre of the defined peatland belt and to the east of the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, covers approximately km 2 (1.5 million ha). 37

48 109 30' 1 os ' 56 15'---i---r'S:=-:-----t t ' os ' 56 15'---i =~----t t-56 15' 55 45' 55 45' 55 15' ~--t------~- --> ' ' 1 os km '--l ~ = ' 1os km --> ' ' + r Jr E E.x:.x: CXJ l() c.2 0 UJ?: ~ ~ z 0 ~ :::, CD ~ Peatland BF-1 66 (210 hectares) 1.0 III FI OoF1 D EFl(D) 0.5 Figure 24. Sample locations and cover vegetation types, pea t/and BF-166 km 0 l() l() BF-31 (40 hectares) 100 I Legend 0 I metres 100 I peat isopachs in metres 15/ = Peatmoss cover thickness (decimetres) 2.5 = Total peat thickness (metres) Figure 25. Sample locations and isopachs, peat/and BF-31 38

49 Table 10. Analytlcal Reau/ta, Peal/and BF-166 and BF-31 Sample Locations (see Figs. 24 & 25) Humili- Bulk Sample cation Moisture Organics Ash Density Volatiles. Calorilic s Interval Peat (van Post Content (% dry (% dry (kg/ m (% dry Value ( "lo dry {m) Type ph scale) {%) matter) matter) 50% M.C.) matter) kca l/kg) matter) Hg {ppm} NC LSC SC SC SC c ' SC a) B datum!highway 1eve1l I B, I~~~ A A, I~~~ Legend S - Sphagnum C - Sedge SC - Sphagnum Sedge metresi b) B datum (highway level) <fl Q).:, Q) E 2 A datum (highway level) ol~-~-~==--==--==-==-==~ =--=="--=:...:::...= 3 HS H3 H4 A, Legend H = Von Post System (Huniification i-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 =4 HS= metres Figure 26. Peat/and BF-31 : a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles 39

50 A total of 151 peatlands were sampled in 1980 with helicopter assistance, 73 in the Pinehouse area and 78 in the La Ronge area (Figure 27, back pocket). Although the ha of peatland area in the region is considerably greater than that in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, the dense tree cover precluded the sampling of a large proportion of the deposits. The following three deposits warranted additional sampling to confirm possible fuel peat potential: 1) LR-6, located 48 km west-northwest of La Ronge and just south of Besnard Lake; 2) LR- 59/60/61, located beside Highway 2, 56 km southsouthwest of La Ronge and 16 km north of Montreal Lake; and 3) LR-78, situated immediately south of Twoforks River, 56 km southwest of La Ronge and 10 km northwest of Highway 2. The three were eventually deemed unsuitable as fuel peat deposits, LR-6 because of transport distance to market, LR- 59/60/61 due to a significant surficial sphagnum layer and LR-78 because of poor accessibility and high sphagnum content. A total of 46 samples were analyzed for fuel peat characteristics, 23 from the Pinehouse area representing 21 peatlands and 23 from the La Ronge area representing 18 peatlands. During the summer of 1982, Saskatchewan Energy and Mines with contractual assistance from Saskmont Engineering studied 4:~ peatlands within 100 km of La Ronge for their fuel peat potential. Considering drainability, location, accessibility, tree cover and time available for the study, these were narrowed by helicopter reconnaissance and ground follow-up to three deposits upon whi ch semidetailed surveys and sampling were carried out (Figure 28). 1oe 0 oa 104~00' ss 30'-j f<'""7"7lr~--~--;;,--:::----t ss 30' The Pinehouse - La Ronge peatlands are equidimensional or elongate in shape, analogous to the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region. The majority of the small, equidimensional deposits are bogs, while the large elongate deposits are fens or string peatlands. The northern sections of both the Pinehouse and La Ronge areas are dominated by small bogs, similar to those in the Buffalo Narrows area. Southward, toward the lowlands surrounding the Thunder, Wapawekka and Cub Hills, fen domination increases, as does individual peatland size. Generally, bogs dominate the Pinehouse area and fens/ string peatlands prevail in the La Ronge area. Peatlands studied in the region range in size from a 3000 ha maximum around Pinehouse to a 7970 ha maximum in the La Ronge area. Average fen and bog sizes are the same within each area. However, mean peatland size increases from 240 ha in the Pinehouse area to 585 ha in the La Ronge area. The percentages of peatlands less than 100 ha and greater than 250 ha, respectively, in the study regions are as follows: Buffalo Narrows, 90 and 2 percent; Pinehouse, 58 and 18 percent; Beauval, 42 and 29 percent; and La Ronge, 36 and 50 percent. The surface vegetation and microtopography reflect a variety of developmental stages in the peatlands. Pinehouse bogs are characterized by a mounded BEi cover with frequent A class and minor Fl perimeters (Plate 15). Fens of the area exhibit Fl or DFI cover with A and/ or B class and occasional bog areas of mounded sphagnum mat (El). The La Ronge peatlands resemble those of Pinehouse except for the predominance of A class cover in most deposits (Plate 16). The vegetation cover corresponds to that seen in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval area except for the more abundant and dense tree cover in the Pinehouse - La Ronge region. Various stages of string peatlands (fen or bog) are common, predominantly in the La Ronge area, with A and/ or B ridges and mounded Fl or EFI flashets ''-t-~-., ' e Figure 28. Peat/ands selected for detailed study in the La Range - Montreal Lake area Permafrost, present in the majority of the Pinehouse bogs and many of the fens, is minimal in the La Ronge area. The variation in distribution, similar to the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, is a result of differences in bog abundance, sampling season (July in Pinehouse, August in La Ronge) and mean temperatures in the areas. Surface water is present in 50 percent of the Pinehouse peatlands and 75 percent of the La Ronge peatlands, a regional increase due to the high runoff from the numerous proximal uplands. This abundant runoff favours fen/ string fen development. The mean depth of surficial water was 0.1 m for Pinehouse and 0.4 m for La Ronge, with maxima of 0.4 m and 0.75 m respectively. Surficial water comparisons between the two study regions are difficult as levels depend on the yearly climatic conditions. 40

