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Muskeg Field Program-Mer Bleue Peat Bog
MacFarlane, I. C.
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NATIONAL R E S E M C H COUNCIL
CANADA
DIVISION O F BUILDING R E S E m G H
MUSKEG F I E L D PROGRAM
- MER B m U E PEAT BOG
b.$r
Ivan @. MacParlane
Internal Report No. 384
of the
Division sf Building Research
OTTAWA
September 1964
PREFACE
The value of laboratory studies of the properties of
undisturbed peat is limited by the complexity sf the material and
by sampling difficulties. There is consequently a r e a l need for
full-scale f i e l d testing far strength and csmpreeeibility sf the
natural peat. Fortunately, the M e r B l e w peat bog, which is
located within a reasonable distance of the Building R e s e a r c h
Centre, contains a rather c ~ r n r n o nclass 0%peat and is therefore
an ideal location for field studies. A s a first step in such etudies
a portion of the bog has been surveyed and sounded, Tkie r epork
describes the area, indicates the most suitable location far study,
and oratBPnes the nature of the proposed t e s t s .
The author of this report is a civil engineer in the
Soil Mechanics Section whose w o r k with the Division concerns
research on o r g a n i c terrain,
oetaw %I
September 1964
R. F, Legget
Director
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PHTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P
PROPOSED FIELD TEST PROGRAM
CONCLUSIONS AND RECB
WPENBIX A
..........................
2
.....................
6
NDATZBNS
. NOTES ON THE MER B U U E PEAT
MINES BRANCH BULLETIN N o
. 1.
BOG FROM
1909
MUSKEG FTSLD PROGRAM
- MER
BLEUE PEAT BOG
The M e r Bleue Peat Bog is a S g c ~ w % i n emuskeg
dBe
area
approximately 8 eqaare milee in size, located about 9. 5 miles east
of the centre sf the City s f Ottav~a. Situated on the northwest edge 0 4
the bog is the hamlet s f Blackburn Statism, and on the southeast edge
i s located the village of Garlisbad Springs. The Canadian P a c i f i c
Railway main line t s hIIoatreak s k i r t s the n o r t h e r n edge of the bog and
the Canadian National Railway line is located wear the southern e d g e .
The bag is bisected by the Gloucester -Cumbarland Township line
(Figure I ) .
The Mer Bletle P e a t Bog is m z h l y wasteland and at
present is not being utilized t o any g r e a t extent. Aerial photsgraphs
(Figure 2) show that some of the f a r m s on the p e r i p h e r y have
encroached on i t v e r y slightly, t o t h e extent of a. few a c r e s . The
central p a r t of the bog is the p r o p e r t y sf the Department of National
Defence and during the Second World War an a r e a one mike in diameter
w a s used by the EX. C. A. F. as a bsmbing rar-gee A large p a t of the
west end of the bog is now p a r t of the National Capital Commission
Green Bekt a r e a and is t o b e c o m e a b i r d s a n c t u a r y and g a m e r e s e r v e (%I.
The e a s t e r n p a r t of the bog is individuaP8y owned by s e v e r a l 08 the
bed
% B F ~ BS I.
F i r e s have o c c u r r e d r e g u l a r l y on t h e bog in the p a s t 58
y e a r s and recently, during the s u m m e r of 1955, a rather extensive
f i r e occurred. T h i s f i r e as well as sporadic f i r e s which o c c u r r e d
since thew burned a Barge a r e a of %Bebog. Nevertheless, it has been
noted that fairly l a r g e expanses of the bog still show no signs of recent
f i r e s , s o evidently w e r e not affected by the 1 9 5 5 conflagration,
although w e r e probably burned over by e a r l i e r fires, T h e r e is ass
doubt, therefore, that the present s u r f a c e vegetation more or less
r e f l e c t s the f i r e h i s t o r y of the bog.
T h e elevation of the edge s f the Mer BHeue P e a t Bag is about
225 ft above sea Bevel. Local geology indicates t h a ~
the bog is deposited
in the depression of a former r i v e r channel QactuaPfy, a delta). Ridges
along both the north and south extremities sf the bog a r e quite evidently
beach lines. 1t is a so-called Pshighmcps%r38
type bog, with t h e c e n t r e
being of oPightHy higher elevation than the edges. T o r e a c h the $02, it
is n e c e s s a r y t o wade for s e v e r a l f e e t through a water -filled, low-lying
a r e a around the p e r i p h e r y ( h o w as a "lagg") until the higher l e v e l
is attained.
