louisiana peat resources

75
LOUISIANA PEAT RESOURCES Final Technical Report for the Period 1 April 1981 through 15 April 1983 Elisabeth C. Kosters August 1983 Work Performed under Contract DE-FG18-81FE05113 Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Geological Survey University Station, Box G Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893 DOE / FE / 05113

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Kosters, E. C., and A. Bailey, A., 1983, Louisiana peat resources. Final technical report, 1 April 1981-15 April 1983. Report prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy Division of Energy Technology under Contract DE-FG18-81FE05113. Louisiana geological Survey, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 63 pp.

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Page 1: Louisiana Peat Resources

LOUISIANA PEAT RESOURCES

Final Technical Report for the Period

1 April 1981 through 15 April 1983

Elisabeth C. Kosters August 1983

Work Performed under Contract

DE-FG18-81FE05113

Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Geological Survey University Station, Box G

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893

DOE/ FE/ 05113

Page 2: Louisiana Peat Resources

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United States Department of Energy, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, mark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Available from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia 22161:

Price: Printed Copy A04 Microfiche AO 1

Page 3: Louisiana Peat Resources

LOUISIANA PEAT RESOURCES

Final Technical Report for the Period

1 April 1981 through 15 April 1983

Elisabeth C. Kosters

with a contribution by

Alan Bailey Department of Geology

University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette. Louisiana

Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Geological Survey University Station. Box G

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893

August 1983

Prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy

Division of Energy Technology under Contract DE-FG18-81FE05113

DOE/FE/05113

Page 4: Louisiana Peat Resources
Page 5: Louisiana Peat Resources

Abstract

Introduction

Classification and Properties Clas sifica tion Depositional Setting s Ash Content and Btu Bulk Density

CONTENTS

Relationships between Percent Moisture and Percent Organic Matter ,

Mineral Content Average Values ,

History of Assessment Study and Overview of Prospect Areas

History of Assessment Gueydan Prospect, Avery Island Prospect Sale-Cypremort Prospect Barataria Prospect Lake Pontchartrain Prospect

Methods Sampling ,. , Determination of Percent Moisture and Ash Bulk Density Calculation of Peat Tonnage

Status of Survey

Future Plans

Pu blica tions

Acknowledg ments ,

References

Appendices

Distribution List

iii

vii

1

4 4 4 5 6

8 11 12

13 13 13 17 17 33 46

46 46 48 48 49

50

50

51

52

53

57

63

Page 6: Louisiana Peat Resources

FIGURES

Figure 1. Location map showing peat research areas. . • • . •• 2

2. Plot showing relationship between bulk density and percent organic matter. ••••....••.••.•.••. 7

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

Linear plots showing relationship between (3a) bulk density and depth for samples taken from the top 80 cm of section and between (3b) bulk density and depth for all samples. .••••••.•••••••

Log-linear plot showing relationship between percent moisture and percent organic matter in Sale-Cypremort and Barataria. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Gueydan prospect. Approximate depths to the Pleistocene. · · · · · · · · · · · Gueydan prospect. Location and analysis of the two most important cores. · · · · · · · · · Avery I.sland prospect. Loca~ion map.

Avery Island prospect. Dip sections A-A' and B-B'.

Avery Island prospect. Strike section C-C'. · · ·

·

·

·

· Avery Island prospect. Isopach map of lowermost peat bed. . . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Avery Island prospect. Isopach map of upper peat bed. . . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Avery Island prospect. Isopach map of org anic-rich cypress swamp deposit. · · · · · · · · · · · · Sale-Cypremort prospect. Location map.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Strike section A-A'.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Dip section B-B'.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Strike section D-D'.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section A-A'.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section B-B'.