51 Peat thickness maxima of 5.0 m and means of 1.6 m (similar to the Buffalo Narrows area) are common for the Pinehouse and La Ronge areas. These figures are reflected in the percentage of deposits containing more than 1.0 m of peat: 71 percent for Buffalo Narrows, 76 percent for Pinehouse and 70 percent for La Ronge, as opposed to 94 percent and a 2.0 m mean depth for the Beauval area. A 2.0 m average, equivalent to that in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, has been calculated for those peatlands containing more than 1.0 m of peat. Peat types show little variation from those in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region. Sedge-sphagnum (CS), sphagnum-sedge (SC), sedge (C), woody-sedge (LC) and woody-sphagnum-sedge (LSC) peat types continue into the Pinehouse - La Ronge region, with minor occurrences of roots, seeds, Equisetum, Bryales mosses and woody-sedge-sphagnum (LCS). Sedge peat dominates in the Pinehouse area and is woodier than in the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region. La Ronge is similar to the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region in terms of sedge and woody-sedge components but exhibits a marked increase in sphagnum peat types. The higher sphagnum content in the La Ronge area possibly results from a longer postglacial history than the other areas, which allowed sufficient time for significant aggradation and a shift in nutrient and hydrologic conditions from eutrophic/ minerogenic to oligotrophic/ ombrogenic. Aggraded peatland is likely more influenced by ombrogenic water and permits sphagnum to become the dominant surface cover, which in time is incorporated into the peat stratigraphy. This trend, only in a less advanced state, is evident in the Buffalo Narrows, Beauval and Pinehouse areas in the form of sphagnum-covered bogs underlain by sedge peat. The maximum humification for the region is H9, with a mean of H4 to HS. The number of peatlands exhibiting a humification of H4 or greater shows a minor increase from Pinehouse to La Ronge and compares favourably to the Buffalo Narrows area, although it is less than in the Beauval area. The majority of the peatlands are underlain by sand with scattered occurrences of clay and gravel. Basal lacustrine clays appear to be more common in the La Ronge area. In the Pinehouse area, ombrogenic vegetation shows a preference for gravel subsoils, whereas little discrimination is observed for clay terrains. Conversely, in the La Ronge vicinity, a vegetation preference is not observed for areas underlain by gravel, but minerogenic fen vegetation dominates the clay areas. It is likely that the substrate plays a minor role in determining the nature of the aquatic floral community. The main factors are probably hydrologic in nature, and include the quantity and quality of the water. Implicit in this conclusion is the significance of the origin of the water (i.e., minerogenic or ombrogenic). Analyses for the Pinehouse - La Ronge region are presented in Table 11. In comparison to the Buffalo Narrows - Beauval region, the mean ash and sulphur values are higher, the volatile matter and calorific values are lower, and the remaining values are roughly equivalent. In the Pinehouse - La Ronge region, ash and bulk density decrease, while sulphur, volatile matter and calorific value increase from west to east. Generally, the peatland investigations indicate the Table 11. Analytical Results, La Range Area s 0 c (% dry (% dry N H Peat Humification Sample Moisture Ash Calofl f1 c Interval Content (% dry Value Votat,les Peat/and (m) (%) ph matter) ( kcal/kg ) (% dry matter) (%) matter) matter) (%) (%) Type (von Post scale) SE c c c c c 8 SE SC LC LC NC NC " c 8 LR LC LC LC LC LC LC SC 6 41

52 s a) u. u. ;;: u. u. u. u. u. u. UJ UJ UJ UJ UJ UJ UJ UJ <( CD CD CD CD CD CD CD CD 0 (/) 2 c ~ Q) E GRAVEL! SAND I I I SAND I GRAVEL AND GRAVEL s u. UJ CD "O c: u. "' - u. u. u. u. u. u. u. u. u. 0-1.:L UJ UJ UJ ;;: UJ ;;: UJ CD CD CD CD N ~ - - (D!!!. <( CD CD CD CD CD CD CD <( <( <( <( LC SAND Legend S - Sphagnum LC - Woody Sedge C - Sedge LSC - Woody Sphagnum Sedge SC - Sphagnum Sedge CS - Sedge Sphagnum s b) ON "' "' N "' N "' N "' N N "' "' N "' "' N co "' "' " "' "' 0 (/) ~ 2 Q) E Legend H = Von Post System (Humification 1-10) H3 = 1-3 H4 = 4 H5 = 5-10 Figure 30. Peat/and SE-24: a) peat type profiles; b) humifica tion profiles (showing cover formulae and mineral subsoil) H4 H5 "' N + "' "' N "O C: "' N "' N N "' "' N "' N "' N N "' "' N "' N N "' "' N "' N + ~ ~!!J.::: "' - ~ :: '!'. ~ '.::: '." ~ "' H i metres H5 legend Average degree of humification N 0 '" N N Total peat \ 5 _ 2 / thickness (m) Thickness ~f surficial peat (H - 3) indm.. peat lsopachs 2 0 in metres... Bog outline presence of reasonable quality and significant quantities of fuel peat in the region and the possibility of thick surficial moss layers l::::cl:::=i metres Peatland SE-24 Peatland SE-24 (Figure 28), accessible by a winter road crossing its northern tip, is located 5 to 6 kni west of Highway 2 and 15 km southwest of La Ronge. The winter road provides good access for any possible future commercial development. The study area of peatland SE-24 is 212 ha, only a fraction of the 320 ha deposit. It is a contiguous part of peatland SE-25, an 800 ha deposit to the east. A 2.2 km survey line, extending along the long axis of the deposit, reveals an average thickness of 2.6 mover an area of 150 ha, with a maximum of 5.0 m (Figure 29). Figure Z9. Sample locations and isopachs, peat/and SE-24 42

53 a) 0 1 (/) ~ 2 Q) E s ui en u: s SC u. u: ui u: u: u: u: Legend "O -"<'. "O c (.) c ~ o~ ~ cc~ ui u: u: u: u: s u: u: u. w w SAND SAND IROCK I C -Sedge S - Sphagnum CS - SC - Sedge Sphagnum Sphagnum Sedge g -= u. u: u: u: u: ui w u: u: ui ui ui ui ui ui ui en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en LC - NC - N w u. ui ui ui ui en en en en en SC? SA ND Woody Sedge Shrub Sedge LSC - Woody Sphagnum Sedge b) s N (/) ~ Q) E H3 HS Legend <O "' H metres H = Von Post System (Humification 1-1 O) H3 = 1-3 H4 = 4 H5 = 5-10 ~ '., e I ~ I Figure 32. Peat/and SE-38: a) peat type profiles; b) humification profiles (showing cover formulae and mineral subsoil) The majority of the deposit is marked by strings (ridges) and flashets, typical of a string bog. The cover varies from small open flashets in the central part of the peatland to a 60 percent tree cover in the northern end (i.e., considerable tree clearing would be required for commercial use). Cover in the flashets is primarily Fl and EFI, while on the strings it varies from EFI to BEF. In the northern part of the bog, A class becomes predominant. Eutrophic fen vegetation dominates the flashets, while the strings are inhabited by mesotrophic bog vegetation in most locations and oligotrophic in a few areas. On the whole, the bog is mesotrophiceutrophic. The surface peat, predominantly sphagnum, averages about 0.3 m in thickness. Sphagnum peat types comprise approximately 13.5 percent of the total peat. The remaining 86.5 percent consists of sedge and woody sedge. The humification and peat type profiles (Figure 30) illustrate that all of the H4+ peat (76 percent of the deposit) is of sedge type and therefore useable as a fuel. The drainability of the bog can only be generally assessed without accurate elevation measurements. The parallel ridges evident in the bog indicate the Average degree of humificatlon Total peat ,.,. / thickness (m) 6/1.5 Thickness of 7 surficial peat (H - 3) in dm peat isopachs in metres Bog outline 150 O 150 l::cd::::::j metres Figure 31. Sample locations and isopachs, peat/and SE-38 43