Soma of the Mer Bleue is treeless, but a fairly large
proportion of the area, particularly a& the centre, is quite heavily
wooded. Much of this tree growth is scrub, u p to 1 5 %t hi&, but
there are s o m e areas where the trees a r e dense in g r o w t h and w e l l
over % 5 bt high. In the open areas the predominant vegetation is low
woody shrubs (less than 2 ft highband m o s s e s . Incidentally, the name
of the M e r Bleue Peat Bog apparently springs from the fact that during
the blueberry season it is veritably a "blue sea, D B for blueberry b u ~ h e s
are owe of the predominant vegetative features of these open areas,
Generally, the m o s s , which is knee-deep in places, 9s fairly h u m r n ~ c k y
and '8epringyitso that walking is quite difficult until onme acquires the
technique of the &bog trotting gait. Occasisnal patches $of faiz1y
limited area) of short grass and m s e s also occur, so the area offers
a fairly good range of muskeg types.
@
Drainage Pattern
As can be noted f r o m Figures B and 2 , the M e r BPeue Peat
Bog is naturally drained at the west end by several small streams and
at the east end by two extensive man-made ditches draining into Bear
Brook. It is understood that these ditches w e r e dug during the 1 9 3 0 e s
as a '%make-work" project &a alleviate local unempls%p~9lean$
rather thaw
as a serious attempt to reclaim the area. T h e c o s t is reputed to have
been $ 6 0 , O O O , This work has w o w been undone by beavers. The long
ditch adjacent to t h e township line was observed to be %argely choked with
shrubs and bushes at the south end, and at the north end to be compketdy
filed w i t h water. This ditch is about 4 ft deep, with sloping sides, and
is about 10 ft wide at the tap,
PROPOSED FIELD TEST PROGRAM
A laboratory test program to determine the engineering
characteristics of peat has been underway at the Division s f Building
Research for some time. It is not always possible, however, $0
extrapolate laboratory results to fit field conditions. It wae considered,
therefore, that it would b e useful to set up a field test program so that
model and full-scale shear strength and settlement tests could be carried
out concurrent with the laboratory program, to check orat the latter
results. This field program will be carried out in three stages:
The objectives w i l l be to:
1.
85tain a vehicle for access, such as a DeMuekegB u g g y ,
s n W ~ a s e h$' .
" 8%~t'8
or
2,
G a t r y out a survey of the M a r BPeue Peat Boge
(a) Lay out s proposed line for 3 survey, pf sferably a northeasreh, east-wee& grid system; grid p ~ f n $
t ~mils apart.
(b] Probe fst depth and t y p e of peat at the grid points. Determine
t y p e of u~%$erlyHng
mineral soill. G l e e sbf y surface vegetation.
3.
Select areas of various muskeg type8 for vane shear and cone
penetrometer testing.
[a) Conduct vane ehear smd eons pesetresmster t e s t s 1x1 these areas.
(b) Obtain peat samples for water content, or ganfc content and
~ p e c i f i cgravity determinations.
4
Select an area for the proposed detailed t e ~ tprogram.
off if necessary.
Fence it
The program will be continued as %a%Bows:
1.
F r o m within the large test area, select a specific area (or areas)
far proposed load teete.
2.
Gsaadaect load tests an the muskeg, using tanlee filled with watep on
gravel pads, or a similar loading system.
(a$ Obeerve load-deflection -time.
($1 U s e various load increments.
{ c ) Use variou~s i z e s of loaded area.
M o r e detailed t e a t s w i l l %a carried out:
1,
Second s e r i e s s f load t e a t s .
[a) ImstaBI pfezometere to measure pare-water pressures,
(b) 1nezstal.l lateral movement gauges.
( c ) Install settlement plates at various depths in the peat.
(d) Conduct load t e s t s as for Stage 11.
2,
Field shear t e s t s .
fa)
Load peat to failure
- in different muskeg t y p e s ,
if possible.
(b) Analyze the failure, Check calculated shear values with vane
shear, cone pe~etrometerand laboratory values.
arUndiaturbed'D
peat samples will be sbtained throughout the
profile of the deposit %or laboratory cornpressHon and sheer teetfng, for
routine index teats, B&C.
