Peat deposits of North Carolina

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PEAT DEPOSITS OF NORTH CAROLINA
ROY L. INGRAM
BULLETIN 88
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DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCES
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SECTION
RALEIGH, 1987
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SECTION
The Geological Survey Section shall, by law "...make such examination,
survey, and mapping of the geology, mineralogy, and topography of the state,
including their industrial and economic utilization as it may consider
necessary."
In carrying out its duties under this law, the section promotes the wise
conservation and use of mineral resources by industry, commerce, agriculture,
and other governmental agencies for the general welfare of the citizens of North
Carolina.
The section conducts a number of basic and applied research projects in
environmental resource planning, mineral resource exploration, mineral
statistics, and systematic geologic mapping. Services constitute a major portion
of the Section's activities and include identifying rock and mineral samples
submitted by the citizens of the state and providing consulting services and
specially prepared reports to other agencies that require geological information.
The Geological Survey Section publishes results of research in a series of
Bulletins, Economic Papers, Information Circulars, Education Series, Geologic
Maps, and Special Publications. For a more complete list of publications or more
information about the Section please write: Geological Survey Section, P.O. Box
27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 26711.
Jeffrey C. Reid
Chief Geologist
PEAT DEPOSITS OF NORTH CAROLINA
by
ROY L. INGRAM
Professor of Geology
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
BULLETIN 88
Work performed under Grants
from
United States Department of Energy
DE-AC18-79FC14693
DE-AC01-79ET14693
and
North Carolina Energy Institute LIBRARY
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCES
Doc
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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SECTION
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RALEIGH, 1987
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CONTENTS
Page Page
Abstract 1
Introduction 1
Methods 2
Field Methods 2
Laboratory Methods 3
Nature of North Carolina peat 3
Peat Types 3
Composition and Heating Value 4
Moisture and Water Budget 4
Ash.-. 5
Heating Value 6
^ Proxifiate Analysis 6
Ultimate Analysis 7
Trace Elements 8
tfcffl^ :''*P*--* 8
\^*^'»*$fuTk Densitydf 8
Calculation of Peat Reserves/Resources. ...9
Uses of Peat 11
Peat Deposits 12
Geologic Types 12
Coastal Swamps or Pocosins .12
Dismal Swamp 13
Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula 15
Gull Rock 17
Van Swamp 18
Bay City - Gum Swamp 20
Light Ground Pocosin 22
Open Grounds Pocosin 23
Croatan Forest 25
Hofmann Forest 26
Angola Swamp 28
Holly Shelter Swamp 29
Green Swamp 30
Others 31
Carolina Bays 33
River Floodplains 34
Chowan River 34
Roanoke River 35
Cape Fear River 58
Other River Floodplains 60
Tidal or Coastal Marshes 60
Total Peat Resources of North Carolina 61
Acknowledgments 61
References 62
Appendix
A. Scheme for Assigning Location
Numbers on U.S. Geological
Survey Quadrangle Maps 67
B. Proximate and Ultimate
Analyses of North Carolina
Peats 68
c
ILLUSTRATIONS
(Plates are in pocket)
Plate
1. Isopach map of Dismal
Swamp peats
2. Isopach map of Albemarle -
Pamlico peninsula peats
3. Isopach map of Croatan
Forest peats
Page Page
Figure Figure
1. Map showing location of
fuel-grade peat deposits of
North Carolina 2
2. Frequency distribution of
peat thickness in coastal
swamp or pocosin peats 4
3. Relation of peat heating
values to ash content 7
4. Frequency distribution of
range of 287 sets of
triplicate bulk density
determinations of North
Carolina peats 8
5. Frequency distribution of
bulk densities of North
Carolina peats 9
6. Bulk density - moisture
relation of North Carolina
peats 10
7. Relation of bulk density to
depth of North Carolina
peats 11
8. Relation of bulk density to
total thickness of North
Carolina peats 11
9. Isopach map of Gull Rock
peat 17
10. Isopach map of Van Swamp
peat 19
1 1
.
Isopach map of Bay City -
Gum Swamp peat 21
12. Isopach map of Light Ground
Pocosin peat 22
13. Isopach map of Open Grounds
Pocosin peat 24
14. Isopach map of Hofmann
Forest peat 27
15. Isopach map of Angola Swamp
peat 29
16. Isopach map of Holly Shelter
Swamp peat 30
17. Isopach map of Green Swamp
peat 32
18. Distribution of Carolina
bays longer than 800 ft in
North Carolina. From Prouty,
1952 34
19. Index to maps showing Caro-lina
bays with peat 36
20. Carolina bays - map 1 36
21. Carolina bays - map 2 37
22. Carolina bays - map 3 37
23. Carolina bays - map 4 38
24. Carolina bays - map 5 39
25. Carolina bays - map 6 40
26. Carolina bays - map 7 40
27. Carolina bays - map 8 41
28. Carolina bays - map 9 42
29. Carolina bays - map 10 43
30. Carolina bays - map 11 44
31. Carolina bays - map 12.... 45
32. Carolina bays - map 13 45
33. Carolina bays - map 14 46
34. Carolina bays - map 15 46
35. Carolina bays - map 16 47
36. Carolina bays - map 17 47
37. Carolina bays - map 18 48
38. Carolina bays - map 19 48
39. Isopach map of Chowan River
peats 57
40. Map showing location of
Roanoke River peats 59
41. Isopach map of Cape Fear
River peats near Wilmington 59
in
TABLES
Page
Table
Page
Table
1
.
Peat types based on degree 21
.
of decomposition (humifica-tion)
4 22.
2. Summary of composition and
heating values of North
Carolina peats 6 23.
3. Comparison of North Carolina,
Maine, and Minnesota peats 6 24.
4. Carbon- 14 ages of basal peats
in North Carolina 13
5. Time-distribution of Carbon- 25.
14 ages of basal peats in
North Carolina 13 26.
6. Composition and heating
values of Dismal Swamp
peats 14 27.
7. Peat resources of Dismal
Swamp 14 28.
8. Composition and heating
values of Albemarle-Pamlico 29.
peninsula peats 16
9. Peat resources in Albemarle- 30.
Pamlico peninsula 16
10. Composition and heating
values of Gull Rock peats 18 31.
1 1
.
Peat resources in Gull Rock
area 18 32.
12. Composition and heating
values of Van Swamp peats 18
13. Peat resources in Van Swamp 19
14. Composition and heating 33.
values of Bay City - Gum
Swamp peats 20
15. Peat resources in Bay City - 34.
Gum Swamp 20
16. Composition and heating 35.
values of Light Ground
Pocosin peats 23
17. Peat resources in Light 36.
Ground pocosin 23
18. Composition and heating 37.
values of Open Grounds
Pocosin peats • 23
19. Peat resources in Open
Grounds Pocosin 25 38.
20. Composition and heating
values of Croatan Forest
peats 25
Peat resources in Croatan
Forest 26
Composition and heating
values of Hofmann Forest
peats 28
Peat resources in Hofmann
Forest 28
Composition and heating
values of Angola Swamp
peats 28
Peat resources in Angola
Swamp 29
Composition and heating
values of Holly Shelter
Swamp peats 30
Peat resources in Holly
Shelter Swamp 31
Composition and heating
values of Green Swamp peats 31
Peat resources in Green
Swamp 33
Composition and heating
values of Carolina bay
peats 35
Carolina bays with the most
peat thicker than 4 ft 35
List of Carolina bays
showing maximum thickness,
moisture and ash content,
and peat resources 49
Composition and heating
values of Chowan River
peats 58
Peat resources (partial) in
Chowan River floodplain 58
Composition and heating
values of Cape Fear River
peats 60
Peat resources (partial) in
Cape Fear River floodplain 60
Composition and heating
values of tidal marsh peats
from lower Cape Fear River
estuary 61
North Carolina peat
resources 61
IV
PEAT DEPOSITS OF NORTH CAROLINA
By ROY L. INGRAM
ABSTRACT
Fuel-grade peat is an accumulation of partially
decomposed plant material that has less than 25
percent non-combustible material (ash). In eastern
North Carolina peat has formed in the past 10,000
years in swamps or pocosins (coastal swamps),
Carolina bays, and river floodplains. Most of the
peat is found at the surface with no over-burden
and usually ranges in thickness from 1 to 15 ft
with an average of 4 1/2 ft.
North Carolina peats are moderately to highly
decomposed (hemic or sapric peats) and are usually
black and fine-grained. The moisture content
averages about 84 percent but usually increases
from the surface downward, reflecting the seasonal
up and down movement of the water table. The
mean ash content of the fuel-grade peats is about
7.4 percent, but ash contents of less than 5 percent
are common in most peat deposits. Heating values
average 10,100 Btu/lb on a moisture-free basis.
Proximate analyses show that North Carolina peats
average 35 percent fixed carbon and 60 percent
volatiles; and ultimate analyses show averages of
60 percent carbon, 5.0 percent hydrogen, 28
percent oxygen, 1.4 percent nitrogen, and 0.2
percent sulfur. Compared to most coals, peat is a
low-sulfur fuel.
In the calculation of peat reserves/resources,
volumes of peat must be multiplied by bulk
density, the moisture-free weight per unit volume
of in situ peat. Bulk densities primarily reflect
the moisture content and range from 50 to 400
moisture-free tons per acre-foot with an average of
about 200 tons. The accuracy of the calculation of
peat reserves/resources is highly dependent on the
knowledge of local bulk densities.
Fuel-grade peat deposits cover about 677,000
acres (1060 sq mi) in coastal North Carolina with
total resources of about 500 million tons of
moisture-free peat. Of this total, about 284,000
acres (444 sq mi) with 319 million tons are
underlain by peat greater than 4 ft thick. Peat
resources are concentrated in the pocosins or
coastal swamps of northeastern North Carolina with
the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula having 55
percent of the resources and the Dismal Swamp, 11
percent. The remaining coastal swamp deposits are
small but significant. Although 96 Carolina bays
have peat, only 46 have peat greater than 4 ft thick;
and only one has more than 1 million tons of peat.
None of the river floodplain peats located were very
large, continuous, or of high quality.
INTRODUCTION
The petroleum crisis of the early 1970's led to
a national reevaluation of alternative energy
resources within the United States. One neglected
energy resource that is in abundant supply in
many parts of the country, including North
Carolina, is peat. In addition to its common use as
a soil conditioner, peat can be used as a fuel for
direct combustion replacing coal and as a chemical
feedstock in the production of synthetic gasoline,
gas, and alcohol. (U.S. Department of Energy, 1979;
Punwani and Weatherly, 1980).
Because the location, thickness, quantity, and
quality of peat deposits of the United States was
known only in a general way (Soper and Osbon,
1922; Cameron, 1973; Farnham, 1980), the U.S.
Department of Energy started a program in the late
1970's to inventory the fuel-grade peat deposits of
the United States. The work presented in this
report results from field work from 1979 to 1983
supported by grants from the U.S. Department of
Energy and the North Carolina Energy Institute.
Peat is a brown to black, unconsolidated
deposit of partially decomposed and disintegrated
plant material that has accumulated in
water-saturated environments, such as swamps,
marshes, bogs, and fens. Most peats contain
impurities of inorganic sediments that will not
burn. Fuel-grade peat is defined as peat that has
less than 25% of noncombustible material (ash).
Figure 1 shows the location of the fuel-grade peat
deposits of North Carolina.
DISMAL SWP.
PAMLIMARLE PEN.
GULL ROCK
Jj
VAN SWP.
BAY CITY POC
- GUM SWP.
LIGHT GROUND POC
OPEN GROUNDS POC.
CROATAN FOR
HOFMANN FOR.
ANGOLA SWP.
HOLLY SHELTER
GREEN SWP.
Figure 1. Map showing location of fuel-grade peat deposits of North Carolina.
METHODS
Field Methods
As almost all of the peat deposits are found at
the surface with no overburden, soils maps were
used as guides in locating potential peat deposits.
Areas shown as histosols (soils with more than 25
percent organic matter and thicker than 16
inches) 1 were investigated. In areas where
fuel-grade peat (greater than 75 organic matter)
was found, samples were taken at one-foot depth
intervals using mainly a Macauley peat sampler
(Raymond, 1979, p. 1-6), but sometimes with a
Davis peat sampler, or a screw auger, down into the
underlying mineral sediments (sand and/or clay).
Samples were placed in water tight plastic bags and
site locations were plotted on 1: 24,000 scale U.S.
Geological Survey orthophotographic maps.
At selected sites, larger samples (about 1 pint)
were collected for proximate and ultimate analyses
and for heating-value determinations. At other
selected sites, samples of known volume (200 cc)
were taken with a Macauley sampler for bulk
density determinations.
In order to cover the large areas of potential
peat deposits within time and budget limitations,
sampling was done at approximate one-half mile
intervals along lines of "easiest" access (roads,
"roads" along ditches, trails, etc.). Frequently
there were no lines of easy access, and trails were
cut through the swamp vegetation with machetes.
In critical areas where peat thickness seemed to be
changing rapidly, sample spacing was less than
one-half mile. The maps in this report that show
peat thicknesses are reasonably accurate. Users of
these maps should realize the limitations imposed
by the sample-site spacing and should consider
supplementing these maps with additional
closer-spaced sample-sites in selected areas.
Laboratory Methods
The moisture and ash content of nearly all
samples (about 10,000) were determined by heating
about lOg in 17 ml flat-bottom crucibles at 105°C
until moisture-free (about 16 hours), and then by
heating at 550° C until all the organic matter was
burned (about 1 hour).
Samples for bulk density (moisture-free weight
per unit volume) determinations were collected in
triplicate at one-foot depth intervals with a
Macauley sampler with an inside diameter of 1 5/8
inches (40.13 cm). One-foot sections of the
Macauley core (200cc) were placed in pre-weighed
moisture-tight and autoclavable containers and
then, with the lid removed, heated at 105°C to
constant weight (about 3 days). The calculated
bulk density expressed as g/cc when multiplied by
1360 will give the bulk density in moisture-free
tons per acre-foot, or when multiplied by 1000 will
7.
give the bulk density as kg/m .
Proximate analyses (moisture, volatile matter,
fixed carbon, and ash), ultimate analyses (carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur), and
heating-value (Btu/lb) determinations were made
by the Coal Analysis Laboratory, U.S. Department
of Energy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Grand
Forks, North Dakota. Some analyses were provided
by First Colony Farms, Creswell, N.C. (labelled FC
in Appendix).