54 presence of a drainage gradient (perpendicular to the ridge pattern) toward the north end of the deposit, from which point a small creek drains into a lake 2 to 3 km north. The total volume of peat in the deposit is 4.21 million m3, of which 3.90 million m 3 is in the 150 ha underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. The tonnage figures are t (dry matter), 1.14 million t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). If similar conditions prevail in the adjoining deposit SE-25, the 'useable' tonnage figure increases to 3.5 million t (at 50 percent M.C.). because of the shallow south end and the presence of the thick surface layer. Drainability determinations are difficult without surface elevation measurements. However, from airphoto interpretation, the bog appears drainable to the eastnortheast, into the Highway River system. The total volume of bog SE-38 is 6.87 million m 3 of which 5.59 million m 3 occurs in the 295 ha underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. The tonnage figures for the same area (295 ha) are t (dry matter), 1.64 million t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). Peatland SE-38 Peatland SE-38 is located 55 km south of La Ronge and 1 to 2 km south of Highway 2. Good access to the deposit is provided by a number of logging roads in the vicinity, one of which bisects the northern tip. These logging roads also service peatland LR-30. The deposit is approximately 530 ha in area (Figure 31 ), of which 295 ha are underlain by 1.0 or more of peat. A 3.6 km survey line along the long axis of the bog revealed a thickness range of 1.0 to 3.5 m and an average thickness of 1.9 m. This average is low, however, due to the shallow southern end of the bog and to the survey line segment which passes in close proximity to mineral islands. These factors have resulted in a preliminary underestimation of the total resource which a more dense network of survey lines would likely correct. The southern part of the deposit is a meadow-like sedge-covered eutrophic fen with a very high water table. The northern area shows more oligotrophic features and is basically a tree-covered bog with B cover class and abundant sphagnum mounds. Cover in the fen area is predominantly Fl with minor EIF islands and scattered dead B class. Northward the cover gradually changes from EFI to BEF and finally to BEi at the northern end. + ; I The surface layer (H1 to H3) of peat varies in thickness from 0.4 to 1.5 m, averages 0.9 m and constitutes 47 percent of the deposit (Figure 32a). The surface peat is predominantly sphagnum-sedge with some sedge-sphagnum in the fen area, and sphagnum with sphagnum-sedge in the bog area (Figure 32a). The majority of the deposit is divided between sedge and woody-sedge peat, with thin lenses of sphagnumsedge forming the basal layer (Figure 32a). Peat type proportions are 7 percent sphagnum types and 93 percent sedge types (39 percent sedge, 29 percent sphagnum-sedge, 21 percent woody-sedge and 4 percent other sedge types). All the peat with a humification of H4 or more (53 percent of the deposit, Figure 32b) is of sedge type and thus fuel peat. The average humification for the deposit is H3.8, low Legend Average degree of hu mification "'-. Total peat,.o, / thickn ess (ml Thickness of / surficial peat (H - 31 in dm... Bog ou tline l:=l=:::l metres Figure 33. Sample locations and isopachs, peat/and LR-30 44

55 Peatland LR-30 Peatland LR-30 is located 60 km south of La Range and 7 km west of Highway 169. Access, to within 1 or 2 km' of the peatland, is provided by a winter road at the southern end and a number of logging roads to the east. The total area of peatland LR-30 is approximately 2400 ha, of which 900 ha were surveyed. The survey line of 7400 m is located down the long axis of this area and indicates an average depth of 2.7 m. with a maximum of 4.3 m (Figure 33). Deposit LR-30 is a component of a large peatland network. covering up to 90 percent of the surface area. The surface cover is composed of 10 percent B class with a rapid increase from 10 to 30 percent in the northernmost 500 m. In the northern area the trees are healthy and form a dense cover, shadowing up to 30 percent of the bog surface under their canopies. The B cover has been fire killed over a large area. The most common cover is BEi with scattered DEi and DFI. There are also small areas of Fl and GI cover in the flashets. As a whole, the deposit is a complex of fen/ bog types with the fen types predominant. Most of the deposit is a string bog of alternating flashets with eutrophic fen vegetation and strings with mesotrophic bog vegetation. Large areas of the deposit, especially the northern section, have prominent 40 to 60 cm thick sphagnum mounds The peat types present are very uniform. Sedge (55 percent), woody-sedge (18 percent) and sphagnum-sedge (12 percent) are the most common (Figure 34). The sphagnum peat types. accounting for only 12 percent of the total, are the dominant surface 0 w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) w [I) cs w [I) 24 w [I) U) 2 ~ Q) 3 E 4 I CLAY I SAND SA ND SAND c Pond 49 0 U) 2 ~ Q) 3!:: 4 5 CLAY SAND 0 49 wwwwwwww cncn co mco comm cs SC w [I) w [I) w [I) ~. 5 w w w w w w en co co co en co LC?? 74 U) 2 ~ Q) 3 E SAND 8 1 c I CLAY. I metres S - C - SC - CS - Sphagnum Sedge Sphagnum Sedge Sedge Sphagnum LC - LSC - LC Woody Sedge Woody Sphagnum Sedge B - Bryales moss (number indicates percent present in sample) Figure 34. Peat type profiles. peat/and LR-30 45

56 ~ ~ "' 0 2 Q) 3 E s "' \ H3 ~ 3 H3 H3 H4 H4 H5 H5 H5 H4 ~ "' Q) E Pond ( ~ ~ \ ~ H4!Xl 0) 0.., ;;; "' 0...!Xl 0) 0 "' "' "' "' "' "' "' M O.. C'l.., "' "' H3 H5 H4 "Cl c ;;: "".., "'..,..,.., "'.., "'..,...!Xl.., H3 49 H4 ~ !Xl 0) 0.., "' co...!xl 0) 0 ;::: "' "' N "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' H3 "' H5 2 ~ 3 H4 Q) Legend E 4 H H = Von Post System 200 (Humification 1-1 O) 5 metres H3 = 1-3 H4 = 4 H5 = 5-10 Figure 35. Humification profiles, peat/and LR-30 layer. Sphagnum-sedge peat occurs as a thin bed beneath the surficial layer and as intermittent lenses at the base of the deposit. The majority of the peatland is sedge with minor occurrences of woody-sedge, except in the northern 1000 m where woody-sedge is predominant. The degree of humification is generally quite high, averaging H4.6 (Figure 35). The surface layer (H1 to H3) varies in thickness from 0.2 to 1.5 m, and averages 0.75 m. Due to the high percentage of sedge, all the peats with H4 or higher (74 percent of the total) are fuel peats. Drainage to the south into the Montreal River appears to be possible, as indicated by the existence of strings defining the presence of a gradient. The total volume of the 900 ha surveyed is 19.5 million m 3, 18.4 million m 3 of which are in the 680 ha area underlain by 1.0 m or more of peat. The tonnage figures for this 680 ha are 2.68 million t (dry matter), 5.36 million t (at 50 percent M.C.) and 2.98 million 'useable' t (at 50 percent M.C.). If similar conditions prevail throughout the entire 2400 ha complex, then the total volume would be 49 million m 3 and the 'useable' tonnage would approach 7.95 million. In each of the three peatlands surveyed, SR-24, SE-38 and LR-30, one drillhole was sampled at 0.5 m intervals for fuel peat analysis. The number of 0.5 m specimens recovered was: five from SE-24, six from SE-38 and seven from LR-30. An extra basal specimen was extracted from each peatland for radiocarbon age dating. Table 11 presents analytical data for those peatlands in the La Ronge area which were examined in more detail. The radiocarbon age determinations for the bases of the deposits are 5475 ± 135 years for SE-24, 4665 ± 285 years for SE-38 and 5050 ± 135 years for LR-30. These ages are approximately 1000 years younger than the one recorded for the Buffalo Narrows area, suggesting a later deglaciation in the La Ronge area. 46