STAGE I: SUMhAER 1962
- FIELD WORK
Vehicle
After considerable investigatieaw it was learned that a
Bombardier B. B. Carrier (amphibious) awned by the National Research
Cauncill, Divisfon sf Mechanical Engineering, coab%d be obtained on loan,
This vehicle provided generally eatisfacterry transportation over the
bog but it had variolas defect8 which might militate against the purchaee
of this particular model by the Division of Building Reeeareh. Csnsf der
able maintenance w a s requfred, particularly to the eHectricai gystem,
The motor H B compBete1y enclosed in a watertight compartment, making
access for repaire very difficult. The motor also had a tendency $0
overheat, e s that the vehicle could be driven only Psr an hour or 80 at the
most before it had to be allowed to c o d off. T o its advantageB however,
is the track system, which gave little trouble, even w h e n travelling o%*er
burned-over terrain containing tree stumps. Nevertheless, it was
necessary to clean the tracks of moss and other debris at least once
each day and often more frequently, depending upon the type of terrain.
-
Arrangemente were made to leave the vehicle overnight and
weekends in the farmyard of Mr. John Lauthier, a tenant in the last
house an the Dolman Ridge Road,
Survev of Mer Bleue Peat Boa
The Mer Bleue Bog wae found to be more heavily wooded
than originally anticipated, ss that it was not possible to adhere strictly
$0 the $-mile grid system - at least withoat extensive bush work.
Although the vehicle could negotiate in fairly heavy bush, quite
extensive areas had tree growth too large for the Bcsmbardier to get
through, In addition, past fires had left forests of dead tree trunks and
stumps which were extremely hard and brittle. These areas were an
e%Bective sftanktraps'and it was considered expedient to avoid them for
dear 0%track damage or puncturing of tires. As it was, on one excursion
into the fringe of a burned-aver area, a dead tree got caught in the track,
backlashed, and crashed through the windshield of the B ~ m b a r d i e r .
Consequently, it w a s found necessary t o scale dawn somewhat the actual extent 0% the surveyg and t o vary the distances between
the grid points w h e r e appropriate. An attempt w a e made to tie in g r i d
points with some location easily Identifiable from a e r i a l photographs.
In general, g r i d points were maintained in a north-aorrth and east -west
relationship ueing a simple compass. Distances w e r e m e a s u r e d by
counting the t r a c k rev04~tionsaf the Born4CBba.r dier. Figure 1 indicates
the %ocat%an
of the points where depth probes were made, and Table I
surnmarisee the field fnf~rrnationobtained, Figures 3 to 'I p o r t r a y
typicah areaka sf the PA@$ BBeue P e a t Bogo
Time did not permit s complete survey of the Bog during
the ~ u m m e r e The eelobelcbetween Balman and Bortbwick Ridges on the
w e s t and the large expanee sf bog between the two ditches on the east
end were untouched. In both cases, access w a s difficult f r o m the
"sheadquarters" a r e a on Dolman Ridge. Heavy t r e e growth prevented
easy accesa in the c a s e of the lobe of bog between the t w o ridges; the
width and depth of water in the ditch at the w e s t and retarded a c c e s s to
that area. The Bobe'sf bog to the north of Dolman Ridge a l s o is bisected
by a ditch which can create difficulty for the Bsmbardier, even though
it is not very deep or wide. Since this survey w a s c a r r i e d out, It haa
been learned that a eimilar survey w a s conducted in 1908 (29. The
resulte of this early survey provide vary useful confirmatory information
and are included as Appendix A s f this report.
Vane Shear and Cone Penetrometer T e s t s
A s e r i e s of vane shear and cone penetrometer t e s t s w e r e
c a r r i e d out in a single muskeg t y p e , at two grid points: 10-3N a n d
18-5M, 1%w a s originally intended to conduct such measurements at
other grid points in various muskeg t y p e s , but time d i d n s t p e r m i t this.
The r e s u l t s s f theee t e s t s a r e shown in F i g u r e s 8 t o Bl. The vane used
was a medium-size vane as deecribed 3x1 a previoue paper (31, F r i e t ~ s n
corrections were m a d e for these t e s t s , but w e r e found to be. insignificant
for the depths involved f o r this particular type of muskeg. The cone
penetrometer is a Soiltest rnodei CN-970, with a cone size as follows:
diameter at base
2 . 8 4 c m , height = 5. Bb c m . Penetrometer readings
were taken w h e r e limited muskeg a r e a s Qa f e w square feet in size] of
different coverage types were adjacent to each sther. Depth of cone
penetrometer meaeearementa were limited by the length of the rods
available. Vane teste w e r e c a r r i e d out only in the predominant vegetative
-
type.