NATURE OF NORTH CAROLINA PEAT
Peat Types
Peat is an accumulation of dead plant matter in
swamps. The plant material gradually rots and
decomposes, changing the original easily
recognizable plant material into smaller and
smaller particles. The theoretical end product of
the decomposition or humification process is a peat
"muck" composed entirely of microscopic organic
particles with no recognizable plant fragments.
There is, therefore, a continuum of peat types
based . on the degree of decomposition
(humification). Two schemes for classifying peat
(Table 1) are based on. (1) fiber content (plant
fragments larger than 0.15 mm), and (2) reaction to
being squeezed, the Von Post 1 to 10 scale.
Most North Carolina peats are moderately to
highly decomposed (.hemic to sapric, or Von Post 5
to 10). Cohen (1979) microscopically determined
the fiber content of 98 samples from the
Albermarle-Pamlico peninsula and found 54
percent to be sapric, 33 percent hemic, and 13
percent fibric. In another study, the Peat Institute
of Leningrad, U.S.S.R., estimated the degree of
decomposition of peats from North Carolina to be
from 45 to 60 percent (Campbell, 1981).
Two main types of peat are found in North
Carolina: (1) an upper brownish black, fine
grained, highly decomposed sapric peat that
usually lies over (2) a lower dark reddish brown,
decomposed somewhat fibrous sapric peat. When
water saturated, both of these types have the
general appearance and consistency of black axle
grease or chocolate pudding. The black sapric peat
dominates the upper 4 to 5 ft. As collected in the
field, these peats appear to have very little
macroscopic plant debris; but when wet sieved
through a 0.5 mm sieve, however, a fair amount of
wood fibers, leaves, seeds, and charcoal fragments
are revealed. The upper black sapric peat probably
accumulated in a swamp forest environment. The
reddish brown, more fibrous peat is usually found
beneath the black sapric peat in the deeper parts of
peat-filled channels and the basal parts of broad
shallow basins and probably accumulated in open
shallow-water ponds and marshes.
Both types of peat may contain varying amounts
of wood as fallen logs and branches usually of
white cedar and cypress. At places the wood
content is high enough to interfere with the
potential mining of the peat. For ten 2x2x2 ft
samples in the top 4 ft of Albemarle-Pamlico
peninsula peats, Cohen (1979) measured wood
contents of 1 to 47 percent with a mean of 16
percent on a dry-weight basis.
In most of the deposits, the peat is found at the
surface and continues down to the top of the
underlying mineral sediment. The contact between
the peat and the mineral sediment (sand and/or
clay) is usually a transitional layer about 1 ft
thick but may be 2 to 3 ft thick in some of the
deeper, peat-filled channels:
The median thickness of the peat is about 4 1/2
ft with 90 percent of the peat being less than 7 ft
thick. In places there are peat-filled channels that
may be 15 to 20 ft thick (Fig. 2).
TABLE 1. PEAT TYPES BASED ON DEGREE OF DECOMPOSITION (HUMIFICATION)
Slightly
Decomposed
Moderately
Decomposed
Highly
Decomposed
I. USDA Name1
pet. Fiber > 0.15mm
Fibric
100 - 67
Hemic
67-33
Sapric
33-0
II. Von Post No.
A. Initial water
1,2,3
Abund, clear to ylw
4,5,6,7
It to muddy brn
8,9,10
little or none, blk
B. Squeeze Test none to 50 pcL 50tol00pcL
Farnham and Finney, 1965 - modified USDA soil name.
"von Post, 1924; Henderson and Doiron, 1981.
Water released from a ball of peat that is repeatedly squeezed very lightly and gently, like
squeezing an egg without breaking.
iAmount of peat that escapes between fingers when peat ball is slowly but Firmly squeezed in a
closed fist-
Composition and Heating Value
Table 2 summarizes and the Appendix gives
details of the proximate and ultimate analyses of
North Carolina peats.
MOISTURE AND WATER BUDGET
For about 8700 samples with less than 25
percent ash from nearly all of the peat deposits,
the moisture content ranged up to 95 percent with a
mean of 84 percent. The mean moisture content of
individual deposits ranged from 73 to 88 percent.
This measured difference between individual
deposits may not be real, however, as samples were
collected over a four-year period with varying
positions of the water table. The moisture content
is related to several variables, which are often
interrelated: (1) depth, (2) total thickness of the
peat, (3) distance from drainage channels, (4)
botanical composition, (5) degree of decomposition,
and (6) precipitation and evapotranspiration
(seasons).
The moisture content in general increases with
depth. The water table moves up and down reacting
to variations in precipitation and
evaporation-transpiration. The normal low
position of the water table divides a peat bed into
two parts: (1) an upper "acrotelm", and (2) a lower
"catotelm" (Ingram, H., 1978; Ingram, H. and Bragg,
1984). In the lower catotelm or inactive zone, the
peat is permanently saturated with high moisture
contents usually in the 85 to 95 percent range.
Variations in moisture content (40 to 85 percent)
are greatest in the upper acrotelm or active zone,
the upper 3 to 5 ft through which the water table
moves up and down. Samples collected from the
active zone at the same site and depth but at
different times can have widely different moisture
contents. Elevation can also influence the moisture
content as peats near sea level have a limited range
of possible thicknesses of the active zone.
The less decomposed (more fibrous) peats have
a higher water-holding-capacity than the more
decomposed (less fibrous) peats and therefore have
a higher potential moisture content. The type of
vegetation from which peat is derived also
influences the water-holding-capacity and the
potential moisture content.
The more variable, and usually lower, moisture
content of the top 3 to 5 ft, the acrotelm or active
zone, is related to the fluctuations in the position
of the water table as the result of changing
relationships between precipitation and
10
% THICKER THAN (BY HOLES)
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
~ 6
t 7
«/> 8
if)
o 10
F II
2!
Figure 2. Frequency distribution of peat thickness in coastal
swamp or pocosin peats.
evapo-transpiration, and the irreversible collapse
of capillary openings as water is removed from the
peat. The commonly observed increase in moisture
content at depths of 3 to 5 ft probably represents
the position of the normal seasonal low position of
the water table. Once partially dehydrated, peat
cannot fully re-hydrate. The moisture content in
the near-surface active zone varies with seasonal
changes in precipitation and especially
evapo-transpiration. In general, the moisture
content and the water table are higher in winter
than in summer. During summer months when
temperatures are high and vegetation is fully
leafed-out, evaporation and transpiration are
highest, which results in a falling water table and a
lower moisture content of the near-surface peat.
During winter months when temperatures are low
and much of the swamp vegetation is dormant,
evapo-transpiration is low, and the moisture
content of the peat can be replenished as the water
table rises closer to the surface.
Many of the moisture and hydrologic
characteristics of peatlands are best understood by
an analysis of the water budget equation:
P = R + S + ET + G,
where:
P = precipitation
R = run-off (surface run-off + rapid
near-surface lateral flow)
S = temporary storage, or soak-in, which
causes water table to rise
ET = evaporation and transpiration
G = seepage from base of peat into ground
water system beneath peat.
In eastern North Carolina annual precipitation
averages about 50 in. but may vary from 30 to 70
in. (Heath, 1975). On an average about 70 percent
of the annual precipitation ultimately is returned
to the atmosphere by evapo-transpiration, about 30
percent is disposed of by run-off, and less than 1
percent seeps from the peat into the underlying
ground water system (Heath, 1975; Daniel, 1981;
Vandenberg, and Knoerr 1983; Gale and Adams,
1984). The water that is temporarily stored is
ultimately disposed of, mainly by evapo-transpiration.
The water budget equation can be used to
analyze many different situations. For example,
when the water table is high, there is little room
for storage so that most of the precipitation
becomes run-off. When the water table is low,
there is room for storing much precipitation which
causes a decrease in run-off. In general, run-off is
highest during the winter and lowest during the
summer.
In a natural undisturbed peatland, there is
usually an upper layer about 1 ft thick that has a
relatively high hydraulic conductivity and through
which water can flow rapidly both vertically and
laterally. This layer has developed openings
through which water can flow because of surface
drying and cracking and the presence of a porous
root mat system. Hydraulic conductivities are in
the range of 360 to 12,000 cm/day. Below this
upper layer, hydraulic conductivity decreases very
rapidly in an exponential manner (Ingram, H. and
Bragg, 1984). Below the acrotelm or active zone,
water-saturated peat is essentially impervious
which basically isolates water in the peat from the
underlying ground water system. Measured
hydraulic conductivities in the catotelm or inactive
zone are in the range of 0.2 to 3.0 cm/day (Daniel,
1981; Gilliam and Skaggs, 1981; Skaggs, and others,
1982; Gregory, and others, 1984).
ASH
Organic-rich sediments, including peat, are
composed of organic matter and inorganic matter.
When burned the organic matter is consumed
leaving the inorganic matter as "ash". Most of the
ash is usually sand, silt, and clay that was washed
or blown into the peat swamp. Some of the ash,
however, can come from living organisms. Many
plants contain small amounts of minute pieces of
opaline silica and other inorganic compounds such
as weddellite, a calcium oxalate (Sawyer and
Griffin, 1983; Griffin and others, 1984). Swamp
and swamp-lake waters can also contain variable
amounts of living diatoms, an algae with cell walls
that contain microscopic pieces of silica. Silica
from diatoms can be abundant in peat.
For about 8,700 samples with ash less than 25
percent from essentially all of the peat deposits of
North Carolina, the mean ash content was 7.4
percent. The mean ash content of individual
deposits ranged from 5 to 12 percent. In nearly all
of the deposits, ash contents are highest in
transition zones near the edges and bottoms of the
deposits. Away from the edges and bottoms of the
peat deposits, ash contents of less than 5 percent
are common. At the base of most peat deposits
there is a transition zone from low-ash peat to
high-ash peat to mineral sediment (clay-silt-sand).
Normally the transition zone is less than 1 ft thick;
but beneath some of the thicker channel-fill peats,
the transition zone may be 2 to 4 ft thick.
HEATING VALUE
The heating value of over 400 samples with less
than 25 percent ash ranged from 7,400 to 11,600
Btu/lb with a median of 10,100 (Table 2 and
Appendix). The median of individual deposits
ranged from 9,200 to 10,600 Btu/lb.
TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT) AND
HEATING VALUES OF NORTH CAROLINA PEAT
(408 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 7,400
H2
40
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS l
Volatiles 47
Fixed Carbon 26
Ash 1
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 2
C 46
H 3.7
«) 19
N 0.4
S 0.1
Ash 1
Moisture-free basis.
^Tie mean moisture content of about 8700 samples with less than 25 percent
ash was 85 percent.
-3
The mean ash content of about 8700 samples with less than 25 percent ash
was 7.4 percent
the peats of the cooler northern regions and,
therefore, have higher heating values. For example,
Minnesota peats average about 8,900 Btu/lb and
Maine peats average about 9,600 Btu/lb as
compared to about 10,100 Btu/lb for North Carolina
J
peats (Table 3).
TABLE 3. COMPARISON OF AVERAGE COMPOSITION (WEIGHT
PERCENT) OF MOISTURE-FREE PEATS WITH LESS THAN
25 PERCENT ASH FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MAINE,
AND MINNESOTA «
North Carolina Maine Minnesota
00
83
11,600
95
BTU/LB
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS
10,100
83
Volatiles 60
60
35
68
45
24
Fixed Carbon
Ash
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS
35
5
C 60
60 66 11 5.0
5.0 6.3 O 28
28 35 N 1.4
1.4 2.6 S 0.2
0.2 2.9 Ash 5
*5 24
9600 8900
90 90
67 64
29 27
4 9
56 52
5.6 5.3
32 31
1.9 2.3
0.3 0.4
4 9
This report, Table 2, 408 samples.
"Davis, Anderson, and Cameron, 1980, 147 samples.
^Minnesota Peat Inventory Project (1980, p. 18) and (1982, p. 27), 493 samples.
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS
The heating value of peat is controlled by
several variables, the main one being the ash
content. As the organic matter in peat is diluted
with ash components, heating values decline (Fig.
3). For a given ash content, however, there is a
considerable range in heating values. Work by
Luukkanen (1984) and others has shown that the
botanical composition and the degree of
decomposition of the peat also influences heating
values. The heating value of moisture-free original
plant material varies from 7,000 to 9,400 Btu/lb
depending on the type of plant and the part of the
plant. According to Luukkanen, the main
controlling factor is the amount of bitumen which
varies from 1 to 20 percent and is highest in
certain types of plants, especially dwarf shrubs,
and in the leaves of plants. With increasing
decomposition or humification of peat, the bitumen
content, and therefore the heating value, increases.
Decomposition is more advanced in the peats of
North Carolina and other southern states than in
North Carolina peats with less than 25 percent
ash average 35 percent fixed carbon and 60 percent
volatiles, but there is considerable variation
between samples and between deposits (Table 2 and
Appendix). The fixed carbon ranged from 26 to 45
percent between samples and from averages of 32 to
39 percent between deposits. The volatiles ranged
from 47 to 68 percent between samples and from 52
to 62 percent between deposits. The reasons for
these variations are not fully known. Part, but not
all, of the variations reflect variations in ash
content; but differences in botanical composition
and degree of decomposition probably are also
important.
In the coalification process (vegetation to peat
to coal), generally fixed carbon and heating value
increase and volatiles decrease. These trends are
evident when the less decomposed Minnesota peats
are compared with the more decomposed North
Carolina peats (Table 3).
10
ooo
X
CD
3
8
•
•••••
•
w '
•• * *
•
•• •
• •
••
•
•
J
,
• .
•
•
•
•
1
• •
•
•
•
1
•
•
•
•
10 20 30
%ASH (MOISTURE- FREE)
Figure 3. Relation of peat heating values to ash content of North Carolina peats.
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS
The major elements in North Carolina peats
with less than 25 percent ash average 60 percent
carbon, 5.0 percent hydrogen, and 28 percent
oxygen, but there is considerable variation between
samples and between deposits (Table 3 and
Appendix). The carbon content ranged from 46 to
66 percent between samples and from 54 to 63
percent between deposits. The hydrogen content
ranged from 3.7 to 6.3 percent between samples and
from 3.9 to 5.5 percent between deposits. The
oxygen content ranged from 19 to 35 percent
between samples and from 24 to 30 percent between
deposits. As with the ultimate analyses, these
variations reflect differences in ash content and
probably differences in botanical composition and
degree of decomposition.