57 Analytical results (Table 12) for all three peatlands are equivalent if not superior to European fuel peat standards, except for the lower total carbon values. Table 12. Comparison of Peats from the Four Regions Surveyed Parameter La Ronge - Weyakwin Pinehouse Buffalo Narrows Beauval Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Bog Area (ha) Humification Woody Content(%) ' Permafrost (%) Surface Water (m) Moisture Content (%wet wt.) Organic Matter (% dry matter) Ash Content (% dry matter) Bulk Density kg/ m 50% M.C.) Volatile Content (% dry matter) BTU/ lb. (dry) Sulphur(%) Mercury {ppt) Nitrogen(%) Hydrogen (%) Carbon, total (%) ' Percentages shown represent the proportion of the total number of bogs sampled. 47

58 Resource Evaluation and Economic Potential Fuel Peat Table 13. Useable Fuel Peat Resources (by lndlvldual Peat/and) The fuel peat resource potential of the Nipawin - Peat/and Useable Res- Potential Cumberland House - Hudson Bay region is uncertain Number Area source Potential Uses (see in the absence of a completed ground reconnaissance (see Figs. 19 & 27) ( ha ) (x % M.C.) Table 15) survey. However, this region in general, and especially Buffalo Narrows the lowlands extending from the Pasquia Hills Type 1: ' northward to the Precambrian Shield, contains vast peatlands. It does, therefore, represent a potential source of fuel peat ,39, The resource potential of the Buffalo Narrows Beauval and Pinehouse - La Ronge regions is based 45, on a set of parameters which define a useable fuel peat deposit. The parameters utilized to assess each 70, peatland were as follows: 109, 110, a) Size - A community requires a peatland area, in hectares, equal to approximately 1 O percent of the number of household units in order to produce an adequate annual supply of fuel for domestic use; Type 2:' 91, the minimum economic limit is estimated at 40 to ha. 105, , , 2, 3, b) Thickness and Peat Type - The peatland must 4 (25 MW) contain no less than 2.0 m of peat, of which at least 142, 143, 144, , m must be fuel peat. 146, c) Access - The deposit must have reasonable access Beau val by main roads and/ or winter or logging roads with a Type 1: minimum of intervening peatlands , , 2 d) Market Distance - The maximum economic distance from market can vary depending on market size; the selected distance for the two study regions falls between 30 and 100 km e) Drainability - The drainability of a deposit, the ease of drainage and the time element involved are considered in selecting a potential fuel peat deposit f) Surface Characteristics - Trees, mounds, ponds, and other features are considered when selecting a 82, source peatland. 89, ,2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) 95, ,2,3,4 While these features may not affect the mineability of (25-40 MW) the deposit, they have a strong influence on the , 2 economics of a commercial operation , , 2 Each sampled deposit was considered in terms of the above parameters and resource calculations were , 2 compiled (Table 13) for those assessed as being potentially useable as a fuel source. Many resource calculations were compiled on the basis of airphoto interpretation only, and therefore the figures Type 2: pertaining to these deposits are general estimates Table 14 presents the volume and useable tonnages of fuel peat in each area and attempts to categorize the resources as to economic potential. Resources thus (continued on next page) 48

59 Table 13 (continued) Peat/and Number (see Figs. 19 & 27) , 66 69, 70 71, 72 73, , 78, 79, Pine house Type 1: , 67, , 71, 73 Type 2: La Ronge Type 1: SE-20 SE-24, , 31 SE-38 Type 2: 6 7, (continued) Useable Res- Potential Area source Potential Uses (see ( ha) (x10 6 M.C.) Table 15) , 2, 3, 4 (25 MW) , 2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) , 2, 3, 4 (25 MW) , 2 1,2,3,4 (25 MW) 1 1, 2 1, 2 1 1, 2,3, 4 (25 MW) 1, 2 1, 2,3,4 (25 MW) 1,2, 3,4 (25 MW) 1 1, 2 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 1, 2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) 1, 2 1, 2 1,2,3, 4 (25 MW) 1 1 1, 2 1,2,3, 4 (25-40 MW) Table 13 (continued) Peat/and Useable Res- Potential Number Area source Potential Uses (see (see Figs. 19 & 27) (ha) (x10't@50% M.C.) Ta ble 15) ,2,3, 4 (25 MW) 52, , 2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) , 2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) , 2, 3, 4 (25-40 MW) , 2, 3, 4 (25 MW) , ' Resource T ypes: Type 1 - good economic potential (sampled) Type 2 - possible economic potential (sampled but remote) outlined are illustrated on Figures 19 and 27 {back pocket). Although the majority of the resources are too far removed from potential markets to be considered economically mineable in the foreseeable future, there are substantial resources which are relatively accessible. Of most immediate significance is the prospect of displacing heating oil by an abundant, relatively cheap, indigenous domestic fuel supply. The economics of industrial, institutional or domestic heating by peat fuel on an individual or district basis would depend to a large degree on the scale of development and use. The economics of relatively minor energy applications of fuel peat, such as domestic heating in a small community, may indeed depend on a low-cost fuel product being made available only by a major user that warrants largescale development. Future prospects for the development of peat resources also include peat briquetting, peat coke, thermal power generation or a combination of these. These selected processes reflect the requisite deposit sizes and their ability to supply the annual requirement of raw material. The potential markets, energy cost savings, transportation costs, production and operating costs, and potential demand within and outside the region for any residual product from local producers will determine whether a fuel peat industry is initiated. The requirements of the four processes are listed in Table 15. Comparing these figures with data on the size and resources of selected peatlands provides an insight into the energy potential of the peatland region. 49

60 Table 14. Summary of Fuel Peat Resources by Region and Economic Potent/al Resource Volume (in situ m' x 10' ) 'Useable' Tonnage ( x10' t@50% M.C.) Type Buffalo Buffalo Narrows Beauval Pinehouse La Range Narrows Beauval Pinehouse La Range Type 1 (good economic potential) Type 2 (possible economic potential) Subtotal Type 3 (unknown economic potential) Total Moss Peat Of secondary importance to the reconnaissance study are the moss peat resources of the regions. Many deposits had a high moss peat content; however, most are too small (less than 100 ha) or too shallow (less than 2.0 m) for economic consideration. The four deposits surveyed which appear to contain a sufficient quantity and quality of moss peat for commercial production are BF-63 and BF-160 in the Buffalo Narrows area and LR-59/ 60/61 and LR-62/63 in the La Ronge area. Resource estimates, using a bulk density of 160 kg/ m 3, are 0.1 x 10 6 t, 0.5 x 10 6 t, 24 x 10 6 t and 26 x 10 6 t respectively. Additional moss peat resources are almost certain to be present in the Type 3 resource areas. Some of the fuel peat bogs may be suitable for a system of dual production. Table 15. Peat/and Size and Tonnage Requirements of Four Selected Peat Processes Minimum Peat- Raw Material land Size Tonnes/ 25 year Potential Use Required ( t/yr) Required ( ha) Production Life 1. Domestic heating (based on (sods at home units) 35% M.C.) Briquetting plant (milled at ( t/yr) 50% M.C.) x Coke/ briquetting ( sods at plant ( t/ yr) 35% M.C.) x Thermal power 25 MW x10 generation 40 MW x10 6 (milled at 50% M.C.) 50