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section D-D'. ·

iv

9

· · · · 10

· · · · 15

· · · · 16

18

· · · · 19

20

· · · · 21

· · · · 22

· · · 23

24

26

27

28

29

30

· · · · 31

Page 7: Louisiana Peat Resources

Page

20. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Frequency distri bu tion plot. 32

21- Barataria prospect. Location map. · · · · 34

22. Barataria prospect. Dip section A-A'. · · · · · 35

23. Barataria prospect. Dip section B-B'. · · · · · · · · · 36

24. Barataria prospect. Dip section C-C'. · · · · · 37

25. Barataria prospect. Strike section D-D'. 38

26. Barataria prospect. Strike section E-E'. 39

27. Barataria prospect. Contoured section A-A'. 40

28. Barataria prospect. Contoured section B-B'. 41

29. Barataria prospect. Contoured section D-D'. · · · · · · 42

30. Barataria prospect. Contoured section E-E'. 43

31. Barataria prospect. Frequency distribution plot. 44

32. Barataria prospect. Map showing depth to the 30% org anic matter isopleth. . . · · · · · · · · · · · · · 45

33. Lake Pontchartrain prospect. Location map. core locations. and core descriptions. . · · · · · · · · · · · · · 47

TABLES Page

Table 1- Average properties of Louisiana peat. · · · · · · · · · · · · 3

2. Classification of org anic sediments. with clayey inorganic texture. . . . . . . . .. · · · · 4

3. Typical veg eta tion by marsh type. · · · · · · · 14

Page 8: Louisiana Peat Resources
Page 9: Louisiana Peat Resources

ABSTRACT

Five peat prospect areas--Gueydan, Avery Island, Sale-Cypremort,

Barataria, and Lake Pontchartrain--are representative of different types of

South Louisiana peat deposits. Together, the prospects are estimated to

contain about 20 x 106 metric tons of peat. Because these areas occupy only

a small portion of the deltaic and chenier plains, there is potentially much

more peat present in South Louisiana.

Approximately 2000 samples, taken from about 200 auger holes and

vibracores, were analyzed. Average values of Louisiana peat are 90% moisture,

80% organic matter (20% ash), a bulk density of 0.12 g/cm3 , and a Btu of

8515. The relationships between percent moisture and organic matter and

between bulk density and depth indicate that compaction during the first few

thousand years was minimal. Freshwater peats contain primarily kaolinite and

quartz, whereas marine-influenced peats contain kaolinite, quartz, and

water-soluble salts.

vii

Page 10: Louisiana Peat Resources
Page 11: Louisiana Peat Resources

INTRODUCTION

The Louisiana Geological Survey (LGS) has been investigating peat

distribution in South Louisiana since April 1981. The objectives of this

project were to map mineable fuel-grade peat deposits at least 3 km2 in area

and 1.5 m thick and to evaluate their qualitative and quantitative

properties.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines peat as

organic material containing more than 75% organic matter by dry weight.

Little peat meeting this specification has been found in Louisiana. Although

many organic deposits are primarily hemic and sapric and often do not contain

more than the required 75% organic matter, the study of peats in the

Mississippi River Deltaic Plain can provide useful information about modern

coal-forming environments.

Selection of the four prospect areas (Fig. 1) was based on resource

assessment conducted through a literature search (Kress, 1980). One prospect,

Avery Island, was added. Most of the prospects are located in basins formed

by cyclic deltaic sedimentation of the Holocene Mississippi River. Outline of

a prospect is based on natural boundaries, whenever possible. However, since

virtually all of South Louisiana's swamps and marshes can be designated as a

peat resource area, these boundaries are, in places, arbitrary.

The total amount of peat in all prospects is about 20 x 106 metric

tons; Louisiana peat has an average of 90% moisture, 80% organic matter, and a

bulk density of 0.12 g Icm3 (Table 1). All units of measurement in this

report are metric.

Page 12: Louisiana Peat Resources

SCALE

10 0 10 20 30 40 50 MI

10 0 20 40 60 80 100 KM

!

I ... )'

I

GUEYDAN

2 AVERY ISLAND

3 SALE CYPREMORT

4 BARATARIA

5 LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

-- PLEISTOCENE LIMITS -Figure 1. Location map showing peat research areas.

2

Page 13: Louisiana Peat Resources

Table 1. Average properties of Louisiana peat.