The nitrogen content averages 1.4 percent with
a range of 0.4 to 2.6 percent between samples and a
range of 0.8 to 1.8 percent between deposits. North
Carolina peats have a somewhat lower nitrogen
content than those of Minnesota and Maine (Table
3) and about the same nitrogen content as a typical
coal (Cady, 1977).
The sulfur content averages 0.2 percent with a
range of 0.1 to 2.9 percent between samples and a
range of 0.2 to 0.4 percent between deposits. Only
7 of over 400 samples had sulfur in excess of 1
percent, the upper boundary of low-sulfur coal
(Averitt, 1973). Most of the peats with the higher
sulfur contents apparently have been subjected to
marine or brackish waters during their
development with the sulfur coming from the
sulfates found in sea water. All of the tidal marsh
organic sediments had above average sulfur (0.6 to
1.4 percent).
TRACE ELEMENTS
No work was done on trace elements for his
study. Interested readers are referred to Daniel
(1981); Evans and others (1984); North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources (1983); Gough and
others (1979); and Shacklette and Boerngen (1984).
Daniel (1981) analyzed 49 peat samples from
Dare County for 83 elements and found 15 elements
below instrumental detection limits and 68
elements above detection limits. He concluded that
the concentration and distribution of elements in
these peats are very similar to those found in coal.
Of the 68 detectable elements, 61 had
concentration less than the average for rocks of the
earth's crust.
pH
Natural drainage waters from undisturbed peat
are typically high in humic acids and low in pH.
The natural pH of undeveloped peat soils is mainly
in the range of 3.4 to 4.2 (Barnes, 1981; Skaggs and
others, 1980; Gregory and others, 1984) with an
average of about 3.8 (Gilliam and Skaggs, 1981).
Higher values are found near bodies of brackish
water (Cohen, 1979).
Normal rainwater (rainwater in equilibrium
with ambient levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide)
has a pH of 5.6. Precipitation in eastern North
Carolina has pH values of 4.5 to 5 (Heath, 1975).
Bulk Density
In order to calculate the weight of peat in a
given deposit or area, the volume of peat must be
multiplied by the bulk density of the peat
(moisture-free weight per unit volume). The
accuracy of resource or reserve calculations
depends greatly on the accuracy of the bulk
densities used in tr|e calculations (Bastin and
Davis, 1909; Ingram, 1984; Ijas and others, 1984;
Largin, 1984; Klemetti and Keys; 1983).
The bulk density of peat is not only not
constant but is highly variable, reflecting
primarily varying moisture contents. Moisture,
and therefore bulk density, changes with time and
also varies with vertical and horizontal position
within a peat body. In order to determine the
magnitude and variability of the bulk density of
North Carolina peat, samples were collected at
about 70 sites in triplicate at one-foot vertical
intervals with a Macauley peat sampler.
Triplicate samples at each depth were taken as
close together as possible and usually within a
radius of 5 to 10 ft. The presence of buried logs
prevented sampling from within a pre-determined
radius. For the 287 sets of triplicate samples (or a
total of 861 samples), the difference between the
high and low values of bulk density ranged from 2
to 132 moisture-free tons per acre-foot with a
median of 28, a mean of 32, and a standard
deviation of 23 (Fig. 4). At a given point within a
peat deposit, local lateral variations in bulk
density are of considerable magnitude.
For 888 bulk density determination of peat
with less than 25 percent ash that include most of
ioo
00
3?
60
<
_)
2 40
3o
20 -
M
M
S'
T/AF KG/MS
EDIAN 26 2 1
EAN 32 24
rr> dfv ?* 1
7
u—
1
—J
30-
20
<
(T
o
X
10
v
O 20 40 60 80 IOO 120
RANGE OF BULK DENSITY, TONS/ACRE-FT.O % H2
Figure 4. Frequency distribution of range of 287 sets of
triplicate bulk density determinations of North
Carolina peats.
the peat deposits in North Carolina, bulk densities
ranged from 50 to 400 moisture-free tons per
acre-foot with a median of 170 and a mean of 177
(Fig. 5). About two-thirds of the determinations
fall between 110 and 240. Variations in bulk
density are considerable.
IOO 200 300
BULK DENSITY - TONS/ACRE-FT, % H2
Figure 5. Frequency distribution of bulk densities of North
Carolina peats. 902 samples from 68 sites.
(Klemetti and Keys, 1982; Ijas and others, 1984).
Some reported values and some projected value of
D are slightly above 1.0 g/cc while others are
slightly below. Therefore, as a simplistic first
approximation, DQ can be assigned a value of 1.0
g/cc =1.0 T/cu m = 1,000 kg/cu m = 10,000 T/ha-m
= 1,360 t/acre-ft. The equations for the density-moisture
straight line then become:
D = - 0.01M + 1, if D in g/cc or T/m3
D = - 10.0M + 1,000, if D in kg/m3
D = - 100 M + 10,000, if D in T/ha-m
D = - 13.6M + 1,360, if D in tons/acre-ft.
The points on Figure 6 that fall distinctly
below the line are mainly from samples taken a
depths of less than 3 or 4 ft. At shallow depths
when the water table is low, water can apparently
be removed by evapo-transpiration without
concurrent compaction. Estimates of bulk density
of the upper 3 to 4 ft based on moisture content are
generally 10 to 40 percent too high, but this varies
depending on the depth to the water table.
Although there is much variation, bulk density
decreases with depth reflecting the fact that, in
general, the moisture content increases with depth
(Fig.7).
Except for very thin layers of peat (1 to 2 ft),
the bulk density also decreases with increasing
total thickness of the peat, which again reflects the
increase in moisture with depth (Fig. 8). For thin
layers of peat at the surface, the bulk density is
low probably because of a better developed
root-mat system.
Calculation of Peat Reserves/Resources
An almost linear relationship exists between
the bulk density (D) and the percent moisture (M)
(Fig. 6). The bulk density at 100 percent moisture
is by definition zero, and the bulk density at zero
percent moisture (Do) is the density of pure
moisture-free peat matter. The equation of the
straight line connecting the two points is therefore:
D,
D= -
100
M + Do
Reported measurements of the density of
moisture-free, highly compressed peat (D Q ) are
scarce (Bastin and Davis, 1909; Ingram, 1984).
Other values of D can be estimated by projecting
Density-Moisture curves to zero percent moisture
In order to calculate the weight of peat in a
given deposit, volume of peat must be multiplied by
bulk density. Final results are no more accurate
than the accuracy of the determination of these two
components. Standard rules concerning retention
of significant figures for observations and
calculations must be followed to avoid giving false
impressions of accuracy (Snedecor, 1946, p.
95-97).
For first approximations some average figure
for bulk density can be used for all deposits, or an
average can be estimated for a given deposit or
area. For North Carolina peats the best overall
average is probably about 200 moisture-free tons
per acre-foot. The mean value of about 900
determinations of bulk density was 177 tons per
acre-foot (Fig. 5). But the average moisture content
100
90
rr
3
H
(S)
80
70
• *vl^
^W^r
• " ^Sv
1
'
'•
•
100 200 300 400
BULK DENSITY (DRY TONS/ACRE-FOOT)
Figure 6. Bulk density-moisture relation of North Carolina peats.
500
of about 9,000 samples was 84 percent, which
corresponds to a bulk density of 225 tons per
acre-foot (Fig. 6). A compromise is 200 tons per
acre-foot, which is the figure arrived at by Bastin
and Davis (1909) for Maine peats.
There is no unique or best way for determining
and combining volumes and bulk densities to
obtain peat reserves/resources. For this report,
however, the following scheme was used for each
individual deposit (an area surrounded by a
zero-foot isopach line): (1) Areas of each isopach
interval (0 to 2 ft, 2 to 4 ft, etc) were measured
with a Lasico Model L1250D rolling disc
planimeter on maps of scale 1: 24,000. (2) Each
area was multiplied by the average thickness of the
isopach interval (1 ft for to 2 ft, 3 ft for 2 to 4 ft,
etc.) to obtain the volume of peat for that interval.
These volumes are for all of the peat from the
surface down to the bottom of the peat. (3) Each
isopach-interval volume is then multiplied by the
average bulk density of that isopach interval to
obtain the weight of peat in that interval. As
explained in the preceding section, bulk density is
extremely variable and is usually the weakest link
in the calculation of peat reserves/resources. For
this report three sets of bulk density related to
thickness (isopach interval) were considered and
intuitively "averaged" to obtain a "best estimate".
These three sets of bulk density are: (a) mean for
all North Carolina peats (0 to 2 ft - 200 tons per
acre-foot; 2 to 4 ft - 220; 4 to 6 ft - 190; 6 to 8 ft -
160; 8 to 10 ft - 140, > 10 ft - 120). See Figure 8.
(b) Average of bulk densities for each isopach
interval actually determined for that deposit, and
(c) bulk densities estimated from moisture-content
(Fig. 6). (4) The total peat reserves/resources is
the sum of the reserves/resources of all the isopach
intervals. Using this procedure estimates are
probably accurate to within ± 25 percent.
For most accurate estimates, especially for
smaller areas being considered for commercial
development of peat, bulk density determination
10
BULK DENSITY, TONS/ACRE-FT.O %H2
50 100 150 200 N
39
140
191
177
119
84
51
33
14
12
28
Figure 7. Relation of bulk density to depth of North
Carolina peats.
must be made of the full range of locations, depths,
and thicknesses. The practical limit of
reserve/resource estimation is probably ± 10
percent.
Uses of Peat
Based on its physical and chemical properties,
peat has a large number of potential uses. Most of
these potential uses depend upon the fact that most
peat is fine-grained, fibrous woody material and is
composed of a complex of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen compounds.
AS ORGANIC MATTER FOR AGRICULTURAL USES
Peat can be used as a soil conditioner to
improve the texture and water-holding capacity of
soils. It can also be used in potting soils, in
fertilizer mixes, as a mulch, as plant-packing
material, in peat pots, as litter in stables and
barnyards, as a substrate for mushroom culture,
and as a medium for earthworm culture. Because of
the insulating properties and antiseptic nature,
peat can be used as a preservative material for
packing fruits and vegetables. The preservative
nature of peat is illustrated by the fact that several
centuries-old human bodies have been found in
well-preserved condition in the peat bogs of Europe
(Parmalee and McCort, 1905; Wakesman and others,
1943). Hydrolyzed peat is also being used as a
substrate for fungal growth to mass produce
food-yeast protein primarily as cattle food. In the
Soviet Union in 1980 there were 95 plants
producing over one million tons per year of such
food yeast (Fuchsman, 1980; Martin, 1982).
AS FUEL FOR DIRECT COMBUSTION
The major use of peat has been as a fuel for
direct combustion to produce heat. For centuries
dried peat slabs have been used locally as a wood
substitute for cooking and home heating in Ireland,
Scotland, Scandinavia, and the Soviet Union. In
Scotland smoky peat fires are used to dry sprouted
barley in the manufacture of Scotch Whiskey. In
Ireland, Finland, and the Soviet Union are many
peat-fired electrical plants. In 1977 the Soviet
Union had 76 such plants, some producing as much
as 700 megawatts (Punwani and Weatherly, 1980).
In Finland the excess heat from generating
electricity is often used for district home heating.
In Finland peat briquettes are used for home
heating and for fuel in a variety of types of
industrial boilers.
BULK DENSITY, TONS/ACRE-FT, 0%H2
50 100 150 200 250
Ld
Id
co 5
CO
Ld
ox
7
I-
8
9
10
>IO
\
1
1
/J
<"*X<./
1
t^
N
4 1
179
141
150
104
118
23
27
105
Figure 8. Relation of bulk density to total thickness of North
Carolina peats.
11
AS CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCK
Because of its high H/C ratio and very reactive
nature, peat makes an excellent feedstock for the
manufacture of synthetic compounds of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen, including synthetic natural
gas, gasoline, alcohol, benzene, phenol, tars, peat
coke, activated carbon, etc. (Punwani and
Weatherly, 1980).
There are claims, especially in the eastern
block of European nations, that some peat extracts
have curative powers in the treatment of a variety
of human and animal ailments (Solovyeva and
Lotosch, 1984; Lishtvan, 1981). One such
preparation called "Torfot" or "Torfenal" is said to
be useful in treating psoriasis, eczema,
neurodermatis, etc. In Poland there are 16 spas
that treat "patients" in heated peat baths
(Robertson, 1980).
geologic processes. On a world-wide basis most
peats are in the northern part of the northern
hemisphere and have accumulated during the last
10,000 years in swamps created by Pleistocene
glaciation. The glaciers created swamps by
scouring out shallow depressions or by blocking
drainage. None of the North Carolina peats are of
this origin as Pleistocene glaciers extended no
farther south than the approximate position of the
Ohio River and Long Island.
Fuel-grade peat deposits of North Carolina occur
in 3 main geologic settings: (1) coastal swamps or
pocosins, (2) Carolina bays, and (3) river
floodplains. Highly organic sediments are present
in many of the tidal marshes, but most have more
than 25 percent ash although than are some small
areas with low-ash peat.
Coastal Swamps or Pocosins
AS ABSORBING, ADSORBING, AND FILTERING
MATERIAL
The ability of peat to absorb, adsorb, and filter
substances makes it useful in removing
undesirable materials in a variety of
circumstances; for example, the treatment of
industrial waste waters to remove heavy metals,
oils, fats, detergents, phosphates, bacteria, and
particulate matter; the cleaning-up of oil spills;
the treatment of sewerage waters in peat-sand
mixtures or in natural bogs; the trapping of animal
waste when used as litter in stalls and barnyards.
AS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
The insulating qualities and fibrous woody
nature of peat makes it potentially useful in
making peatpaper, peatboard, peatcork, peatcrete,
and peatfoam. Well-preserved logs in peat also
often make saw-logs for an unusual type of
panelling (Ruel, et al, 1977). Peat is also used as a
binder in pelletizing some types of iron ores.