61 Selected Bibliography American Society for Testing and Materials (1980) : Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 19: Soil and Rock, Building Stones; American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, p Clayton, J.S., Ehrlich, W.A., Cann, D.B., Day, J.H. and Marshall, 1.8. (1977) : Soils of Canada; Can. Dep. Agric., Res. Br., Vol. 1, 2 and accompanying maps. Day, J.H., Rennie, P.J., Stanek, W. and Raymond, G.P. (1979) : Peat Testing Manual; Nat. Res. Counc., Assoc. Comm. Geotech. Res., Tech. Memo 125, 193p. Canada Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (1977) : Assessment of Canadian peat as an alternative fuel for power generation; prepared under contract by Montreal Engineering Co. Ltd. (1978) : The mining of peat - a Canadian energy resource; prepared under contract by Montreal Engineering Co. Ltd. Farnham, R.S. (1979) : Peat resources - classification, properties and geographical distribution; in Management Assessment of Peat as an Energy Resource; lnstit. Gas Technol., Arlington, VA, p7-18. (1980) : Peat resources update - potential for development; in Peat as an Energy Alternative; lnstit. Gas Technol., Arlington, VA, p Graham, R.B. (1979): Some peat moss and peat deposits in selected areas, Districts of Nipissing, Sudbury, Algoma, Thunder Bay, and Kenora; Ont. Geol. Surv., Miner. Dep. Gire. 19, 132p. Guliov, P. and Troyer, R. (1981 ): Potential for fuel peat heating in northern communities of Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 1981, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; Sask. Energy Mines, Misc. Rep. 81-4, p Hutchinson, J.E. and Ryan, P.C. (1977): An evaluation of peat as an energy source in Nova Scotia; in Alternate Energy - A Summary Report for the Nova Scotia Power Corporation; Nova Scotia Res. Found. Corp., Dartmouth, N.S., Sec. 6, p1-14. Kivinen, E. and Pakarinen, P. (1980) : Peatland areas and the proportion of virgin peatland in different countries; in Proc. Sixth lnternat. Peat Congr., Duluth, p Korpijaakko, E.O. and Woolnough, D.F. (1977) : Peatland survey and inventory; in Muskeg and the Northern Environment in Canada, ed. N.W. Radforth and C.O. Brawner; Univ. Toronto Press, p Kupsch, W.O. (1954) : Bituminous sands in till of the Peter Pond Lake area, Saskatchewan; Sask. Dep. Miner. Resour.. Rep. 12, 35p. Langford, F.F. (1973) : The geology of the Wapawekka Area, Saskatchewan; Sask. Dep. Miner. Resour., Rep. 147, 36p. Leverin, H.A. (1946) : Peat moss deposits in Canada; Can. Dep. Mines and Resour., Mines Geol. Br., Bur. Mines, Rep. 817, 102p. Monenco Ontario Limited (1981 ): Evaluation of the potential of peat in Ontario - energy and non-energy uses; Ont. Min. Nat. Resour., Occas. Pap. 7, 193p. Newfoundland and Labrador Peat Association (1977) : Peat facts; in Preliminary Release of the Newfoundland and Labrador Peat Reources Seminar Papers; Nfld. Labrad. Peat Assoc., p1-6. (1969): Airphoto interpretation of muskeg; in Muskeg Engineering Handbook, ed. I.C. MacFarlane; Univ. Toronto Press, p Paterson, D.F., Kendall, A.C. and Christopher, J.E. (1978) : The sedimentary geology of the La Loche area. Saskatchewan; Sask. Miner. Resour., Rep. 201, 38p. Pollett, F. (1968): Peat resources of Newfoundland; Nfld. Dep. Mines, Agric. and Resour., Miner. Resour. Rep. 2, 226p. Punwani, D.V. (1980) : Peat as an energy alternative - an overview; in Peat as an Energy Alternative, lnstit. of Gas Technol., Arlington, VA, p1-28. Radforth, N.W. (1952): Suggested classification of muskeg for the engineer; Engin. J., Nov (1969) : Airphoto interpretation of muskeg; in Muskeg Engineering Handbook, ed. I.C. MacFarlane; Univ. Toronto Press, p Saskatchewan Mineral Resources (1979): Assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of peat resource development in northern Saskatchewan communities; Sask. Miner. Resour., Open File Rep (prepared under contract by Saskmont Engineering Co. Ltd.),(1981 ): Buffalo Narrows Peat Utilization Study;, Sask. Miner. Resour., Open File Rep (prepared under contract by Saskmont Engineering Co. Ltd.) Simpson, F. (1975) : Surficial deposits of the lie-a-lacrosse and Lac La Ronge areas of central Saskatchewan; unpubl. Sask. Dep. Miner. Resour. Rep. 51

62 (1980) : Peat resource study; in Summary of Investigations 1980, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; Sask. Miner. Resour., Misc. Rep. 80-4, p Tibbetts, T.E. (1980) : A Canadian approach to peat energy; in Peat as an Energy Alternative; lnstit. Gas Technol., Arlington, VA, p (1981 ): Peat - A major Canadian resource; in Proceedings of Symposium on Peat: An Awakening Natural Resource, ed. T.E. Tibbetts, P.G. Telford and W. Shotyk; Can. Nat. Comm., lnternat. Peat Soc., p7-24. (1979) : Peat resource study; in Summary of Investigations 1979, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; Sask. Miner. Resour., Misc. Rep , p (1980) : Peat resource study; in Summary of Investigations 1980, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; Sask. Miner. Resour., Misc. Rep. 80-4, p (1982) : Fuel peat potential in the La Ronge region; in Summary of Investigations 1982, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Energy Mines, Misc. Rep. 82-4, p Troyer, R. (1978): Peat resource study; in Summary of Investigations 1978, Saskatchewan Geological Survey; Sask. Miner. Resour., Misc. Rep , p