Figur e e 8 and I 8 show the vane shear -depth relationship for
predominantly amon-woody fine-fibroue peate. An increase in shear
strength with depth i s observed dawn t o a depth of about 2* f t , followed
by a decline in strength. The shear strength i n c r e a s e s again at the
transitional zone between the peat and the mineral s a i l substratum.
The cone penetrometer tests are h a r d l y extensive enough
t o permit any definite eonaclueione t o be drawn. Nevertheless, it was
possible to make a preliminary assesamen$ sf this instrument. It is
mach simpler and fzster ts u s e than $8 the vane, and in this r e g a r d it
has
t o commend it. It does nots however, r e f l e c t sxact1y tb.e
same trend of ahease strength with depth ae does the vane. A continuing
increase in cane penetration P eeistance is indicated somewhat beyond
that point at which the vane ~ h e a r ~ t a s show
te
a deerease in strength.
Assuming that the vane apparatus i s an adequar-,adevice for refleeting
the conditions that actually exist, it m a y w e l l be that the cone panetreatmeter - at least of the small sf ze used
may not be appropriate far
all peat conditions. F u r t h e r csmparat-kva t e s t s will have to be carried
out to ~o~afbrm
this.
-
Figure 9 indicates the cone penetration reaiatance in three
different muskeg t y p e s . These curves r e p r e s e n t an average of the
r e s u l t s of t h r e e t e s t s in the s a m e area. The greatest r s s i e t a n c e to
penetration i s indicated for the PI muskeg, the l e a s t for BI, with E I
intersmediate. This is opposite to what might normally be expected.
The relationship in Figure B O is m o r e logical, however, except that
the va;buee for the EH area ape abnormally high, which indicate the
poseibilbty 0% a log (or heavy root mesh) below the 36-in. depth.
60NCEUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
From t h i s greliminar y survey, it appears that the most
appropriate location for a proposed t e s t site would be immediately
north s f the Dolman Ridge Road, in the vicinity of g r i d point EO -2E -1 5,
where the depth t o minerah soil is 18 ft. This i s an E I muekeg azea,
and is easily accessible from the road. Far a possible t e s t site in FH
muskeg, the a r e a immediately east of Dolman Ridge would be appropriate
(Figure 21. Finah choice of a suitable site, however, slkaodd await
completion of the sulrvey.
Ira the vicinity of the above-mentioned sites t h e r e would be
little difficulty in obtaining a building t o ehelter a vehicle, znd even
one for a field k e a d w a r t e r s, Many of the houses along the Dolman
Ridge Road are empty a n d a r e offered f o r rent. They a r e s m e d by
the National Capitall Csmmissioaa who have expropriated the land for the
Green Belt. E%ectricityand telephone s e r v i c e s w ~ u l d lalso be eanveniently available. All faci%i&iee
would have $0 be negotiated for with the
NCC.
The method of load application for the f i e l d settlement
teats muet essentially be simple and portable, yet effective, The u s e
of a t e s t f i l l sf gravel or s a ~ a dmay be an u%tima%a poesibility, but it
is advisable to utilize initially a simpler method of l o a d appliestisn.
It is suggested that a farm of "sPfpan5could poesibly be
used, which could act both as a rneane of carrying equipment, when
attached to a vehicle, and I B a method of appP$Pi;nga Load. It hecsa9%dbe
designed t o a e e o m m s d a t e flexible tanks of water so theht the load cauld
be varied. The bearing surface could be a plate, e. g. a 36-in. diameter,
3
-in. thick plywood plate, reinforced by aluminum alloy channel@,
Other platee of larger diameter could also be uaed. If the ~ 1 f p eis ~ I B D
sf a BPghtwei&t aluminum alloy, it esuld be attached t c s the plate and
left in that position for the duration of the %a&. A pump would supply
wafer to four tanks fn the ~Bipe,with the water being metered to p a ~ m i t
control sf the exact weight desired. Water tube levels attached to each
corner of the ~ l p e ,and leading to an adjacent control panel, wokpPd
help to assuss the operator of an even dietribution sf the load. A small
hole in the bearing plate and fn the bottom 0% the d i p e would give access
4,s eattlernent gauges and to piezometers, F o r future guidance, a
schematic drawing incorporating theee euggeetione is shown in Figjar e % 2.
References
(1)
Montreal Gazette? 24 Jane 196%.
