A preliminary study of peat resources in eastern Maine

Abstract

Nineteen peat deposits in southeastern Aroostook County (fig. 1) contain an estimated 4,987,000 tons of peat. The location, size and quality data for each deposit are given in tables 1, 2 and 3. Thirty-eight deposits in Washington County (fig. 2) contain an estimated 20,041,000 tons of peat. The location, size and quality data for each deposit are given in tables 4, 5 and 6. Twenty additional deposits containing estimated 3,802,000 tons in Washington County (fig. 2) were not sampled in detail but are described in tables 7 and 8. In addition to the deposits studied, it is estimated that there are at least as many more deposits of similiar size and quality in the area studied. Data in this study were obtained by conducting pace and compass traverses across swamps, marshes and heaths. Auger holes were put down by hand using a Davis sampler and Macaulay peat borer along the traverses to collect samples of the peat and to determine the thickness and stratigraphy of the deposits and the configuration of the depression in which they lie. The amount of peat was estimated from auger hole data and from the surface area measured on topographic and air photo maps. In calculating tonnages, 1 acre-foot of peat in place was considered equivalent to 200 tons of air-dried peat. Samples from all of the deposits were analyzed under the supervision of Irving May in the laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey for moisture, ash, organic content, water-holding capacity, fiber size (exceeding 0.15mm),and acidity.