PEAT DEPOSITS
Geologic Types
Peat can accumulate in any situation where the
rate of accumulation of dead vegetation exceeds the
rate of decomposition. Normally this is in some
type of swamp, bog, fen, or marsh. Such
environments are created by a variety of surface
During the Pleistocene Epoch, the time of the
Great Ice Age, that began one to two million years
ago, sea level rose as the glaciers melted during
interglacial times and fell during glacial times. As
a result the sea moved back and forth across the
lower Coastal Plain several times. High stands of
sea level are marked by sand ridges with steeper
slopes on the seaward side. Between these sand
ridges are broad relatively flat surfaces of the
former sea floor. As these broad relatively flat
surfaces are not completely flat, the low areas mark
the places where swampy conditions and peat
accumulation now occur.
In addition about 18,000 years ago when the
last ice age (Wisconsin ice age) was at its
maximum, sea level was about 400 ft below present
sea level and at the approximate position of the
outer edge of the present continental shelf. During
this interval of lowered sea level, the Coastal Plain
was dissected by stream-downcutting resulting in a
dendritic pattern of fairly deep stream valleys.
From 18,000 to 10,000 BP the glaciers melted and
sea level rose rapidly to about 90 ft below present
sea level. Since 10,000 BP sea level has risen
slowly to its present position.
During the full glacial conditions of the late
Wisconsin ice age, the climate in the southeastern
United States was cooler, drier, and windier than at
present. As the glaciers melted and retreated
northward, the climate ameliorated becoming
warmer and wetter. By 12,000 to 10,000 BP
interglacial conditions had returned to eastern
North Carolina, and it is about at this time that
peat started to accumulate (Tables 4 and 5). Initial
12
TABLE 4. CARBON- 14 AGES OF BASAL PEATS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Age-BP Depth Deposit Reference
years ft
1715 ±65 3 Albemarle-Pamlico Cohen, 1979
1830 i 60 8
" "
2585 ± 70 12 ' '
3205 ± 65 13 1
3230 ± 70 3 1 1
3425 ± 85 6 ' '
3950 ± 85 8 1
7920 ± 85 5 ' '
8190 ±85 11 ' '
8895 ± 150 8
9285 ± 95 6 Croatan Tietz, 1981
4610 ± 80 26 Chowan River Witner, 1984
2275 ± 85 16 Roanoke River Erlich, 1980
2560 ± 105 8 ' '
3090 ± 100 12 ' 1
3145 ±70 10 1 '
3495 ± 165 22 ' '
3780 ± 95 17 ' '
4780 ± 90 23 ' '
5410 ± 170 25 1 '
2480 ± 50 9 Cape Fear River Kronenfeld, 1982
TABLE 5. TIME DISTRIBUTION OF CARBON- 14 AGES OF
BASAL PEATS IN NORTH CAROLINA (FROM
TABLE 4)
Age-BP
years
No. of Locations
- 1000
1000 - 2000 2
2000 - 3000 4
3000 - 4000 8
4000 - 5000 2
5000 - 6000 1
6000 - 7000
7000 - 8000 1
8000 - 9000 2
9000 - 10000 1
peat accumulation began in shallow lakes and open
freshwater marshes that mark the courses of the
dendritic valley system. Most of the basal fibrous
peats appear to have been formed from a variety of
types of aquatic plants that accumulated in shallow
lakes and marshes. The blocked channels became
filled with peat and flooding of the adjacent
low-lying areas began. This flooding created a
large, flat wetland on which swamp forests became
established and in which the vegetation, that
eventually became the upper black sapric peat,
accumulated. Limited ages of basal peats (Tables 4
and 5) suggest that although major peat
accumulation started 8,000 to 10,000 yr BP, the
main period of accumulation was 2,000 to 5,000 yr
BP. The warm humid climate of the Southeast has
resulted in the peat becoming more highly
decomposed than in the more northern areas
(Baker, 1983; Barry, 1983; Bloom, 1983 a and b;
Daniel, 1981; Davis, 1983; Harrison and others,
1965; Lundelius, 1983; Oaks and Whitehead, 1979;
Porter, 1983; Stoltman and Baerreis, 1983;
Terasmae, 1977; Watts, 1983; Whitehead, 1972;
Whitehead and Oaks, 1979; Zurek, 1984).
DISMAL SWAMP
Location — The Dismal Swamp peat deposits
are located on the lower Coastal Plain of
southeastern Virginia and northeastern North
Carolina. This report covers only the part that lies
in North Carolina (Fig. 1 and PI. 1). Peat is found
in eastern Gates, northwestern Pasquotank,
northern Camden, northwestern Currituck, and
northeastern Perquimans counties and on eleven 7
1/2 minute U.S. Geological Survey
orthophotographic and/or topographic quadrangles:
Corapeake, Lake Drummond SE, Lake Drummond SW,
Moyock, Beckford NE, Beckford SE, South Mills NE,
South Mills NW, South Mills SE, South Mills SW,
and Elizabeth City NW. The deposits lie northwest
and north of Elizabeth City. Access is by state and
county roads and by numerous privately-owned
canal maintenance roads.
Topography and Drainage - Just west of the
peat deposits and east of North Carolina Highway
32 and County Road 1002 is a north-south trending
sand ridge with elevations of 40 to 50 ft. The
eastern front of this sand ridge is the Suffolk Scarp
with a toe-elevation of about 20 ft. East of the
Suffolk Scarp, the Pamlico Surface slopes gently
eastward to elevations of 10 to 15 ft east of the
pocosin peats. Surface elevations of most of the
peat deposits are from 10 to 20 ft.
Several small streams flow eastward down the
Suffolk Scarp and disappear into the peat swamps.
The headwaters of several rivers (Northwest, North,
Pasquotank, Little, and Perquimans Rivers) are
located in the Dismal Swamp peats and flow either
eastward into Currituck Sound or southward into
Albemarle Sound.
Many miles of canals and ditches have been cut
through the peat swamps. These canals lower the
water table in the immediate vicinity of the canals
and ditches; but because of the low hydraulic
conductivity of the peat, the effect of the canals
and ditches dies out rapidly away from them.
13
Moisture - For 1376 samples with ash less than
25 percent the moisture content ranged from 40 to
94 percent with an average of 81 percent (Table 6
and Appendix). Although there is much variation,
the moisture in general increases with depth, from
an average of about 70 percent in the top foot to a
fairly constant 90 ± percent at depths greater than
5 ft. As most of the samples were collected during
the summer months when maximum
evapotranspiration causes a lowering of the water
table, nearsurface samples collected during the
winter months would undoubtedly have higher
moisture contents.
TABLE 6. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT) AND
HEATING VALUES OF DISMAL SWAMP PEAT
(68 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1
H2o2
8,600
60
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles so
Fixed Carbon 26
Ash2 2
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 52
II 4.2
() 24
N 1.1
S 0.2
Ash2 2
Moisture-free basis
10^00
86
11,000
93
62 67
M 36
5 14
58 63
5.5 6.3
28 31
1.8 2.6
03
5
0.8
14
For 1376 samples with ash less than 25 percent, the moisture content ranged
from 40 to 94 percent with a mean of 8 1 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 1 to 25 percent with a mean of 7 percent.
Ash - For 1376 samples with ash less than 25
percent, the mean ash content is 7 percent (Table 6
and Appendix). Away from the margins and bases
of the peat bodies, ash contents of 3 to 5 percent
are common. The top foot of peat has an average ash
content of 10 percent which probably reflects
mineral sediment that is washed or blown in from
surrounding cultivated fields since man has
occupied the region.
Heating Value and Composition - Table 6
summarizes the heating value and proximate and
ultimate analyses of 68 samples. Compared to the
average North Carolina peat (Table 2), volatiles,
hydrogen, and nitrogen are somewhat high, and
fixed carbon is somewhat low. The sulfur content
is highest in the basal parts of peat that is greater
than 6 ft thick.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Peat is found in
4 areas that are physically separate (Plate 1): A-the
Northeast deposit, B- the Northwest deposit, C-the
Large Southwest deposit, and D- the Small
Southwest deposit. Plate 1 shows the location, size,
and variations in thickness of these deposits.
Calculated peat resources are shown in Table 7.
The combined deposits occupy an area of 76,800
acres (120 sq mi) and contain 68 million tons of
moisture-free peat. The peat greater than 4 ft
thick occupies an area of 34,700 acres (54 sq mi)
with 43 million tons of peat.
TABLE 7. PEAT RESOURCES IN NORTH CAROLINA PART
OF DISMAL SWAMP POCOSINS
Thickness
ft
Area
10^ acres
A. The Northeast Deposit
Weight
(moisture-free)
>0 14.23 11.40
>2 9.47 9.98
>4 5.77 6.98
>6 2.18 3.03
>8 0.45 0.73
>10
B. The Northwest Deposit
>0 29.87 31.33
>2 26.53 30.33
>4 17.64 23.13
>6 11.13 15.97
>8 3.97 6.44
>10 0.05 0.09
>12
C. The Large Southwest Deposit
>0 30.58 23.86
>2 20.59 20.87
>4 11.15 13.32
>6 4.15 5.52
>S
D. The Small Southwest Deposit
>0 2.16 1.18
>2 1.04 0.84
>4
E. TOTAL
>0 76.84 67.77
>2 57.63 62.02
>4 34.66 43.43
>6 17.46 24.52
>8 4.42 7.61
>10 0.05 0.09
>12
14
ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO PENINSULA
Location - See Figure 1 and Plate 2. The peat
swamps of the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula are
located on the lower Coastal Plain of northeastern
North Carolina in Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, and
Hyde counties and on twenty seven 7 1/2 minute
U.S. Geological Survey orthophotographic or
topographic quadrangles: Buffalo City, Columbia
East, Creswell, Creswell SE, East Lake, East Lake
SE, Engelhard East, Engelhard NE, Engelhard NW,
Engelhard West, Fairfield, Fairfield NE, Fairfield
NW, Fort Landing, Frying Pan, Long Shoal Point,
Manns Harbor, New Lake, New Lake NW, New Lake
SE, Plymouth East, Ponzer, Pungo Lake, Roper
South, Scotia, Stumpy Point, and Wanchese. The
deposits mainly lie south of U.S. Highway 64, north
and west of U.S. 264, and east of N.C. 32 and 99.
N.C. 94 between Columbia and Fairfield runs
north-south through the middle of the area. Access
to the deposits is by the state and county roads
shown on Plate 2 and by numerous privately owned
canal-maintenance roads.
Topography and Drainage - Just west of the
peat deposits and just off the map of Plate 2 is a
north-south trending sand ridge with elevations of
40 to 50 ft. The eastern side of the ridge is the
Suffolk Scarp with a toe elevation of about 20 ft.
The surface east of the Suffolk Scarp is the Pamlico
Surface which slopes gently eastward from
elevation of about 20 ft on the west to sea level on
the east. The area between Lake Phelps, Pungo
Lake, and Alligator Lake (or New Lake) is a
plateau-like surface with elevations mainly from
15 to 20 ft. The elevation of mean water level in
these lakes is about 10 ft. Just to the east of this
plateau-like surface, the elevation drops fairly
rapidly from 15 to 5 ft in a distance of about 5
miles. East of longitude 76° 15' (just west of N.C.
Highway 94) the elevations are mainly less than 5
ft.
The main fairly flat Pamlico Surface has been
dissected by streams that flow towards the margins
of the peninsula into Albemarle Sound, Pamlico
River Estuary, and Alligator River Estuary.
Many miles of canals and ditches have been cut
through the peat swamps. These canals and ditches
lower the water table in the immediate vicinity, but
the effect dies out rapidly because of the low
hydraulic conductivity of the peat.
Plate 2 is a map that shows the location and
thickness of the fuel grade peat. The patterns of
distribution are different in the western and
eastern parts, the change occurring approximately
along the 76° 15' longitude line just west of N.C.
Highway 94 or approximately along the 5 ft contour
line. The 76° 15' longitude line will be used
arbitrarily to separate the deposits into a Western
Area and an Eastern Area. In the Western Area
peat is found mainly at elevations of 10 to 20 ft in
broad shallow basins with few buried narrow
stream channels. In the Eastern Area peat is found
mainly at elevations of less than 5 ft. Although
there are broad shallow peat-filled basins, the
Eastern Area has numerous narrow, peat-filled
channels.
Moisture - For 4227 samples with less than 25
percent ash from 923 sites, the moisture content
ranged up to 95 percent with the peats from the
Western Area having a mean of 81 percent and
those from the Eastern Area having a mean of 88
percent (Table 8). The differences in moisture
between the two areas are probably related to
differences in elevation and in degree of
decomposition. As most of the samples were
collected during the summer months when
maximum evapotranspiration causes a loss of
moisture near the surface and a lowering of the
water table, there is more room for lowering the
water table in the Western Area with elevations of
10 to 20 ft than in the Eastern Area with elevations
of less than 5 ft. Cohen (1979) found the peats of
the Eastern Area to be somewhat less decomposed
(more fibrous) than peats of the Western Area; and
since fibrous peat has a greater waterholding
capacity than less fibrous peats, the Eastern peats
have a higher moisture content.
The moisture content in general increases with
depth. In the Western Area the moisture content
increases from an average of 75 percent in the top
foot to about 85 percent at depths greater than 5 ft.
In the Eastern Area the moisture content increases
from an average of about 86 percent in the top foot
to about 91 percent at depths below 5 ft. The
differences between Western and Eastern Areas
would not have been as great if the samples had
been collected in the winter months rather than the
summer months.
Ash - For 4227 samples with less than 25
percent ash, the mean ash content is 8 percent. For
the Western Area, the mean is 6 percent; and for
the Eastern Area, the mean is 10 percent. The
higher ash content of the Eastern Area is caused
primarily by samples collected near Alligator
River, where flood and storm waters have carried
15
TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT) AND HEATING VALUE OF
ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO PEATS (134 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT
ASH) (SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS)
Western Area Eastern Area
Low Median High Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 8,100 10,300 11,100 7,600 9,500 10,500
H2
51 86 91 33 89 94
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 50 61 67 50 61 ' 65
Fixed Carbon 26 35 39 24 33 42
Ash2
1 3 22 2 5 24
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 49 61 64 46 57 62
II 4.0 5.1 6.0 4.1 5.1 5.9
22 30 32 25 30 35
N 1.0 1.2 2.0 1.0 1.6 2.1
S 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.4 2.9
Ash2
1 3 22 2 5 24
Western Area-85 samples; Eastern Area-49 samples.