63 Appendix A: Field Data Peatland Number: BF - Buffalo Narrows BV - Beauval PH - Pinehouse LR - La Range Subsoil: C - clay St - silt S - sand G - gravel Peat Type: S - sphagnum C - carex L - wood Eq - Equisetum B - Bryales Peat/and Number Cover Class Area (ha) Thickness (m) Subsoil Sampled Interval (m) Humification (van Post scale) Peat Type Buffalo Narrows Area: BF-1 BF-2 BF-3 BF-4 BF-5 BF-6A BF-6B BF-7 BF-BA BF-BB BF-BC BF-9 BF-10A BF-10B BF-11 BF-12 BF-13 BF-14 BF-15 BF-16 BF-17 BF-18 BF-19 BF-20 BF-21 BF-22 BF-23 BF-24 BF-25 BF-26 BF-27 BF-28 BF-29 BF-30 BF-31 BF-32 BF-33 BF-34 BF-35 BF-36 BF-37 BF-38 EFI Fl EFI FEI FEI Fl(E) l Fl(E) ~ Fl(E)! Fl(E) Fl(E) Fl(E) Fl(E) Fl(E) l Fl(E) ~ BFl(E) EFIB) FEl(B) EFI BFE FEl(B) EFI FEI EFI FEI Fl(E) EFI EFI FEI EFI FEI EFI Fl(E) BEF(A) ~ EFl(B) ~ BEF(A) AEF EFl(B) EFI DFI DEF(A) DEF c s s s SC s s s s s s s c s s s s s s s G s s Frozen Frozen s s s s G s s Frozen See Table S s s s Frozen (5) (4) Frozen G SC C(?) SC(?) c SC SC SC c c c c SC c c SC 6 CS, Eq 4 SC 6 SC 4 SC 5 SC 6(7) SC 5 C 4 C(?) 3 C 4 C 4 LSC 5 SC 7 SC 3 C 3(4) C 6 cs 4 C 3 C 6(7) SC 4 C SC cs SC LC c c SC LSC 53

64 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type BF s DFI j c (5) LSC SC BF-40 DFI 2.1 s c BF-40 DFI 2.1 s c c BF-41 EFl(B) G cs BF-42 DEF s C(?) BF-43 BEF(A) s c c (4) c BF-44 FEI s C,Eq BF-45 FEI s c BF-46 EFI, FEI s c BF-47 EFI, FEI s c BF-48 FEI s cs BF-49 EFI, FEI s (6) SC BF-50 FEI c SC, Eq BF-51 FEI s cs BF-52 FEI s C(?) BF-53 El, EFI s (4) c BF-54 FEI s SC SC BF-55 Fl s C(?) BF-56 EFI s SC BF-57 AEF c C, Eq,B BF-58 FEI SC c LC, Eq LC SC BF Frozen. -- BF-60 EFl(D) s (5) SC BF-61 EFl(D) s LC BF-62 EFl(A) G LC BF See Table 8... BF-64 BEF c SC BF-65 BFI G cs BF-66 BFE G SC BF-67 EFI s LC BF-68 BEi G c BF-69 DFI G SC BF-70 ABF GS LSC LSC BF-71 DFI G SC BF-72 ADE Frozen BF-73 ADF G LSC BF-74 ADF G LC,B BF-75 DEi G SC SC BF-76 ABE Frozen BF-77 DFI G c BF-78 DFI s (4) LC SC BF-79 DFI 2.0 s c c BF-80 Fl(D) s C(?) (5) C(?) BF-81 EFl(D) 3.2 s (4) c BF-82 EFI s SC BF-83 Fl cs BF-84 ABE s SC 54

65 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type BF-85 AEF s SC(?) BF-86 ABE(F) s SC(?) BF-87 BFE G cs BF-88 FEI G c BF-89 EFl(A) s cs BF-90 EFl(A) G c BF See Table 9 BF See Table 9... BF-93 EFI s SC(?) BF-94 EFI s SC BF-95 FEI s c BF-96 DEi G LC BF-97 DFE s (4) C(?) BF-98 DFI s (4) C(?) BF-99 ADE cs LC(?) BF-100 ABE 34 > 5.0? 0.5-> C(?) BF-101 DEF c LC BF-102 DFI s SC SC BF-103 DFI s C(?) BF-104 EFI! C(?) G (5) SC BF-105 ABF s SC(?) BF-107 BEF 2.0 s SC(?) SC(?) BF-106 FEI G cs! BF-108 FEI G SC BF-109 EFl(A) 2.5 s SC(?) BF-110 DFI G C(?) BF-111 DEi 1.7 G (5) SC(?) BF-112 DEl(A) s (5) LSC BF-113 ADE No Landing... BF-114 DFI G C(?) BF-115 EFl(B) s C,Eq BF-116 ABE c SC BF-117 EFl(A) G cs BF-118 ADE s C(?) BF-119 DFI s LC LC BF-120 DEF c c c SC BF-121 EFI s c BF-122 FIE s c BF-123 AEF s cs! BF-124 ABE cs LC BF c c BF-126 DFI 4.5 c (4) c SC BF-127 DFI 1.5 c (4) c BF-128 DFI s (4) c BF-129 AEI s LC BF-130 DFI s cs BF-131 AEF! 3.1 s LC(?) LC(?) LC(?) BF-132 ADF 2.8 s LC LC BF-133 ADF c (5) LSC BF-134 FEI s cs 55

66 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type BF-135 OF! t 1.5 s (4) c BF-136 EFI s LC BF-137 EFI SC LSC BF-138 FE! s (4) c BF-139 OF! G c BF-140 BFE G SC BF-141 EFI G (5) SC BF-142 EFI 3.0 s SC SC SC BF-143 FE! 4.0 s c (4) c BF-144 Fl(D) 3.1 s c c c BF-145 DFE 2.6 s (4) c BF-146! 2.0 ADF s LC LC BF-147 OF! 1.7 G SC SC BF-148 ABE(!) cs (3) CS(?) LC BF-149 ABE(!) s BF-150 ADF See BF-70 for data BF-151 ABE(!) c (4) LC BF-152 ABE(!) s SC(?) BF-153 ABE(!) s (4) SC(?) BF-154 BEl(A) c (4) SC(?) cs BF-155 BEi s CS(?) (5) C(?) BF-156 BEi SC SC BF-157 BEi s (6) CS(?) BF-158 BEl(A) s CS(?) (7) SC(?) BF-159 ABE(!) s (8) cs BF-160 BEl(A) See 2.8 c (4) cs BF LCS (8) LSC BF-161 BEl(A) s (8) CS(?) BF-162 ABE(!) s (4) SC(?) (6) SC(?) BF-163 ABE(!) s (7) cs BF-164 AEI SC SC (5) c BF-165 FIE s cs BF See Table BF-167 ABE(!) c SC BF-168 Fl SC SC BF-169 BFE(I) s SC BF-170 FIE s LC BF-171 FIE s LC BF-172 ADE(G) G c BF-173 ADF(I) G (4) LC BF-174 ADF SC (4) LSC LSC BF-175 DEi G LC LC, B BF-176 DFE(I) c C,B BF-177 OF! G c BF-178 OF! G LC LC 56

67 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type BF-179 AEI G BF-180 El(F)(B) G cs c C, Eq BF-181 DEF G (4) LC BF-182 DFl(B) G (4) c BF-183 El(F) s SC SC, B BF-184 El(F) GS SC BF-185 ABE(I) cs (6) SC BF-186 DEF Frozen. BF-187 AEl(B)(F) s (9) cs BF-188 ABE(I) s (8) cs BF-189 FEI s SC BF-190 DFE G BF-191 ABE(I) s SC (4) SC SC BF-192 ABE(I) s (5) SC BF-193 AFE(l) c c c c BF-194 AEI SC (4) SC BF-195 DFI SC (4) LC BF-196 EFI s c (7) c BF-197 FEl(G) 114 > 4.0? BF-198 ABE(I) s cs BF-199 ABE(l) s (5) c BF-200 AEF(I) G LC BF-201 DEF c (4) LC BF-202 EFl(A)(B) s (4) c BF-203 DFI G c BF-204 DFI G c BF-205 DFI G LSC BF-206 DFI G c BF-207 AFI G c BF-208 AEl(F) s SC,B BF-209 DFI s SC BF-210 AEF(l) s (4) SC SC BF-211 DEF(A) c LSC BF-212 DEl(A) SC (4) LSC BF-213 AEl(B) c c c BF-214 ABE(l)(F) SC SC BF-215 AEl(B) G (4) SC cs BF-216 El(A) s SC SC BF-217 DFI s LC Beauval Area: BV-1 BFl(G) G SC BV-2 BFE(G) c cs BV-3 EFI G (4) c BV-4 ABE(I) s LC LC LC BV-5 BFl(D) s c c 57