, and S. A, Anrep, Investigatisn of Canada during the
(2) ~ ~ e t r k ! r n E,
season 1908-1909. Canada Dept, of Mines, Mines Branch,
Bulletin No. 1 {Report #SO), Ottawa, 1909,
)
MacFarlane, I. G. and A, Rutka, An evaluation of pavement
performance over rnea~lleegin Northern Ontario. Highway
Research Board Bulletin NQ. 316, 1962, p. 32-43,
TABLE 1
T OF FIELD SUWYE Y DATA
Grid
Surface
DRZ-EL
BR3-Nk
BFE at edge af FK
DR3-%.89
Depth
of
Slabsoil
4
Fins s a n d
F9
a
3
Sand
FI
a
$4
Bandy able
5
Gray silty clay
6
Blue -gray firm
rilty cloy
a
Gray eHay
EFIat edge of BEI
Patchy TI,
EI hummocks
Very wet; water at e u r k c e
Fairly soft clay
a
Clay
El;patches of Ff
Sand
Very wet; water at surfsee
BE%;FH patches
Silty sand
Very wet; water at surface
Fine sand
Very wet; wzter at aurfaee
F i n s eand
FI; El h u m r n o ~ k ~
a
Gray sand
Very lpboggylC
and wet aeea
Sand
V a r y w e t and soft zrea
Fine sand
Very wet s r e a
G r a y sand
Quite wet; did cone and vane
tarts
Sand
Shaky
- Bike a floating bog
IF; between FI
BParxt: and cone t e s t s carried
and BFH
out
Sand
DEI and DFE
Clay
Burned ever area.
Fine sand
V e r y D s s p ~ n g y&re%
it
El; small
FP pateke8
Bluish silt
Dry
Fine gray tiand
EI at edge of
Fine earad
L
Dry, 'vspowgy" area
A e BE%
Bluish etPty clay
a
Silty aand
Quf.te dry af ea
16.25
G r a y clay
Water at surface
17. 5
Blue-gray clay
Dry rsrxrface
Fine sand
V e r y wet area
29
D4-ZW
D4-3W
F1;E I hummocks
Ff alternating w i t h
a
5%
Fine sand
Extremely w e t ares
3
Sandy silt
32.
B r o w n sand
' V a r y w e t and shaky.
W a t e r at surface
Essentially a floating bog area
EH clumpm
RO
EH
15
Fairly soft chagr
D r y and crisp area
RB -lE
EI
!6
Clay
D r y surface
-
TABLE 1
Gafd
P% ~iiPLt
Surface
Cover
Topagraphy
8
Some a
RO-3E-BN
El; FI patches
BO-3E-BS
EI
RO-3E -2s
B
Flat
continued
DepeX
sf
Peat, f t
Subsoil
Twe
General Remarks
7)
Bandy milt
8
Band
Very dry area
Silty clay
Vane t e s t s carried out
94
Silty sand
Dry area
fJ$
9 and
Dry area
Stiff gray
eilty clay
Dry area
Stiff c l a y e y silt
Dry area
B8
17*
* Dl;
ssms D F I
RQ-4E
FI;alternating
with El clumps
RO-4E-1N
EX; eoma
W e t area
FE patches
Stiff eilty elay
Dry hummocky area
Stiff clay
G r a y sand
Dry area
Silty cPay
D r y area
Fine sand
Zairly dry; wet in depseesfim~
WO-6E
EI; earns FIpatcAes
Gray sand
Wummctcky area
RO-66-PM
FEI
Firm eilty slay
Fairly dry area
8 0 -4E
El
Gray sfit
Spongy area
RB-tE-1S
Edge of BEIandEH
Fine sand
RO -8E
EI
G r a y clay
D s y at surface
RO-8E-19
EP
Fins sand
Adjacentto heavy t s e e growth
GP
El; some BET
Firm gray clay
Vary dry area
Stiff elay
V e r y dry area; burwed over
C2
*
X0-IS
EI
Stiff clayey sfat
xc -0s
O~EI
Silt
XO-IW
(B)EI
Clay
X8-2W
EE
Silt
XO-ZW-IN
El
Silty clay
XQ-2W-2N EE
Sandy sitt
XO-2W-3N
(B)EI
Sandy a i i t
(B)EX
XQ-3W
(B)EI
Silty clay
XO-4W
F%;EIePurnps
Silty clay
x0-5W
EII
Flat
XO-6W
(B)EI
Flat
XO-SW-PN
EI
Flat
XO-7%'
EP
EI
EP
Flat
12i
Flat
10;
Siltyclay
Flat
l0-f
Firm silty clay
XO-8%:
XO-9W
*
14
Sand
Dry area
Plastic blue clay
Very d r y area
Blue siltyelay
Dry area
Greysiltyclay
D a y area
V e r y dry
Bracket (B) indicates possibility of this & ) ~ of
e cover prior to recent burn.