1 Moisture- free basis
2Western Area: for 1667 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content
ranged from 1 1 to 94 percent with a mean of 81 percent; and the ash content ranged
from to 25 percent with a mean of 6 percent. Eastern Area: for 2560 samples with
less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged from 4 1 to 95 percent with a
mean of 88 percent; and the ash content ranged from to 25 percent with a mean of 10
percent.
inorganic sediments into the peat swamps. Away
from the Alligator River complex and away from the
margins and bases of the peat bodies, ash contents
of 2 to 5 percent are common.
Heating Value and Composition - Table 8
summarizes the heating value and proximate and
ultimate analysis of 85 samples from the Eastern
Area and 49 samples from the Eastern Area.
Western Area peats are very similar to the average
North Carolina peat (Table 2), but Eastern Area
peats have higher than average nitrogen and sulfur
and lower than average fixed carbon, carbon, and
heating value. The highest sulfur contents are
found at the base of the deep channel-fill peats in
the Eastern Area. Apparently these channels have
been invaded by marine or brackish water during
their development with the sulfur coming from the
sulfate radicals present in marine waters. The low
fixed carbon, carbon, and heating values of the
Eastern Area peats probably reflect the low degree
of decomposition and perhaps the botanical
composition.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Plate 2 shows
the location, size, and variations in thickness of
the peat deposits of the Albermarle-Pamlico
peninsula. The calculation of peat resources has
been divided into two parts: (1) the Western Area,
where the peat is found mainly at elevations of 10
to 20 ft, and (2) the Eastern Area, where the peat is
found mainly at elevations of less than 5 ft (Table
9). The combined deposits occupy an area of
TABLE 9. PEAT RESOURCES IN ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO
PENINSULA
Thickness Area Weight
ft IQr acres 10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
A. Western Area
>0 12 124
>2 99 116
>4 67 91
>6 2X 44
>8 5 8
>10 1 2
B. Eastern Area
>0 241 54
>2 176 141
>4 108 104
>6 62 66
>x 27 31
>10 10 12
C. TOTAL
>0 373 278
>2 274 258
>4 175 196
>6 w 110
>8 M 40
>10 10 14
16
EAST BLUFF
Figure 9. Isopach maps of Gull Rock peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Middleton and New Holland quadrangles.
373,000 acres (582 sq mi) and contain 278 million
tons of moisture-free peat. Of this total, about
175,000 acres has peat greater than 4 ft thick with
196 million tons. About 65 percent of the peatland
areas and about 55 percent of the peat resources
are in the low-lying Eastern Area.
GULL ROCK
Location - The Gull Rock peat deposits are in
Hyde County south of Lake Mattamuskeet and are on
the Middleton and New Holland U.S. Geological
Survey 7 1/2 minute orthophotographic and
topographic quadrangle maps (Figs. 1 and 9). The
base maps for this and subsequent isopach maps
are North Carolina Department of Transportation
county highway maps. Reference is given to USGS
orthophotographic quadrangle maps.
Topography and Drainage - Surface elevations
on the peat range from 2 to 6 ft. Natural drainage
is mainly radial (southwest, south, and east)
toward Pamlico Sound. Drainage northward into
Lake Mattamuskeet is blocked by a low ridge along
the southern boundary of the lake. Several canals
connect the peat swamps with Pamlico Sound.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged about
80 percent increasing from an average of about 77
percent in the top foot to about 85 percent at
depths of 4 to 5 ft (Table 10).
Ash - The ash content averages about 7
percent. Away from the margins and bottoms of the
deposits, ash contents of 3 to 6 percent are common
(Table 10).
17
TABLE 10. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF GULL ROCK PEATS
(4 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL SAMPLES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 10,400 10,600 11,000
H2
2 80 82 83
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volaliles 60 62 63
Fixed Carbon 33 34 35
Ash2 3 4 6
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 61 63 64
II 4.5 5.0* 5.2
o 26 27 28
N 0.6 0.8 1.0
S 0.2 0.3 0.4
Ash2 3 4 6
'Moisture-free basis
2For 68 samples with ash less than 25 percent from 22 sites, the moisture
ranged from 67 to 89 percent with a mean of 80 percent, and the ash content
ranged from 2 to 25 percent with a mean of 7 percent.
Washington-Beaufort county line (Figs. 1 and 10).
The deposit is located on the Hoke (or Pinetown NE)
orthophotographic and topographic quadrangle
maps.
Topography and Drainage - The peat lies in an1
elongate depression that trends SSW - NNE at
elevations of 30 to 40 ft. The Suffolk sand ridge
with elevation of 40 to 45 ft is to the east and!
i
another sand ridge with elevations of 40 to 60 ft is
to the west. Natural drainage is controlled by the
sand ridges on the east and on the west, but a small
creek that flows from the northeast end of the
deposit cuts through the Suffolk sand ridge and
flows east into a canal at the foot of the Suffolk
Scarp. At the southern end of the deposit, drainage
is into Pungo Creek, which flows southeast intoi
Pungo River.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged 81
percent increasing from an average of 74 percent in
the top foot to 87 percent at depths greater than 5
ft (Table 12).
TABLE 12.
Heating Value and Composition - Compared to
the average North Carolina peat (Table 2), Gull Rock
peats have somewhat higher values for volatiles,
carbon, and heating values and somewhat lower
values for nitrogen (Table 10).
Peat Deposits and Resources - Peat is found in
two separate areas (Fig. 9). Maximum thickness in
the western area is 5 ft and in the eastern area is 3
ft. The combined areas cover 8,000 acres with 4.6
million tons of moisture-free peat (Table 11). The
deposits greater than 4 ft thick occupy an area of
1,260 acres with 1.6 million tons of peat.
TABLE 11. PEAT RESOURCES IN GULL ROCK AREA
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10 acres 10 tons (moisture fire«)
.(1 8.04 4.64
>2 3.99 3.62
>4 1.26 1.58
.(,
SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF VAN SWAMP PEAT
(11 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 8,300 10,100 10,900
h2o2 56 81 88
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 4S <>2 66
Fixed Carbon 29 32 34
Ash2
2 6 19
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 50 58 61
11 3.3 4.7 5.4
C) 26 30 33
N 1.2 1.4 1.6
S 0.2 02 0.5
Ash2 2 6 19
Moisture-free basis.
2For 188 samples from 38 sites with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture
content ranged from 59 to 93 percent with a mean of 81 percent; and
the ash content ranged from 1 to 25 percent with a mean of 7 percent.
VAN SWAMP
Location - The Van Swamp peat deposit is 10 to
17 miles south of Plymouth and is bisected by the
Ash - The ash content averages about 7
percent. Away from the margin and bottom of the
deposit, ash contents of 2 to 5 percent are common
(Table 12).
18
Figure 10. Isopach map of Van Swamp peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Hoke quadrangle.
Heating Value and Composition - Van Swamp
peats are similar to the average North Carolina
peats (Table 2) except that volatiles and oxygen are
somewhat high and fixed carbon is somewhat low
(Table 12).
Peat. Deposits and Resources - This elongate
peat deposit covers an area of 6,000 acres and
contains 5.8 million tons of moisture-free peat.
Peat greater than 4 ft thick underlies 2,600 acres
with 3.8 million tons of peat (Table 13).
TABLE 13. PEAT RESOURCES IN VAN SWAMP
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10 acres 106
tons
(moisture-free)
>() 6.61 5.82
>2 4.45 5.26
>4 2.62 3.83
>6 ' 0.96 1.67
>S 0.33 0.66
>10 0.02 0.04
19
BAY CITY-GUM SWAMP
Location - Between Aurora and Bayboro and
along the Beaufort-Pamlico county line is a swampy
area known as the Bay City Pocosin in the western
part and Gum Swamp in the eastern Part (Figs. 1
and 11). Three separate peat deposits are found in
this swampy complex on the Reelsboro, Bayboro,
and South Creek orthophotographic and topographic
quadrangle maps.
Topography and Drainage - Between the
western and central deposits and along N.C.
Highway 306 is the north-south trending Suffolk
sand ridge with elevations of 40 to 50 ft. The
western peat deposit has surface elevations of 35 to
40 ft. The central deposit is at the base of the
Suffolk Scarp and has elevations of 15 to 20 ft. The
eastern deposit has elevations of 5 to 10 ft.
Drainage from the western deposit is mainly to
the west (SW, W, NW) away from the Suffolk sand
ridge into Pamlico River and Neuse River. Drainage
from the central and eastern areas is mainly to the
east away from the Suffolk sand ridge into Pamlico
Sound.
Moisture - The moisture content of the western
deposit averaged about 85 percent with the
moisture content being fairly uniform from top to
bottom (Table 14). The moisture content of the
central and eastern deposits averaged 80 percent
with the average moisture increasing from 74
percent in the top foot to about 85 percent at
depths below 4 ft.
Ash - The ash content of fuel-grade peat in the
western area averages 6 percent with the average of
the central and eastern areas being somewhat
higher at 10 percent (Table 14). In the western
area ash contents of 2 to 5 percent are common.
Heating Value and Composition - Compared to
the average North Carolina peat (Table 2) Bay City -
Gum Swamp peats have a higher than average
nitrogen content and lower than average values of
fixed carbon, carbon, and heating value.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Peat is found in
three separate areas (Fig. 11). The combined areas
of 12,000 acres contain 5.9 million tons of
moisture-free peat (Table 15). Of this total, peat
greater than 4 ft thick covers 1,100 acres with 1.1
million tons of peat. The greatest concentration of
peat greater than 4 ft thick is found in the western
deposit (700 acres with 0.8 million tons of peat).
TABLE 14. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT) AND
HEATING VALUES OF BAY CITY POCOSIN-GUM SWAMP
PEATS (6 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 8,400 9,200 9,600
HaO2 76 84 92
PROXIMATE ANALAYSIS 1
1
Volatiles 48 58 65
Fixed Carbon 26 32 37
Ash2 6 10 18
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 50 54 57
H 4.2 4.8 5.0
O 25 29 32
N 1.2 1.6 2.1
S 0.2 0.3 0.4
Ash2
6 10 18
Moisture-free basis.
"For 62 samples with less than 25 percent ash from 19 sites in the western area,
the average moisture content was 85 percent and the average ash content
was 6 percent. For 57 samples from 18 sites in the central and eastern
areas, the average moisture content was 80 percent and the average ash
content was 10 percent.
TABLE 15. PEAT RESOURCES IN BAY CITY POCOSIN-GUM
SWAMP
Thickness Areas Weight
ft 10 acres 10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
A. Western Deposit
>0 5.86 2.91
>2 3.23 2.36
>4 0.68 0.75
>6 0.09 0.13
B. Central Deposit
>0 5.05 2.26
>2 226 1.59
>4 0.06 0.06
C. Eastern Deposit
>0 1.38 0.70
>2 0.63 0.52
>4 0.32 0.31
>6 0.02 0.02
D. TOTAL
>0 12.29 5.87
>2 6.12 4.47
>4 1.06 1.12
>6 0.11 0.14
20
21
LIGHT GROUND POCOSIN
Location - The Light Ground Pocosin peat
deposit is located in south central Pamlico County,
13 miles east of New Bern. The towns of Alliance,
Bayboro, and Stonewall are just north of the
deposit. The entire deposit is on the Arapahoe 7
1/2 minute U.S. Geological Survey
orthophotographic and topographic maps (Figs. 1
and 12).
Topography and Drainage - Just west of the
peat deposit along the approximately position of
N.C. Highway 306 is the north-south trending
Arapahoe (or Suffolk) sand ridge (Daniels, Gamble,
Wheeler, and Holyhey, 1977) with elevations of 40
to 50 ft. The eastern front of the sand ridge is the
Suffolk Scarp with a toe elevation of about 20 ft.
East of the Suffolk Scarp the Pamlico surface slopes
gently eastward to an elevation of 15 ft east of the
peat. The surface of the peat, however, rises as a
broad dome above the Pamlico surface attaining
elevations of over 20 ft. This area is a true pocosin
(Indian word for "swamp-on-a-hill").
Before the digging of ditches and canals, the
drainage of the peatlands was very poor. No
natural streams penetrate the peat. Before man,
water undoubtedly flowed down the Suffolk Scarp
into peatland and was slowly distributed by
overland and nearsurface lateral flow into minor
creeks to the north, east, and south. At present
drainage is improved by the approximately 35
miles of canals and ditches that dissect the area.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged about
79 percent increasing from an average of 74
percent in the top foot to 85 to 90 percent at depths
greater than 5 ft (Table 16). Moisture contents
were highly variable in the top 4 ft, the active zone
through which the water table moves up and down.
Ash - For 335 samples of fuel-grade peat, the
ash content averages 7 percent. Within the main
body of the peat and away from the margins and!
bottom of the peat, the ash content is usually below
5 percent. Ash contents of 1 to 3 percent are ;
common (Table 16).
Heating Value and Composition - The average
Light Ground Pocosin peat has heating value and
Figure 12. Isopach map of Light Ground Pocosin peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Arapahoe quadrangle.
22
composition almost identical to the average North
Carolina peat (Tables 2 and 16).
TABLE 16. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT) AND
HEATING VALUES OF LIGHT GROUND POCOSIN PEATS
(30 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 8,700 10,300 11,000
H2o2 71 80 91
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 47 58 66
Fixed Carbon 28 35 43
Ash2 2 5 17
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 52 61 66
H 4.0 5.0 5.9
O 22 26 30
N 0.9 1.4 2.0
S 0.2 0.2 0.3
Ash2
2 5 17
Moisture-free basis.
2For 335 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 61 to 92 percent with a mean of 79 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 1 to 25 percent with a mean of 7 percent.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Except for a
narrow peat -filled channel 8 to 12 ft deep and two
small thin areas over highs in the sub-peat surface,
the peat lies in a broad shallow depression and
increases in thickness from ft at the margin to
about 7 ft at the center.
The deposit occupies an area of 5,900 acres
with 5.2 million tons of moisture-free peat (Table
17). The peat greater than 4 ft thick occupies an
area of 2,800 acres with 3.5 million tons of peat.
TABLE 17. PEAT RESOURCES IN LIGHT GROUND
POCOSIN
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10 acres 106
tons
(moisture-free)
>0 5.93 5.17
>2 4.81 4.93
>4 2.79 3.48
>6 0.88 1.33
>8 0.11 0.19
> 10 0.01 0.01
OPEN GROUNDS POCOSIN
Since sampling was done in this area,
agricultural activities have taken place which
probably have decreased the amount of fuel-grade
peat.