68 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type BV-6 DFl(B) s SC c c BV-7 ABE(I) G c c SC BV-8 BDE(I) G SC BV-9 EFI c LSC BV-10 DEi s SC BV-11 DEF(I) G SC BV-12 BEi G c c BV-13 DEi G LSC BV-14 DEF(I) s SC BV SC BEl(A) c LSC LC LC BV-16 DFI G (4) LC(?) BV-17 ADF(I) SG LC LC BV-18 Fl(G) s LC(?) BV-19 Fl(A) s 3(4) BV-20 DFI G 4(5) LC(?) BV-21 BDF c BV-22 DFI G LC, Eq, B BV-23 Fl(G) G LSC LC LC, B LC, B BV-24 ABE(I) s SC BV-25 ABE(I) s c c BV-26 BEl(A) s (6) SC BV-27 BDE(A) s c SC BV-28 DFI G LSC LSC BV-29 DEF c (4) LC BV-30 DFI c SC BV-31 FEI G SC BV-32 ABE(I) s cs BV-33 ABE(I) c SC SC SC BV-34 DFI s SC BV-35 DFI, Fl s 3 BV-36 DEF s LC BV-37 ABE(I) s cs BV-38 DEF s SC SC BV-39 ABE(I) s c c BV-40 DEF G c BV-41 DEi G (4) LC BV-42 DEF c (4) SC SC BV-43 DEF c c c BV-44 FEI s (5) LSC BV-45 FIE(G) s SC BV-46 DEF s LSC 58

69 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type BV-47 DFl(B) c 3(4) BV-48 ABE(I) s SC SC BV-49 EFl(B) G cs BV-50 DEF(I) s LC LC BV-51 ABD(E) s LC LC LC BV-52 DFI s BV-53 DFI s c c c BV-54 DFl(E) G c c BV-55 ABE(I) s c c BV-56 ABE(I) cs SC SC BV-57 AEI SC SC SC BV-58 DEF(B) G SC SC BV-59 Fl 0.2 s 352 BV-60 Fl(D) t 1.5 c C(?) BV-61 Fl(DE) c SC(?) (6) SC(?) BV-62 ADE(I) s SC BV-63 ABE(I) s SC BV-64 ABE(I) s cs BV-65 DFl(B) t 0.7 SC SC(?) 1891 BV-66 ABE(FI) 2.0 G SC c l BV-67 DEF SC (4) LC BV-68 ADF(I) s LSC BV SC SC Fl(AD) SC BV-70 DFI 2.3 SC SC SC SC BV-71 ABE(I) SC SC SC SC l BV-72 BEi G c c BV s SC ABE(l) LSC BV-74 ABE(I) 2.0 s SC SC BV-75 ADF(I) s SC SC BV-76 ABE(I) c c c SC BV-77 AEl(B) 2.0 SC c c BV-78 BEF(I) G (4) c BV-79 AEF 1.0 s LC BV-80 BEF(I) 3.0 c SC SC SC 59

70 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type BV-81 Fl(AD) s c BV-82! DEl(B) c s SC SC BV-83 ABE(I) 2.0 s c c BV-84 BEi s SC SC BV-85 Fl(D) SC LC BV-86 DFI s c c BV-87 DFI s SC c LC LC BV-88 OFl(AB) s LC SC BV-89 DFI! 2.0 s SC SC BV-90 Fl(D) 1.5 s c SC BV-91 ADl(B) s SC LSC BV-92 BEl(A) c SC SC BV-93 DFI c c BV-94 DEl(A) s C(?) BV-95 BDE(I) s LC LC LC LC LC BV-96 ABE(I) s c cs BV-97 DEl(AB) s SC SC BV-98 ABD(EF) s SC SC SC BV-99 ABD(EF) s SC cs BV-100 ABE(I) s c BV-101 DEl(A) s (5) LSC BV-102 DEi s LC LC LC BV-103 ABE(I) s LSC LSC BV-104 DFE s LSC, Eq BV-105 DFI l 3.5 s SC SC SC BV-106 DFI 2.0 G c c BV-107 ABE(I) c SC BV-108 ABE(I) s SC c c c BV-109 Fl(AD) s c BV-110 DFI G LSC LSC 60

71 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type BV-111 DEl(A) s c c BV-112 DFl(E) s SC SC BV-113 ABE(I) s (3) c c BV-114 ABE(I) G SC(?) Pinehouse Area: PH-1 DFI c (4) LC PH-2 AEI c (4) SC LC PH-3 DEltA) c LC LC PH-4 ABE(I) G SC PH-5 DFI c SC LSC LC LC PH-6 DFI c LC(?) LC(?) PH-7 FEI cs (5) LSC PH-8 ABE(I) c SC SC SC PH-9 DFl(G) SC LC LC PH-10 El(A) c SC (9) s PH-11 ABE(I) s (3) CS(?) PH-12 ABE(i) s (6) LC PH-13 ABE(I) SC LSC LSC PH-14 ABE(I) s cs PH-15 AEl(B) G (7) SC PH-16 AEl(B) G (4) LC LC PH-17 AEl(B) s LC LSC PH-18 AEl(B) s (8) cs PH-19 DFl(G) 86 > 5.0 SC SC SC LSC LC PH-20 AEl(B) s (8) cs PH-21 ABE(i) 1.4 c SC (4) c PH-22 ABE(I) 1.7 s LSC LSC PH-23 ABE(I) SC LSC LSC PH-24 ABE(DI) s PH-25 ABE(IF) SC o LSC LSC PH-26 El(AB) s cs PH-27 ABE(IF) 3.0 SC SC SC SC PH-28 DFI SC c PH-29 ABE(I) s (8) cs 61

72 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type PH-30 BEi cs (4) SC PH-31 ABF(I) c SC LSC PH-32 ABE(I) c c c PH-33 EFl(AB) c SC SC c PH-34 BDE(I) s SC LSC LSC LSC PH-35 ABE(I) SG SC SC PH-36 El, Fl St (5) SC PH-37 ABE(I) St cs PH-38 FEI s (5) SC PH-39 BEi s (4) LC (7) SC PH-40 ABE(I) G (8) cs PH-41 ABE(I) G c c PH-42 AEF(I) s LC PH-43 BEF(I) s CS(?) PH-44 DFE 0.5 G 150 PH-45 ADI! 1.0 G LC PH-46 ABE(IF) c SC PH-47 BFI s LC, Eq PH-48 BEi s SC PH-49 Fl SC PH-50 BEF, Fl s SC SC PH-51 Fl SC LC c PH-52 BEl(F) St PH-53 EIF s C, Eq PH-54 EFI G LSC LSC (7) LSC PH-55 ABE(I) G PH-56 BDE(FI) G LC PH-57 EFI G (4) LSC PH-58 ABE(IF) c SC (4) SC (4) SC PH-59 ABE(I) SG c BFE C,Eq PH-60 DEl(B) St LSC LSC PH-61 DFl(B) SC (6) LC c c LC LC PH-62 ABF(EI) s c LC PH-63 ABE(I) GS (5) c PH-64 ABD(EF) St (5) SC PH-65 ABF(EI) s SC c 62