Figure 2
A e r i a l view sf M e s Bleue Peat Bog (from 3 5 , 0 0 0 f t ;
scale: 5600 f t = 1 in.
(Photograph c o u r t e s y RGAF.
$.
FIGURE
28
MER BLEUE P E A T B O G
- GW ID POINTS
8a3Qyl-3
Figure 3
Figure 4
G r i d Point 16 -3N
BFE a n d PI Muskeg
G r i d P o i n t RO -8E
E%Muskeg
Figure 5
Figure 6
Grid Point X6-6W
23% Muskeg
G r i d Point RO -5E
E %Muskeg
F i g u r e 47
G r i d P o i r n t XO
EP Muskeg
V A N E S H E A R , P. S . F .
FE Muskeg
FIGURE 8
VANE SHEAR T E S T G R I D POINT 10-3N
P E N E T R A T I O N R E S I S T A N C E , LB
60
70
80
90
100
110
FIGURE 9
C O N E P E N E T R O M E T E R G R I D P O INT 10-3N
120
VANE S H E A R , P. S . F .
100
rn
300
F I G U R E 1s
V A N E S H E A R T E S T G R I D P O I N T 10-5N
P E N E T R A T I O N R E % %S T A N C E , k B
20
3
40
50
FIGURE
70
a
93
100
11
C O N E PENETROMETER G R % D P O I N T 1 8 - 5 N
110
120
1%
LOAD I MG
Load fs applld by pumping water into 4 f lexlble tanks In
the slipe. An even load is applied to the bearing plate
and differential se3Sement avoidtd by adjusting the
water Bevel In the tanks as indicated by the water
e~k
levels.
FIGURE
s e ~ 9 g - Cl -~c ~
12
SCHEMATlC D R A W I N G OF L O A D I N G ARRANGEMENT
FOR MER B L E U E T E S T S
NOTES ON THE BAER BLEUE PEAT 886 FROM
M p m S BRANCH B U L L E T I N No. 1, 1969
[~yatr&m
and Anrep], Fagee 10 a n d 1 1
The bog is situated about 8 milee f r o m Ottawa, Ox~tarEoBW
the townships of GPsucester and Cambarland and covere m o r e or % e s e
sf:
Lots 6 3
Lots
3
Lets
h
Lote
Lots
kote
-
9 12 1
16, con. 111, township of GPouceeter.
25, con, %V,
16, con. V,
2 , eon, VII,
sl
?s
IL
8?
?!
w1
81
DF
9t
16, con. XI, township of Cumberland.
16, con. X,
DI
Tt
6I
'
The total area covered by this bog is approximately
5684 a c r e s . 8%t h i s area 1564 a c r e s have a depth of leas than 5 ft,
average depth 2 ft 9 in. ; 2237 a c r e s have a depth of 5 to P O ft,
average depth 6 ft 8 in. ; 856 a c r e s have a depth of 10 t o $ 5 ft,
average depth 1II f t 8 in. ; 347 acres have a depth of m o r e than 15 ft,
average depth 16 f t *
The peat is fairly well humified and unifsrm in quality.
bog
is thoroughly drained, the peat will probably s e t t l e f r o m
After the
one to three feet.
The bog consists of t h r e e distinct basins, p a r t l y separated
by t w o eomparative2y high ridges. T h e s e ridges are east o i $gat 5 in
GPoucester Township, partly s u b m e r g e d in the bog, but in places f a r m
what m a y p r o p e r l y be called islands in the bog. The bottom s f the bog
is a compact blue clay.
The principal vegetation forming the peat in t h i s bog is
Sphagnum, m o r e os: l e s s mixed with Eriopkorum, and many sther plant
types to a l e s s e r extent. Large a r e a s 0 %the surface of the bog a r e
covered by a more or l e a s heavy growth of s p r u c e and t a m a r a c k and
the peat itself i s intermixed with l a r g e quantities of rerate, trunks and
stumps of t r e e s .
The accompanying map indicates the range of depths thrsughout the Mer Bleue P e a t Bog. The notations A, B -, B and B+ r e f e r $0
humifirsatican a s r e l a t e d to the u s e of peat as a fuel and as such a r e not
r ePevawt to this r epoxt.