Location - In Carteret County and 10 to 20
miles northeast of Beaufort is the shallow Open
Grounds Pocosin peat deposit (Figs. 1 and 13). The
peat is located on parts of four U.S. Geological
Survey orthophotographic or topographic maps:
Davis, Long Bay, South River, and Williston.
Topography and Drainage - The surface
elevation is about 10 ft in the central part and
drops off to about 5 ft along the margins. Natural
surface drainage is poor and is somewhat radial
into Core Sound, Pamlico sound, and Neuse River
estuary. Drainage canals and ditches are very
common, especially in the southern part.
Moisture - The moisture content generally
ranges from 70 to 80 percent with an average of
about 75 percent (Table 18). The lower-than-
average moisture content reflects the relative
thinness of the peat, the grass and crop cover, and
the artificial drainage of the area.
TABLE 18. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF OPEN GROUNDS PEAT
(2 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 9,700
H2
2 69
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 56
Fixed Carbon 38
Ash2 2
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 61
II 5.0
O 27
N 1.2
S 0.2
Ash2 2
Moisture-free basis
,000 10,300
73 77
58 (.0
39 3<J
4 5
61 61
5.0 5.1
28 30
1.3 1.4
0.2 0.3
4 5
For 45 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 49 to 89 percent with a mean of 75 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 1 to 25 percent with a mean of 9 percent.
23
Figure 13. Isopach map of Open Grounds Pocosin peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Davis, Long Bay, South River, and
Williston quadrangles.
Ash - For the entire deposit, the ash content is
relatively high, averaging about 9 percent (Table
18). In the thicker peats (3 to 5 ft), ash contents of
2 to 6 percent are common.
Heating Value and Composition - Except for the
relatively high fixed carbon, Open Grounds Pocosin
peats (Table 18) are similar to the average North
Carolina peat (Table 2).
24
Peat Deposits and Resources - The deposit
apparently is an infilling of a blocked channel that
at one time emptied into Long Bay (Fig. 13). In the
total deposit, there were about 11,000 acres
containing about 6.3 million tons of moisture-free
peat. Of this total only about 460 acres with 0.6
million tons had peat greater than 4 ft thick (Table
19). Since this survey was made, agricultural
activities may have destroyed some of the peat.
TABLE 19. PEAT RESOURCES IN OPEN GROUNDS
POCOSIN
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10 acres 10 tons (moisture-free)
>0 10.98 6.33
>2 6.12 4.97
>4 0.46 0.55
>6
CROATAN FOREST
Location - Most of the Croatan Forest peat is
located in southwestern Craven County, but some
peat is found in the adjoining parts of Jones and
Carteret counties (Fig. 1 and PI. 3). The deposits
are located on four 7 1/2 minute U.S. Geological
Survey orthophotographic quadrangle maps:
Maysville NW, Maysville NE, Maysville SE, and
Masontown. New Bern is about 15 miles to the
north of the center of the deposit; and Havelock,
about 8 miles to the east. The main access to the
deposit is by Catfish Road (SSR 1100 and 1105) and
the numerous Forest Service roads that connect
with Catfish Road.
Topography and Drainage - The Croatan Forest
peat deposits are on the Talbot Terrace, a nearly
flat surface that slopes gently downward toward the
southeast. Surface elevations of the peat range from
about 40 ft in the northwest to about 30 ft in the
southeast, but the surface of the major peat deposit
rises as a broad dome attaining an elevation of
slightly above 40 ft over the thickest part of the
deposit just northwest of Great Lake. This major
deposit is a true "pocosin" (Indian word for
"swamp-on-a-hill").
In several places sand ridges rise above the
surface of the peat and become boundaries for the
deposits.
Five large lakes (Catfish, Great, Long, Ellis,
and Little Lakes) are found in the area but all are
along the margins of the peat deposits. The origins
of the depressions in which these lakes are found
are not known. Ellis Lake has an elliptical shape
similar to that of the Carolina bays. The lake
depressions could have developed by major peat
burns over thicker and marginal parts of the peat.
Drainage of the area is sluggish and poorly
developed. Many small creeks have their
headwaters in the edges of the peat swamps and
flow radially away from them, westward into White
Oak River, northward into Trent River, eastward
into Ncuse River estuary, and southward into Bogue
Sound. A poorly-developed drainage system
functions in the pcatlands. Small creeks flow south
and southeast into Catfish Lake. A small creek
flows south out of Catfish Lake into a creek that
flows eastward into Great Lake. A creek flows
south out of Great Lake into Hunters Creek which
flows west into White Oak River. A small creek
flows southeast into Long Lake but there is no
obvious drainage flowing out of Long Lake. There is
probably some subsurface drainage through the
sediments that underlie the peat. Surface
sheet-wash was observed in the swamps during
times of heavy rainfall.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged 82
percent increasing from an average of 80 percent in
the top 4 ft to about 88 percent at depths of 8 ft
(Table 20).
The lower and more variable moisture content
in the top 4 ft is probably related to fluctuation in
the position of the water table. The change in
average moisture content at about 4 ft probably
represents the lowest position of the fluctuating
water table.
Ash - The average ash content of all the
samples analyzed was 5 percent (Table 20). Away
from the margins and bases of the peat deposits,
ash contents of 1 to 3 percent are very common.
TABLE 20. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF CROATAN FOREST PEATS
(41 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 7,600 10,100 11,600
H2o2 74 84 91
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 48 57 62
Fixed Carbon 34 39 45
Ash2 2 3 14
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 54 61 65
11 4.1 5.1 5.9
o 24 28 31
N 0.7 1.1 1.6
S 0.1 02 0.3
Ash2 2 3 14
Moisture-free basis
9
For 857 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 64 to 95 percent with an average of 82 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 1 to 25 percent with an average of 5 percent.
25
Heating Value and Composition - Croatan
Forest peats are similar to the average North
Carolina peat (Table 2) except that the fixed carbon
is somewhat higher and the volatile matter and
nitrogen content are somewhat lower (Table 20).
Peat Deposits and Resources - In the Croatan
Forest region, peat is found in five areas that are
physically separated: A-the Northwest Catfish
Lake deposit, B-the Northwest Great-Long Lake
deposit, C-the South Great Lake deposit, D-the
South Ellis Lake deposit, and E-the Millis Road
deposit (PI. 3). Except for a few blocked and
peat-filled old stream channels, the peat lies in
broad shallow depressions on the pre-peat surface.
Most of the top 4 to 5 ft of peat is a black,
fine-grained sapric peat that apparently
accumulated under swamp forest conditions.
Beneath this in the thicker sections of peat is
usually a brown more fibrous peat that apparently
accumulated in open shallow lakes and marshes.
The Croatan Forest peats have less wood than most
of the other pocosin deposits.
The combined deposits occupy an area of
35,300 acres (55 sq mi) and contain 27 million
tons of moisture-free peat (Table 21). The peat
greater than 4 ft thick occupies an area of 11,600
acres with 14 million tons of peat. The largest
deposit lies northwest of Great and Long Lakes and
covers 17,500 acres with 16.5 million tons of peat.
HOFMANN FOREST
Location - The Hofmann Forest peat deposits
are located north and south of the Jones - Onslow
county line on the Kellum, Jacksonville NE, and
Jacksonville NW U.S. Geological Survey
orthophotographic quadrangle maps (Figs. 1 and
14). Jacksonville is 8 to 18 mi south of the
deposits.
TABLE 21. PEAT RESOURCES IN CROATAN FOREST
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10^ acres 10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
A. Northwest Catfish Lake
>0 12.45 7.36
>2 5.46 5.26
>4 2.14 2.52
>6 i 0.06 0.08
>8
B. Northwest Great-Long Lake
>0 17.49 16.50
>2 13.70 15.37
>4 9.16 11.62
>6 422 5.82
>8 0.70 1.13
> 10
C. South Great Lake
>0 0.47 0.40
>2 0.35 0.36
>4 0.20 0.24
>6
D. South Ellis Lake
>0 3.46 1.97
>2 1.78 1.47
>4
E. Millis Road
>0 1.42 0.62
>2 0.34 0.30
>4 0.05 0.06
>6
F. TOTAL
>0 35.29 26.85
>2 21.63 22.75
>4 11.55 14.44
>6 428 5.90
>8 0.70 1.13
> 10
the ash content is usually less than 5 percent
(Table 22).
Topography and Drainage - The surface
elevation of these deposits ranges from 45 to 60 ft.
Primary drainage is into the White Oak River,
although some drainage is to the south into New
River.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged 74
percent increasing from 70 percent in the top 2 ft
to 85 percent at depths of 5 to 6 ft (Table 22).
Ash - The average ash content is 12 percent,
but most of the high-ash samples is from peat less
than 4 ft thick. For peat greater than 5 ft thick,
Heating Value and Composition - Hofmann
Forest peats (Table 22) are similar to the average
North Carolina peat (Table 2) except that the fixed
carbon is somewhat higher and the volatile matter
is somewhat lower.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Peat is found in
three separate areas, one southern deposit in
Onslow County and two northern deposits in Jones
County (Fig. 14). Total resources are 4.2 million
tons of moisture-free peat on 5,200 acres (Table
23). Of this total, about 1,000 acres is underlain
by peat greater than 4 ft thick with resources of
1.6 million tons of peat.
26
ft
v^
)®
O F M
i ®
Creek ^
N N
ft
^
v< >-7
V.t-^
N
V
^
i, >
2 3 miles
J I
SCALE
Figure 14. Isopach map of Hofmann Forest peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Jacksonville NE,' Jacksonville NW, and Kellum
quadrangles.
27
TABLE 22. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF HOFMANN FOREST PEATS
(6 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB
'
9,500
H2
2 73
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 56
Fixed Carbon 34
Ash2 3
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 58
H 3.9
O 27
N 1.1
S 0.2
Ash2 3
Moisture-free basis.
'00 10,700
81 85
58 59
38 41
5 X
61 63
4.8 5
28 29
1.2 1
0.2
5 8
For 62 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 49 to 89 percent with an average of 74 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 3 to 25 percent with an average of 12 percent.
TABLE 23. PEAT RESOURCES IN HOFMANN FOREST
Thickness
ft
Area
10 acres
Weight
10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
A. South Deposit
>0
>2
>4
>6
>8
B. North Deposits
>0
>2
>4
>6
>8
C. TOTAL
>0
>2
>4
>6
>8
2.17
1.20
0.65
0.10
3.00
1.70
0.39
0.03
5.17
2.90
1.04
0.13
1.87
1.53
0.99
0.16
2.34
1.88
0.59
0.05
4.21
3.42
1.57
0.21
Topography and Drainage - Surface elevations
on the peat range from 30 to 40 ft. Surface
drainage is radially away from the peat in all
directions. The Northeast Cape Fear River is about
one mile from the western border of the peat
deposit.
Moisture - The moisture content ranged from
78 to 91 percent with an average of 85 percent.
Although there was more variation in the upper 4
to 5 ft (the acrotelm or active zone), the average
moisture content was a fairly constant 85 percent
at all depths (Table 24).
TABLE 24. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF ANGOLA SWAMP PEAT
(8 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 9,800
H2
2 78
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 54
Fixed Carbon 29
Ash2 3
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 56
II 4.1
o 19
N 0.7
S 0.1
Ash2
3
Moisture-free basis.
,400 11,000
82 85
57 60
34 40
9 15
61 64
4.6 5.8
24 27
1.0 1.5
0.2 0.2
9 15
ANGOLA SWAMP
For 124 samples, the moisture content ranged from 78 to 91 percent with an
average of 85 percent; and the ash content ranged from 1 to 25 percent
with an average of 7 percent.
Ash - The ash content averages 7 percent; but
in the thicker peats, ash contents of 2 to 5 percent
are common (Table 24).
Heating Value and Composition - Angola Swamp
peats are similar to the average North Carolina peat
(Table 2) except that the heating values are
somewhat higher than average and volatiles,
oxygen, and nitrogen are somewhat lower than
average (Table 24).
Location - The Angola Swamp peat deposit
straddles the Duplin-Pender county line east of
Wallace and is on the Wallace East and Pin Hook
U.S. Geological Survey orthophotographic and
topographic quadrangle maps (Figs. 1 and 15).
Peat Deposits and Resources - The deposit
covers an area of about 22,000 acres with about 15
million tons of moisture - free peat. The peat
greater than 4 ft thick covers an area of 8,800 acres
with about 10 million tons of peat (Table 25).
28
TABLE 25. PEAT RESOURCES EM ANGOLA SWAMP
Thickness Area
ft ICr acres
>0 21.86
>2 15.48
>4 8.77
>6 1.32
>8 0.07
> 10
Weight
10 tons (moisture-free)
15.22
13.82
9.60
1.78
0.11
TOLLY SHELTER SWAMP
Location - The Holly Shelter Swamp peat
leposit is located in Pender County 6 to 8 miles
vest of Holly Ridge and is on the U.S. Geological
Jurvey 7 1/2 minute Maple Hill SW and Topsail
orthophotographic and topographic quadrangle
maps (Fig 1 and 16).
Topography and Drainage - Surface elevations
on the peat range from 35 to 45 ft. Southeast of the
peat deposit is a coast-parallel sand ridge with
elevations of 60 to 70 ft that blocks drainage
towards the coast. Surface drainage is to the north,
west, and south into small creeks that eventually
flow into the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Moisture - The moisture content ranged from
55 to 91 percent with an average of 81 percent. The
moisture content is highly variable in the upper 4
to 5 ft (the active zone or acrotelm). Below 4 to 5 ft
in the catotelm, moisture contents are higher, less
variable, and average 86 percent (Table 26).
Figure 15. Isopach map of Angola Swamp peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Maple Hill, Pin Hook, and Wallace East
quadrangles.
29
Figure 16. Isopach map of Holly Shelter Swamp peat. Thickness in feet. USGS Maple Hill SW, and Topsail quadrangles.
TABLE 26. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATPNG VALUES OF HOLLY SHELTER PEAT
(4 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB 1 8,400 9,400 9,900
HjO2
81 82 88
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volaliles 48 52 56
Fixed Carbon 29 35 37
Ash2 7 13 23
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 52 57 60
II 3.8 3.9 4.0
20 25 29
N 0.9 1.1 1.4
S 0.2 0.2 0.2
Ash2
7 13 23
Moisture-free basis.