73 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type PH-66 BEF(I) 2.5 St SC SC PH-67 EFl(B) s LSC (6) SC PH-68 ABE(I) 3.0 St SC SC PH-69 ABE(FI) s LSC c c c PH-70 EFl(B) 0.7 G SC PH-71 BEl(F) 1.5 G C, Eq C, Eq PH-72 ABE(I) St SC SC PH-73 ABE(IF) 2.5 c LSC c c SC PH-75 ABE(I) c SC PH-76 ABE(I) s c c LSC PH-77 DEi St PH-78 DEi St PH-79 DFl(A) s C(?) ' C(?) PH-80 El(F) s (4) SC PH-81 BFE(I) s LC La Ronge Area: LR-1 ABE(IF) St LC(?) LR-2 ABE(I) G LSC LR-3 BFI c (4) LC (4) LC LR-4 Fl c LSC c c LR-5 ABE(I) s LC LR-6 BDE(I) SC c c LR-7 DEF(I) ~ SC 1.0 G (6) SC LR-8 ABE(I) 2.0 s (4) SLC (4) SLC LR-9 DFI c cs cs cs LR-10 DFI c SC cs LR-11 ADE(I) s LC LCS LR-12 DFI GS SC LR-13 ABE(I) c SC SC (4) c LR-14 FEl(BD) c SC 63

74 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type LR-15 ADF, DFI s SC SC c LR-16 DFI c SC SC LR-17 DFI s SLC SLC LR-18 ABE(I) s cs LR-19 El(D) G cs LR-20 ABE(FI) s cs LR-21 DFI s SC(?) LR-22 BEl(A) s LC SC LR-23 FEl(D) s SC LR-24 ABE(I) s SC LR-25 AEI s SC SC LR-26 BEi s c SC LR-27 ABE(I) c SC SC SC LR-28 Fl(B) c c c c LR-29 EFl(B) s SC LR-30 BEl(F) s SC LR-31 BFE(I) G LC LR-32 DFI s C(?) LR-33 ABE(FI) c cs LR-34 BDE(A) G C(?) LR-35 ABE(I) s LSC LSC LR-36 Fl(B) s LR-37 DFI s (4) SC LR-38 FEl(B) St cs LR-39 ABE(IF) s LC(?) LR-40 ABE(IF) G LSC LR-41 ABD(FI) St LC LC LC LC LR-42 DFI 1.0 c C(?) LR-43 DFI 3.0 c c c c LR-44 EFl(B) 1.2 G LC SC LR-45 BFE(I) s LR-47 Fl(D) c SC SC SC (5) SC (7) LSC LR-48 DFI St SC LR-49 El(B) s cs cs LR-50 ABE(IF) s (4) c LR-51 DFI St SC SC 64

75 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (von Post scale) Type LR-52 DFl,FI 1.5 SC SC LSC LR-53 ABE(I) 3.0 c c c c LR-54 EFI 0.5 SC cs LC LR-55 EFI 1.0 G LCS LR-56 Fl(D) G C(?) C(?) C(?) LC(?) LR-57 BDI G SC LR-58 ADE(F) s c LR-59 ABE(I) 4.0 c cs cs cs SC LC LR-60 ABE(I) 3.2 cs LC LC LC LR-61 ABE(I) 3.0 c cs SC LR-62 I 3.0 BEl(A) (4) c G s cs cs LR-63 ABE(I) 1.0 s LSC LR-64 El G SC SC SC LR-65 DFI St (4) LC LR-66 DFI s LR-67 DFI s (5) SC LR-68 DEF(I) G SC LR-69 ABE(I) s SLC SLC LR-70 ABE(I) SC SC LSC LR-71 ABF(EI) G SC LR-72 ADF s LC SC LR-73 ADE(F) s LSC SC SC LR-74 DFI s LC LR-75 DFl(AB) G SC SC SC LR-76 ADF(I) SC SC c (4) LC LR-77 DFI 1.0 s c LR-78 ABE(I) s s cs SC LR-79 DFI St (5) SLC, Eq 65

76 Sampled Peat/and Cover Area Thickness Interval Humification Peat Number Class (ha) (m) Subsoil (m) (van Post scale) Type LR-80 ABE(I) St LSC SC LC, Eq LC,Eq LR-81 DFI St (4) CS,Eq LR-82 ABE(I) c (4) SC, Eq LR-83 DFI St SC SC LR-84 BDF(I) c c c LR-85 DFl{B) SC SC LR-86 ABE(IF) 266 > 5.0? SC, Eq LR-87 DFI c SC LR-88 DFI s LCS LCS 66

77 Appendix B: Analytical Data Sampled Moisture Ash Volatiles Calorific s Peat/and Interval Content (% dry Absorptive (% dry Value N (% dry Number (m) (%) matter) Value matter) (kcal/ kg) (%) matter) Buffalo Narrows Area: BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF-79' BF BF-82' BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF

78 Sampled Moisture Ash Volatiles Calorific s Peat/and Interval Content (% dry Absorptive (% dry Value N (% dry Number (m) ( %) matter) Value matter) (kcal/ kg) (%) matter) BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF BF Beauval Area: BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV

79 Sampled Moisture Ash Volatiles Calorific s Peat/and Interval Content (% dry Abso rptive (% dry Value N (% dry Number (m) (%) matter) Value matter) (kcal/kg) (%) matter BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV BV 'Mercury concentrations of ppm 69

80 Sampled Moisture Ash Bulk Volatiles Calorific s Peat/and Interval Content (% dry Density (% dry Value c H N ( % dry Number (m) (%) matter) (kg/m 3 ) matter) (kcal/kg) (%) (%) (%) matter Pinehouse Area: PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH PH La Ronge Area: LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR LR-78A LR LR LR

81 "C ii, -C'D fl) Plate 1. Greenbush bog, Mistatim area; EFI cover with Bon left and A in distance Plate 2. Bannock peat/and, Mistatim area; BEi cover ---J Plate 3. Mistatim bog (southeast); Fl cover with ADF!ABD is lands in distance Plate 4. Garrick peat/and, Nipawin area; mounded FE/ flashets and OF/ strings

82 -...J I\) Plate 5. Choice/and fen, Nipawin area; ADF ridges interfingering with Fl cover Plate 6. Oblique aerial view of confined bog (BF-122), Buffalo Narrows area; FE/ cover Plate 7. Oblique aerial view of extensive fen, Beauval area; Fl cover with AD ridges Plate 8. Bog BF-19, Buffalo Narrows area; E-c/ass cover on mounds of orange sphagnum