A VERAGE QUALITY ORGANIC BULK

MOISTURE PROSPECT (%)

Gueydan 92.2%

Avery Island (I) 89.2

Avery Island (II) 89.2

Avery Island (swamp)

Sale-Cypremort 89.0

Barataria 89.4

Lake Pontchartraintt 90.2

AVERAGE 90%

* Figure based on one sample. t Average for all areas.

MATTER (%)

78.3%

79.4

79.4

81.6

79.4

81.1

80%

§ See p. 25 for respective thicknesses. ** Figures not established.

DENSITY (g/ cm3)

0.12 g/cm3t

0.12 g/cm3

tt Figures for average quantity are approxima.~ .

AVERAGE QUANTITY

AREA THICKNESS METRIC TONS Btu (km2) (m) (x 106 )

9227* 3.43 km2 1.20 m 0.49 x 106

8328 9.65 0.60 0.69

8328 7.68 0.40 0.36

34

8485 87.12 § 5.50

8189 127 ** 2.51

8620 81 1.08 10.53

8515 TOTAL: 20.08 x 106

Page 14: Louisiana Peat Resources

CLASSIFICATION AND PROPERTIES

Classification

Sediments in the upper 4 m of the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain are

highly variable in organic matter content. In order to log sediments

properly, a special classification was developed (Kearns, 1982, personal

commun.) (Table 2):

Table 2. Classification of organic sediments, with clayey inorganic texture.

Organic Matter (%) <5%

5-15% 15-35% 35-55% 55-75%

> 75%

Type clay mucky clay clayey muck muck peaty muck peat

NOTE: The term "organic-rich material" is used to describe material containing more than 35% organic matter by dry weight.

Depositional Setting s

There are several types of peat deposits in the delta and chenier plains

of South Louisiana. The two major kinds are blanket peats and

interdistributary peats; of lesser importance are channel fill and detrital

peats.

Blanket peats form atop slowly subsiding abandoned delta lobes. Often,

several depositional cycles can be recog nized . Organic-rich deposits

represent periods when active delta deposition took place at a considerable

distance from the area of organic accumulation; deposits with little organic

matter (clays and mucky clays) represent periods when a depocenter was located

in proximity to the area (Coleman and Smith, 1964). Blanket peats experience

little detrital influx, are laterally continuous, and display a relatively

Page 15: Louisiana Peat Resources

uniform thickness. The upper peat deposit in the Sale-Cypremort prospect is

an example of a blanket peat.

Interdistributary peats form in relatively low-lying basins between

distributaries during periods of active delta deposition. The basins are

susceptible to the influx of fine-grained detrital material by overbank

flooding. In these basins, stratig raphic correlations are usually difficult

to establish; however, pockets of organic-rich material up to 4 m thick may

exist. The Barataria prospect is an example of interdistributary-peat

accu mula tion •

The Gueydan prospect is characterized by a third kind of peat

accumulation, that of channel fill. Pleistocene channels, or abandoned

meander belts of the Mississippi or one of its distributaries, provide the

setting for these peats. Compared to that of other types, the aerial extent

is small; although detrital influx is minimal, organic matter content is

similar to that of other peats (Table 1).

Lastly, there are detrital peats. These originate by shoreline erosion

of marshland, after which the eroded marsh material is deposited in the

shallow offshore zone. These peats were not investigated.

Blanket peats, interdistributary peats, and detrital peats can be

preserved in the fossil record and should therefore be considered examples of

modern coal-forming environments.

Ash Content and Btu

The ash content of Louisiana peats averages 20% (Table 1) as a result of

the following factors:

1) Intermittent interruption of marsh growth due to detrital influx. such as crevasse splays and flooding events.

5

Page 16: Louisiana Peat Resources

.

2) Botanical orlgm of peats, which are composed mainly of cypress swamp and marsh material (Table 3). Sphagnum vegetation yielding low-ash peats is not present. Determination of botanical origin of peats was done visually. Microtome analysis has not yet been done.

3) Subsidence. A certain amount of subsidence is necessary to enable the marsh to continue growing upward. When the optimal subsidence rate is exceeded, inundation begins, resulting in the influx of detrital matter.