9
For 171 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content
ranged from 55 to 91 percent with an average of 81 percent; and content
the ash ranged from 2 to 25 percent with an average of 10 percent.
Ash - The average ash content of 10 percent is:
higher than in the average North Carolina peat.
Ash contents of less than 5 percent are common
only in peat greater than 5 ft thick (Tables 2 and
26).
Heating Value and Composition - Compared to:
the average North Carolina peat (Table 2), Holly
Shelter Swamp peats are lower than average in
volatiles, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and
heating value (Table 26).
Peat Deposits and Resources - The peat deposit
covers an area of 9,200 acres and contains 6.1
million tons of moisture-free peat. Of this tota
3,100 acres is underlain by peat greater than 4 ft
thick with 3.8 million tons of peat (Table 27).
GREEN SWAMP
Location - The Green Swamp is a large swamp
complex west of Wilmington and southeast of Lake
Waccamaw in eastern Columbus and western
30
TABLE 27. PEAT RESOURCES IN HOLLY SHELTER TABLE 28.
Thickness
ft
Area
l(r acres
Weight
10 tons (moisture-free)
>0
>2
>4
>6
>8
> 10
923 6.70
6.00 5.89
3.09 3.80
0.81 1.18
0.13 0.22
Brunswick counties (Figs. 1 and 17). Peat is found
in only a small part of the total swamp complex. In
addition to the peat deposits shown on Figure 17,
there are numerous areas of thin peat, usually less
than 2 ft thick. In the Green Swamp are 3 main
deposits: (1) The Exum deposit located on the
Exum U.S. Geological Survey orthophotographic
map, (2) the Juniper Creek deposits located on the
Exum, Supply, Boliva, and Honey Island
orthophotographic maps, and (3) the Old Dock
deposit located on the Old Dock map.
Topography and Drainage - Surface elevations
range from 50 to 60 ft on the Exum and Juniper
Creek deposits to about 40 ft on the Old Dock
deposit. Just southeast of the swamp complex are
coast-parallel sand ridges that block most of the
drainage to the coast. Most surface drainage is
northwesterly into Juniper Creek and other
tributaries of the Waccamaw River.
Moisture - The Exum and Juniper Creek
deposits both had average moisture contents of
about 86 percent, while the Old Dock deposit had
an average moisture content of only 76 percent
(Table 28). This difference is mainly the result of
the Old Dock deposit being thinner and, therefore,
lacking the deeper and wetter peats. In all three
deposits the average moisture content increases
downward to a depth of 4 to 5 ft, below which the
moisture was 85 to 90 percent.
Ash - For samples with less than 25 percent
ash, the average ash content of the Exum and
Juniper Creek deposits is 7 to 9 percent (Table 28).
Where the peat is greater than 4 ft thick, however,
ash contents are commonly less than 5 percent.
The average ash content of the Old Dock peat is
about 12 percent, reflecting the fact that there is
very little peat greater than 4 ft thick.
SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF GREEN SWAMP PEATS
(10 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Mean High
BTU/LB
'
8,600
H2
o2 75
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 50
Fixed Carbon 31
Ash2
4
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 57
II 3.7
() 25
N 0.4
S 0.2
Ash2
4
9,700 10,600
83 91
57 62
36 39
7 15
59 61
4.4 5.1
28 31
1.2 1.7
0.3 0.4
7 15
Moisture-free basis.
2Exum deposit: For 53 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture
content ranged from 72 to 92 percent with an average of 86 percent;
and the ash content ranged from 3 to 25 percent with an average of
9 percent. Juniper Creek deposit For 132 samples with less than
25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged from 58 to 94 percent
with an average of 86 percent; and the ash content ranged from 2 to
25 percent with an average of 7 percent. Old Dock deposit: For 33
samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 57 to 92 percent with an average of 76 percent; and the ash
content ranged from 4 to 25 percent with an average of 12 percent.
Carolina peat (Table 2) except that the volatiles
and hydrogen content are somewhat lower than
average (Table 28).
Peat Deposits and Resources - The three
deposits shown on Figure 17 contain a total of 10.3
million tons of moisture-free peat on a total area of
16,400 acres (Table 29). Of this total, peat greater
than 4 ft thick covers 3,600 acres with 4.3 million
tons of peat. The greatest concentration of peat
greater than 4 ft thick is fOund in the Juniper
Creek deposit (1,900 acres with 2.3 million tons of
peat).
The Green Swamp complex contains many areas
of organic-rich soils, but with the organic matter
being less than the required 75 percent to be
considered full-grade peat. Because of the large
size of the Green Swamp and the dense vegetation
covering much of it, there are probably some peat
deposits that were not discovered by this survey.
OTHERS
Heating Value and Composition - The Green
Swamp peats are similar to the average North
Undoubtedly there are some areas of peat that
were missed in this survey. A combination of the
31
32
TABLE 29. PEAT RESOURCES IN GREEN SWAMP
Thickness Area Weight
ft lCr acres 10
6
ton
(moisture-free)
A. Exum Deposit
>0 4.16 2.51
>2 2.72 2.20
>4 1.21 1.30
>6 0.39 0.52
>8
B. Juniper Creek Deposit
>0 9.82 5.93
>2 5.96 5.08
>4 1.86 2.25
>6 1.14 1.39
>8 0.40 0.51
> 10 0.02 0.03
> 12
C. Old Dock Deposit
>0 2.44 1.83
>2 1.47 1.54
>4 0.55 0.74
>6
D. TOTAL
>0 16.42 10.27
>2 10.15 8.82
>4 3.62 4.29
>6 1.53 1.91
>8 0.40 0.51
>10 0.02 0.03
> 12
large areas to be covered and the almost
impenetrable vegetation in many areas makes it
likely that some deposits were missed. For
example, there are reports of peat in the Great
Sandy Run Pocosin about 10 mi south-southwest of
Jacksonville.
Carolina Bays
Carolina bays are shallow, elliptical, closed
depressions in the Atlantic Coastal Plain from
southern New Jersey to northern Florida. The
greatest number and best examples are found in
North and South Carolina. The bays have a general
northwest-southeast orientation. They range in
length from a few hundred feet to about 6 miles.
Prouty (1952) estimates that there are about a half
million of these bays in the entire Atlantic Coastal
Plain. Most are low-lying swampy areas and a few
contain lakes. Ten to twenty different hypotheses
of origin (falling meteorites, upwelling springs,
eddy currents, solution, wind-induced
shape-modification, etc.) have been presented, but
there is no consensus among those who have worked
on the problem.
In North Carolina there are about 2,100
Carolina bays longer than 800 ft (larger than 10
acres) scattered over most of the Coastal Plain but
with a concentration in Bladen and Robeson
counties (Fig. 18).
Field Methods - Since the swampy nature of
most of the Carolina bays is conducive to the
formation of highly organic soils, most bays are
potential sites of peat formation. Field
investigations were limited to the approximately
500 bays longer than 3,000 ft (larger than 100
acres).
Because of the large numbers of bays to be
investigated and because of the almost
impenetrable nature of the dense vegetation in
many of the bays, thorough sampling of all the bays
was not possible within time and budget
limitations. As the bays are elliptical,
bowl-shaped depressions, peat accumulations
should be lense-shaped and thickest near the
center. In order to obtain an idea of the total peat
resources of all the Carolina bays, a single transect
from the edge to the center was made of each of the
bays. This often involved time-consuming clearing
of the lines of transects with machetes. Cores were
taken at intervals along each transect with
Macauley peat samplers. For a few of the bays more
complete areal sampling was done.
Moisture - The average moisture content of
1092 samples with less than 25 percent ash was 84
percent (Table 30). This is almost identical with
the average moisture content of the coastal swamp
or pocosin peats. In general, moisture increases
with depth.
Ash - The average ash content of samples with
less than 25 percent ash from the 96 bays with peat
ranged from 1.4 to 25 percent with a median of 5.5
percent. Ash contents of less than 5 percent are
common in the bays with peat greater than 4 ft
thick.
Heating Value and Composition - Carolina bay
peats are similar to the average North Carolina peat
(Table 2) except that the carbon content is
somewhat higher and the hydrogen content is
somewhat lower than average (Table 30).
33
Figure 18. Distribution of Carolina bays longer than 800 feet in North Carolina. From Prout y, 1952.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Of the
approximately 500 bays longer than 3,000 ft.
(larger than 100 acres), 96 contain at least 1 ft of
peat. Locations of the peat-bearing bays are shown
on Figures 1, and 19 through 38. The bays with the
most peat are listed in Table 31. A summary of the
nature and amount of peat in each of the
peat-bearing bays is given is Table 32.
The 96 bays have a total of 35,000 acres of
peatland and 15 million tons of moisture-free peat.
Forty three of these bays have peat greater than 4
ft thick and have a total of 8 million tons of peat on
8,000 acres.
River Floodplains
No systematic survey was made of all the
floodplain swamps of North Carolina coastal rivers.
Limited mapping of peat was made only along parts
of the lower reaches of the Chowan, Roanoke, anc
Cape Fear Rivers. Very probably peat is to be
found along the floodplains of most of the coasta
rivers.
CHOWAN RIVER
Location - The Chowan River flows along the
border between Gates and Hertford counties ir
northeastern North Carolina (Fig. 1). A strip of the
Chowan floodplain from U.S. Highway 158-13 neai
Winton southeast for about 15 miles wa:
investigated for peat (Fig. 39) (Witner, 1984)
Undoubtedly more peat exists along the Chowan
especially to the north of the area mapped. The
peat deposits mapped are on the Winton NE, Wintoi
34
TABLE 30. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF CAROLINA BAY PEATS
(84 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 8,900 10,200 11,600
H2o2 72 83 94
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 54 60 67
Fixed Carbon 28 36 43
Ash2
1 3 21
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 52 62 66
H 3.7 4.5 5.7
O 22 29 33
N 0.7 1.2 2.3
S 0.1 0.2 0.3
Ash2
1 3 21
Moisture-free basis.
2For 1092 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the average moisture content
was 84 percent; and the average ash content was 6 percent
TABLE 31. CAROLINA BAYS WITH THE MOST PEAT THICKER
THAN 4 FT
Deposit Map Max. Thk.
ft.
Acres Tons of
Peat
White Lake SE 1972 9 8 980 1,109,000
RoseboroNW4175 5 5 600 600,000
ElizabethtownNE2951 X 8 500 563,000
RoseboroSW2831 5 7 460 493,000
White Lake SW 6165 9 8 470 491,900
Roseboro SW 9968 5 7 380 440,000
RoseboroSW7411 5 6 390 424,000
NW, Winton SE, and Beckford SW U.S. Geological
Survey orthophotographic quadrangle maps.
Topography and Drainage - The elevation of
most of the floodbasin is only slightly above sea
level. Some linear bar sands in the floodbasins
rise above the level of the floodplain to elevations
of 5 to 10 ft. The bordering pre-Holocene surface
in the area mapped has an elevation of about 40 ft.
Some small creeks flow from the floodplain into the
Chowan, but in general the swampy peatlands are
poorly drained. The water table is very near the
surface over most of the peat deposits.
Moisture - The moisture content averaged 91
percent reflecting the' fact that the peat is
essentially water-saturated from the surface
downward. There is little variation with depth as
in most of the pocosin and Carolina bay peats
(Table 33).
Ash - The ash content averages 1 1 percent,
which is high compared to most pocosin and
Carolina Bay peats. Flooding of the Chowan River
and erosion of the adjacent pre-Holocene surface
has introduced clay, silt, and sand into the
peat-forming swamps.
Heating Value and Composition - Chowan River
peats are similar to the average North Carolina peat
(Table 2) except that volatile matter, nitrogen, and
sulfur are somewhat higher than average (Table
33).
Peat Deposits and Resources - Chowan River
floodplain peats are much more variable than
pocosin and Carolina Bay peats. In most of the
areas of peat shown on Figure 39, the peat is
continuous from the surface to the bottom of the
peat; but in many areas the peat is covered by a
layer of inorganic sediment; and in many places
layers of inorganic sediments are interlayered with
the peat (Witner, 1984). All of this is to be
expected as the result of flooding of the river.
There are also large areas of organic-rich
sediments but with the organic content being less
than 75 percent (ash greater than 25 percent). In
many places wood, representing undecomposed
fallen trees, is common. The fact that the peat
deposits are elongate and roughly parallel to the
stream valley implies that the peat accumulated in
abandoned channels of the Chowan.
Calculated peat resources in the part of the
Chowan floodplain that was surveyed are shown in
Table 34. Total resources are about 3.7 million
tons under about 8,200 acres, of which about 2.9
million tons under 4,200 acres are in peat greater
than 4 ft thick. Probably an equal amount of peat
is to be found in the unmapped part of the Chowan
floodplain to the north.
ROANOKE RIVER
Location, Topography, and Drainage - The
Roanoke River enters Albemarle Sound just north of
Plymouth (Figs. 1 and 40). The river has a wide
swampy floodplain that extends more than 30 miles
to the west and northwest. Much of this floodplain
has the potential of being underlain by peat; but
only a 4 mile stretch, all of which is on the
Westover orthophotographic quadrangle map, at the
mouth of the river was investigated (Erlich, 1980).
35
Figure 19. Index to maps showing Carolina bays with peat, maps 1 (Figure 20) through 19 (Figure 38).
Figure 20. Carolina bays. Map 1. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Edenton NW quadrangle.
36
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6
1^ X X
\ V v <25b y^r-\^
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^ /^^ \-XT) /^T
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o
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if! ^ J&t***^
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1 2 3 miles ^ A1
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^*XA Xta SCALE /c
,A ^^ —Jtx S »y^^(<xC\ u«* "Hf ^^^^. ^^^^ \'m \ '^y u5b^ \ \S= «4* ,
^"*x*\ ^* || *»,^X'^ \, / i^xV Y*
^^•q ^X^ \ ^X^« . )T tw^'X^ V- **m ^A*x^> i. . # \ .0 \7.l
Figure 21. Carolina bays. Map 2. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Vanceboro SW quadrangle.
Figure 22. Carolina bays. Map 3. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Trent River NE , and Trent River NW quadrangles.
37
Figure 23. Carolina bays. Map 4. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Saint Paul NE, and Saint Paul SE quadrangles.
38
4 'J f
5 ,
"*
.