Ash percenta·ges, as determined by the Grand Forks Energy Technology

Center, were, in 81.5% of all cases, slightly lower than those established by

LGS for the same samples. The difference ranges from 0.2 to 13.1% (ash

content), with an average of 3.9%. This discrepancy is thought to be due to

the fact that, at Grand Forks, samples are ground prior to analysis. Grinding

loosens the sediment, thus freeing more particles for combustion. In the

remaining 18.5% of all cases, ash percentages determined by Grand Forks were

slightly higher than those at LGS. The reason for this is unknown.

Values for Btu range from 7431 to 9227, with an average of 8515 for all

prospects (Table 1; App. A).

Bulk Density

For organic-rich material, bulk density values range from 0.07 to

0.20 g/cm3, with an average of 0.12 g/cm3 for all depths. The botanical

origin of the different peats may account for the rather wide range of bulk

density values (Cohen, 1982, personal commun.). Fifty-three samples were

analyzed (App. B). The results show (Fig. 2) that a relationship between

organic matter content and bulk density does not exist. Neither is there any

difference between values for different areas. Because of this, the average

of all bulk density values for organic-rich material has been taken as the

overall average for Louisiana.

6

Page 17: Louisiana Peat Resources

p E R C E N T

100

90

. 60

70

60

SO

~o

301~~~ ____ T-__ ~~~ ____ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~ __ -T~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~ __ ~ ____ ~ __ ~

0.05 0.06 0.07 0.06 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 O.I~ 0. 15 0.16 0.17 0 .1 6 0.19 0.20 0.21 0.22 0. 23

808 6ULK DENSITY IN GRRMS PER CENTIMETER CU6EO

Figure 2. Plot showing relationship between bulk density organic matter.

and percent

7

0 R G A N I C

t.I A T T E R

Page 18: Louisiana Peat Resources

With respect to the relationship between bulk density and depth, there is

an indication of sharp increase in bulk density from the surface to -80 cm

depth (Fig. 3a). At depths greater than -80 cm, a relationship does not seem

to exist (Fig. 3b). A verage bulk density increases from 0.11 g/ cm3 for

depths less than -1 m to 0.15 g/ cm3 for depths greater than -3 m, but

correlations are poor. These results probably indicate that, in the first few

thousand years after deposition, most compaction took place immediately after

the accumulation of the root mat (Coleman, 1982, personal commun.); after

this, compaction was minimal.

It has been reported (Boelter, 1969) that when the degree of decomposi-

tion increases, the average bulk density also increases. Observations of the

degree of decomposition fall primarily in the hemic and sapric ranges; these

observations, related to Boelter's results, show that bulk density values of

Louisiana peats are typical of hemic and sapric peats. The relatively high

degree of decomposition of peats is possibly due to the slightly alkaline pH

which allows for greater biological activity affecting the breakdown of plant

fibers (Renton and others, 1979).

Relationships between Percent Moisture and Percent Organic Matter

Relationships between percent moisture and percent organic matter were

established for Sale-Cypremort and Barataria (Fig. 4; Apps. C and D). It

appears that the relationship is a log-linear one. However, correlations are

generally not very good. Regression equations were established for the

following depths: less than -1 m, -1 to -3 m, and greater than -3 m. For 80%

organic matter, material at depths greater than -3 m contains slightly less

moisture than material at depths less than -1 m. The difference in moisture

content, which is 4.4% in Sale-Cypremort and 3% in Barataria, is attributed to

8

Page 19: Louisiana Peat Resources

a

10

20

30

C 40 H

50

60

70

LI NEAR REGRESS ION, y. -437.27 'i\. 72 IWHERE R:O. SOl

o E p T H

eO~~~~~~~ __ -r~~'-~ __ r-~~~~~~~~ 0.01 0.09 0.11 O.ll 0.1; 0.1/ 0.19 0.21 0.23

Figure 3a.

BO

BULK DENSI" IN DARNS rCR CENTIMfTER CUBED

Linear plot showing relationship between bulk density and depth for all areas for samples taken from the top 80 cm of section.

0

50

100

150

200

C 250 M

300

350

400

450

sao 0.0

Figure 3b.

o. I 0.2

80

BULK 0[NS\11 IN GAAMS PER CENTIMeTER CUBED

0.3

o E p T H

Linear plot showing relationship between bulk density and depth for all samples. Average bulk density for samples taken at depths less than -1 m, between -1 and - 3 m, and greater than -3 m is 0.11, 0.13, and 0.15 g / cm3 . respectively.

Page 20: Louisiana Peat Resources

... o

P E A C E

(A) SALE-CYPREMORT

< I METEA, POINTS AAE HASHES' AEGAESSION IS SOLID 1-3 METEAS, POINTS AAE STAAS' AEGAESSION IS DASHED

> 3 METERS, POINTS ARE TAIANGLES , AEGRESSION IS LONG-SHORT 2

< I METER AEGRESSION, T_12.0SLNX-3B.20 WHEAE O.BO-A 2

1-3 METER REGAESSION, T-S.36LNX'41.Be WHEAE O.Se-A 2

> 3 METEA REGRESSION, T_B .91LNX·41.93 WHEAE 0.43-A

100

1 90

."

10

DASH

.. o I S T U R E

N 60

C o N T E N T

T

SO

40

3D~~I~~~~~-r __ ~~ ____ ry-~~~~ __ T-__ ~ 30 40 50

Figure 4.

60 10 eo PEACENI

Log -linear plot percent organic prospects.

90 100

showing relationship between Sale-Cypremort matter in (A)

(B) BARATARIA

< I "ETER, POINTS AAE HASHES' AEGAESSION IS SOLID 1-3 "ETEAS, POINTS AAE STAAS' AEGAESSION IS DASHED

> 3 "ETEAS, POINTS ARE TAIANGLES , REGAESSION IS SHOAT-LONG DASH

P E R C E

IUu

90

eo

10

N 60 T

50

40

30

< I HETEA AEGAESSION, Y.47.91'9.61LNX WHEAE 0.42-/

1-3 "ETEA REGAESSION, Y-44.24'10.32LNX WHERE 0.64_R2

> 3 METCR AEGRESSION, T-50.49·e.41LNX WHERE 0.50./

.'

30 40 50 60 10 eo so PEACENT

ORGRNIC "ATTER

percent moisture and and (B) Barataria

100

.. o I 5 T U R E

C o N T E N T

Page 21: Louisiana Peat Resources

natural compaction. The fact that compaction is somewhat higher in Sale-

Cypremort than in Barataria may be due to two factors.

of detrital matter in Sale-Cypremort are putting

First, cyclic deposits

more weight on the

organic-rich sediments underneath; this is not the case in Barataria. Also,

Sale-Cypremort was sampled to a depth of -9 m, whereas Barataria was sampled

to a depth of -5 m. Data on samples taken from Sale-Cypremort between -5 and

-9 m may affect the curve.

Both bulk density and moisture-versus-organic matter behavior seem to

suggest the same general pattern discussed in the previous section; a slight

increase in bulk density with depth and a slight decrease in moisture with

depth indicate a small amount of compaction during the first few thousand

years after deposition. Ingram and Otte (1982), however, found the converse

to be true in the North Carolina peats of the Pamlimarle Peninsula: moisture

content increases and bulk density decreases with depth; they attributed these

results to differences in drainage, elevation, and degree of decomposition.

In all of the Louisiana prospect areas, the water table is permanently at the

surface and near mean sea level. Most Louisiana peats are hemic and sapric,

and vertical trends have not been observed. This situation is the reverse of

that in North Carolina, where two distinct peat types are present in the

subsurface. The entirely different setting of Louisiana peats is thus

responsible for the distinct pattern of moisture and bulk density found here.

However, one should keep in mind that, in all cases, correlations are poor,

and a detailed analysis of the botanical parent material of the peats has not

yet been taken into account.