V
Y£. -P
*X>\\
Figure 24. Carolina bays. Map 5. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Roseboro NE, Roseboro NW, Roseboro SE, and RoseboroSW quadrangles.
39
, I.I J^"
\ IJ 1
27 tf"fc .J%.
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9 VT"
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Figure 25. Carolina bays. Map 6. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Garland SE, and Garland SW quadrangles.
Figure 26. Carolina bays. Map 7. Number inside bay indicates maximun thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Bladenboro SE and Bladenboro SW quadrangles.
40
Figure27. Carolina bays. Map 8. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet. USGS
Elizabefhtown NE, Elizabethtown NW, Elizabethtown SE, and Elizabethtown SW quadrangles.
41
Figure 28. Carolina bays. Map 9. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS White Lake NE, White Lake NW, White Lake SE, and White Lake SW quadrangles.
42
Figure 29. Carolina bays. Map 10. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Atkinson NW, and Atkinson SW quadrangles.
43
•"'.
Figure 30. Carolina bays. Map 11. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Maple Hill SW quadrangle.
•44
\"- J
II
SSfl
/
3 miles
J
SCALE
Figure 31. Carolina bays. Map 12. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Fairbluff quadrangle.
Figure 32. Carolina bays. Map 13. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Chadbourn NE quadrangle.
45
\
V
. COUNCIL
MILL
POND
^
Figure 33. Carolina bays. Map 14. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Bolton NE quadrangle.
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Figure 34. Carolina bays. Map 15. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Acme NW quadrangle.
46
GAME LAND
Figure 35. Carolina bays. Map 16. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Topsail quadrangle.
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Figure 36. Carolina bays. Map 17. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Funston quadrangle.
47
N
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Figure 37. Carolina bays. Map 18. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Calabash quadrangle.
Figure 38. Carolina bays. Map 19. Number inside bay indicates maximum thickness of peat in feet.
USGS Southport quadrangle.
48
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TABLE 33. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF CHOWAN RIVER PEATS
(7 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1
H2O2
9,300
90
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatilcs 59
Fixed Carbon 30
Ash2 3
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 53
II 4.5
28
N 1.5
S
Ash2
0.3
3
9,900
91
62
33
6
58
4.8
29
1.8
0.4
6
10,100
93
64
36
10
61
5.0
30
2.1
0.6
10
Moisture-free basis.
2For 204 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content averaged
9 1 percent, and the ash content averaged 1 1 percent.
The surface of the peat near the mouth of the river
is only slightly above sea level. The bordering
pre-Holocene surface has elevations of about 20 ft.
Some small creeks flow from the floodplain into the
Roanoke, but in general the swampy peatlands are
poorly drained. The water table is near the surface
in most of the peat deposits.
Peat Deposits and Resources - Sampling in the
area investigated was not thorough enough to enable
an accurate isopach map of the peat to be prepared;
but in the limited area mapped, peat was found
under about 3,000 acres with about 1.5 million
tons of moisture-free peat (Fig. 40). The main mass
of fuel-grade peat is found along the southeast part
of the floodplain near the valley wall. Here the
peat is up to 12 ft thick with thicknesses of 6 to 10
ft being common. This peat averages about 10
percent ash but with some layers that are very high
in ash. Near the river layers of flood-deposited
sand and clay intertongue with the peat (Erlich,
1980).
Very probably there are other areas of
fuel-grade peat in the wide floodplain of the
Roanoke to the west of the area investigated.
CAPE FEAR RIVER
TABLE 34. PEAT RESOURCES (PARTIAL) IN CHOWAN
RIVER FLOODPLAIN
Thickness
ft
A. Deposit A
>0
>4
B. Deposit B
>0
>4
C. Deposit C
>0
>4
D. Deposit D
>0
>4
E. Deposit E
>0
>4
F. Deposit F
>0
>4
G. Deposit G
>0
>4
H. Deposit H
>0
>4
I. Deposit I
>0
>4
J. TOTAL
>0
>4
Area Weight
103 Acres 10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
1.22 0.70
0.83 0.61
0.17 0.06
0.07 0.04
0.66 0.28
029 0.21
0.14 0.06
0.06 0.04
5.34 2.40
2.87 1.90
0.09 0.06
0.07 0.06
0.09 0.02
0.44 0.11
0.02 0.02
0.02 0.01
8.17 3.71
4.21 2.88
Fear River enters the Atlantic Ocean south of
Wilmington (Figs. 1 and 41). The river has a wide
swampy floodplain that extends several tens of
miles to the northwest. Much of this floodplain has
the potential of being underlain by peat but only a
small area near Wilmington at the junction of the
Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear was investigated
(Kronenfeld, 1984). The peat deposits are in
Brunswick and New Hanover counties and lie on the
Castle Hayne and Wilmington U.S. Geological Survey
orthophotographic quadrangle maps. The surface of
the peat is only slightly above sea level and is
poorly drained.
Moisture - The moisture content ranged from
83 to 96 percent with an average of 91 percent.
Location, Topography, and Drainage - The Cape There is little variation with depth reflecting the
58
Figure 40. Map showing location of Roanoke River peats. Selected thicknesses in feet are shown.
USGS Westover quadrangle.
Figure 41. Isopach map of Cape Fear River peats near Wilmington. Thickness in feet
USGS Castle Hayne, and Wilmington quadrangles.
59
fact that the peat is essentially water-saturated
from the surface downward (Table 35).
TABLE 35. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF CAPE FEAR RIVER PEAT
(5 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 8,700
H2
2 90
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volaliles S3
Fixed Carbon 30
Ash2
3
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 53
II 3.9
O 23
N 0.9
S 0.2
Ash2 3
9,400
91
60
33
57
4.3
30
1.4
0.3
9,800
93
63
35
15
59
4.6
33
1.7
0.5
15
Moisture-free basis.
"For 61 samples with less than 25 percent ash, the moisture content ranged
from 83 to 96 percent with an average of 91 percent; and the ash content
ranged from 3 to 25 percent with an average of 1 1 percent.
Ash - The ash content of the fuel-grade peat
averages 1 1 percent, which is high compared to the
pocosin and Carolina bay peats (Table 35).
Flooding of the adjacent rivers and wind-driven
tides have introduced sand and clay into the
peat-forming swamps. The peat deposits are
surrounded and sometimes overlain by
organic-rich sediments.
Heating Value and Composition - Cape Fear
River peats are similar to the average North
Carolina peat (Table 2) except that the oxygen
content is somewhat high and the hydrogen and
heating values are somewhat low (Table 35).
Peat Deposits and Resources - Fuel-grade peat
was found in two areas, one between and at the
confluence of the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape
River rivers and another on Eagle Island just south
of the confluence of the two rivers. Usually the
peat is continuous from the surface to the bottom of
the deposit; but the margins of the deposits are
frequently covered by highly organic, but
non-peat, sediments. In places tongues of highly
organic sediments are present in the peat bodies.
Total resources in the two deposits are about
0.7 million tons of moisture-free peat under about
870 acres, of which about 0.5 million tons under'
520 acres are in peat greater than 4 ft thick (Table:
36).
TABLE 36. PEAT RESOURCES (PARTIAL) IN CAPE FEAR
RIVER FLOODPLAIN
Thickness Area Weight
ft 10^ acres 10
6
tons
(moisture-free)
A. South Deposit
>0 0.23 0.13
>4 0.09 0.08
>8
B. North Deposit
>0 0.64 0.52
>4 0.43 0.45
>8 020 0.24
C. TOTAL
>0 0.87 0.65
>4 0.52 0.53
>8 0.20 0.24
The peat resources in the unmapped parts of
the floodplains of the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape
Fear rivers are unknown but could be large.
OTHER RIVER FLOODPLAINS
The floodplains of other coastal rivers;
(Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tar, Neuse, New, etc.))
have the potential of having peat deposits similar,
to those of the Chowan, Roanoke, and Cape Fear
rivers.
Tidal or Coastal Marshes
Highly organic sediments are characteristic of
the marshes that fringe many of the sounds and
estuaries of the North Carolina coast. Although the
coastal marshes were not investigated thoroughly,
the marshes that were sampled usually had ash
contents exceeding 25 percent. This is in
agreement with the conclusion of Frey and Basan:
(1978; p. 121) that in southern coastal marshes
"peat is not a significant constituent of the
sediments."
At a few small areas west and southwest of
Carolina Beach and along the eastern side of
the lower Cape Fear River estuary were some
peats with less than 25 percent ash. The
60
composition of these tidal marsh peats (Table 37)
were similar to the average North Carolina peat
(Table 2) except that the hydrogen content was
somewhat lower and that the sulfur content was
much higher than average. The high sulfur content
reflects the influence of sulfates present in the sea
water that invades the marshes.
TABLE 38. TOTAL NORTH CAROLINA PEAT RESOURCES
TABLE 37. SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION (WEIGHT PERCENT)
AND HEATING VALUES OF SELECTED TIDAL MARSH
PEATS FROM LOWER CAPE FEAR RIVER ESTUARY
(11 SAMPLES WITH LESS THAN 25 PERCENT ASH)
(SEE APPENDIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ANALYSES)
Low Median High
BTU/LB 1 8,300
H2
87
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS 1
Volatiles 52
Fixed Carbon 26
Ash 4
ULTIMATE ANALYSIS 1
C 47
H 3.3
O 25
N 0.7
S 0.5
Ash 4
Moisture- free basis.
9,600
90
58
33
4
57
4.0
28
1.3
0.9
9
10,100
93
61
37
19
59
4.9
31
1.6
1.4
19
>Q ft
DEPOSIT Weight Area
3
a<
> 4 rt
Area
10"5 acres 10° tons 1
Weight
I. Coastal Swamps (Pocosins)
Dismal Swamp 76.8 67.8 34.7 43.4 -G'
Albemarle-Pamlico R. 373. 278. 175. 196. -G
Gull Rock 8.1 4.6 1.3 1.6 -G
Van Swamp 6.6 5.8 2.6 3.8 -G
Bay City-Gum Swamp 12.3 5.9 1.1 1.1-G
Light Ground 5.9 5.2 2.8 3.5 -G
Open Grounds 11.0 6.3 0.5 0.6 -G
Croatan Forest 35.3 26.9 11.6 14.4 -G
Hofmann Forest 5.2 4.2 1.0 1.6 -G
Angola Swamp 21.9 15.2 8.8 9.6 -G
Holly Shelter 9.2 6.7 3.1 3.8 -G
Green Swamp 16.4 103 3.6 4.3 -G
II. River Flood River
Chowan 16 8. 8. 6. -F
Roanoke 20.? 15.? 10.? 10.? -P
Tar 6.? 6.? 3.? 3.?-P
Neuse 6.? 6.? 3.? 3.7-P
Cape Fear 12.? 10.? 6.? 5.?-P
III. Carolina Bays 35.3 15.4 8.1 8.4 -F
TOTAL 677.
(1060 sq mi)
498. 284.
(444 sq mi)
319.
Weight in moisture- free tons.
^Quality of Estimate: G-Good, F-Fair, P-Poor.
TOTAL PEAT RESOURCES OF NORTH
CAROLINA
About 498 million tons of moisture- free peat
underlie about 677,000 acres (1060 sq mi) in
North Carolina (Table 38). Of this total, about 319
million tons underlie about 284,000 acres (444 sq
mi) where the peat is greater than 4 ft thick. Peat
resources are concentrated in the pocosins or
coastal swamps of the northeastern part of the state
with the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula having 55
percent of the resources and the Dismal Swamp, 1
1
percent. The remaining coastal swamp deposits are
small but significant. Although 96 Carolina bays
have peat, only 46 have peat greater than 4 ft thick
and only one of these has more than one million
tons of peat. None of the floodplain peat bodies
located were very large, continuous, or high
quality.,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Much credit for this inventory of North
Carolina's peat resources goes to James C. Bresee,
Director of the North Carolina Energy Institute. He
first saw the need for the study and provided
funding and support to get the project started. He
was also instrumental in helping to obtain major
funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to
complete the project. Guidance from the
Department of Energy was provided by Melvyn
Kopstein, Peat Program Manager. In the later
stages of the project, he was succeeded by Leonard
Christianson and then by Frank Honea.
The field investigation of peat deposits
requires people who appreciate the swamp
environment and are willing to face on a day-to-day
basis long-distance mucky walking, dense
vegetation, and unknown wildlife. Especial thanks
go to Lee J. Otte, who supervised much of the field
work. For varying lengths of time, the following
assisted in the field and in the laboratory: Tim
Atkinson, Dave Baynard, Dianne Berg, Dwayne
Booker, Ned Billington, Richard Bullock, Phillip
Daniels, Ronald Davis, Robert Duncan, Greg
Eisenhower, Robert Erlich, Steve Fauser, Billy
Fentress, Charles Folger, Bruce Ford, Noel France,
61
Manley Fuller, Lynn Gladieux, John Groce, Mark
Holmes, Michael Indorf, Kathy Kronenfeld, Brent
Lane, Howard Lineberger, David Mallison, Joe
McMurray, Terry O'Hearn, Horace Pendergrass,
Charles Sanders, Harry Sibold, Brenda Smith,
Donna Smith, Max Spach, Mark Stevenson, John
Toth, Michael Wei, Jim Wilson, Thomas Witner,
Larissa Yount, and Henry Unger.
Steve Barnes, Soils Scientist with First Colony
Farms, Inc., Creswell, N.C., most willingly made
available the results of his years of work on the
organic soils and peat of the Albemarle-Pamlico
peninsula.
1983b, Sea level and coastal change, in
Wright, H.E., ed., Late Quaternary
environments of the United States
Holocene: Minneapolis, University of
Minnesota Press, p.42-51.
v.2, the
Cady, G.H., 1977, Goal, in Lapedes, D.N., ed.,
Encyclopedia of the geological sciences: New
York, McGraw -Hill, p.96-103.
Cameron, C.C., 1973, Peat, in Brobst, D.A. and
Pratt, W.P., eds., United States minerals
resources: U.S. Geological Survey
Professional Paper 820, p.505-513.
REFERENCES
Averitt, P. , 1973, Coal, in Brobst, D.A. and
Pratt, W.P., eds., U.S. Mineral Resources: U.S.
Geological Survey Professional Paper 820,
p. 133-142.
Baker, V.R., 1983, Late Pleistocene fluvial
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