Mineral Content

In addition to high-temperature ashes, some samples from the Gueydan and

Avery Island prospects were subjected to low-temperature ashing in order to

11

Page 22: Louisiana Peat Resources

examine the mineralogy. Low-temperature ashes (LTA's) were analyzed using

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the XRn

work, both the original bulk LTA's and the clay-sized portions of the LTA's

are being examined.

Bulk LTA's from Gueydan samples are composed primarily of quartz and

kaolinite, whereas bulk LTA's from Avery Island samples contain salts, such as

hydrated calcium sulfates, hexahydrite, and polyhalite in addition to quartz

and kaolinite. These salts appear to make up 30 to 50% by weight of the

LTA's. Samples are being leached with distilled water for future XRn and SEM

work.

Clay fractions from the LTA's are composed of illite, kaolinite, quartz,

and smectites. The Gueydan samples appear to contain less illite relative to

quartz and less smectite clays than the Avery samples. In the Avery samples,

the underlying, nonorganic material is much richer in smectitic clays than the

clay portion of the LTA's from the organic-rich material. Ratios of kaolinite

to quartz appear to be greater in the organic-rich material.

SEM examination shows the presence of quartz (clastic and some euhedral

crystals), framboidal pyrite, salts, clays (illite, kaolinite, gibbsite?),

siliceous spicules, and the trace minerals rutile, biotite, and pyroxene.

Average Values

The average values of peat in each prospect are given in Table 1. Peat

in South Louisiana averages 90% moisture, 80% organic matter, and a bulk

density of 0.12 g / cm3 , the latter two based on dry weight. Tonnage could be

calculated for Gueydan and Avery Island. Calculations of tonnages for Sale­

Cypremort and Barataria are statistical averages. For Lake Pontchartrain,

only a rough estimate could be given.

12

Page 23: Louisiana Peat Resources

HISTORY OF ASSESSMENT ST UDY AND OVERVIEW OF PROSPECT AREAS

History of Assessment

The LGS began a literature study of Louisiana peat resources in 1979.

This study resulted in a report (Kress, 1980) recommending four areas for

further investigation (Fig. 1). Field sampling for the program funded by the

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was begun in September 1981. Sale-Cypremort

was primarily surveyed during the fall of 1981; Avery Island, Gueydan, and

Pontchartrain, in the spring of 1982; and most of Barataria, during the summer

of 1982. The A very Island prospect was added to the areas originally

recommended by Kress after additional information was obtained.

Gueydan Prospect

The G:ueydan prospect is located south of Gueydan in Vermilion Parish

(Fig. 1) on the edge of the Pleistocene terrace. The peat originated as a

fill in a Pleistocene river channel that cuts the terrace. South of the

deposit, the Pleistocene becomes completely covered by Holocene marsh. The

area is classified as fresh marsh (Chabreck and Linscombe, 1978) (Table 3).

In the eastern part of the area, the channel cut is less than -2 m deep

(Fig. 5), and only muck and clayey muck were encountered. In the western

part, the bayou reaches depths of more than -6 m, but peat has not yet

developed; most of the area is covered with a mat of floating vegetation.

Surveys in the area, aided by the study of aerial photographs dating back

to the 1930's, suggest that high-quality peat is present only in the center of

the bayou between depths of -1 and -2.2 m (Fig. 6), where it is currently

being mined.

13

Page 24: Louisiana Peat Resources

Table 3. Typical vegetation by marsh type (from Chabreck and Linscombe, 1978).

FRESH MARSHES

Panicum hemitomoR (maiden cane)

Hydrocotyl sp.

Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth)

Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed)

Alternan thera p hiloxeroides (alligatorweed)

S agit taria s p • (bulltongue)

BRACKISH MARSHES

S partina patens (wireg rass)

S cirpus olneyi (three-cornered grass)

Scirpus robustus (coco)

Ruppia maritima (widg eong rass)

INTERMEDIA TE MARSHES

S partina patens (wireg rass)

Vigna repens (deer pea)

Sagittaria sp. (bull tongue)

Echinochloa walteri (wild millet)

Scirpus californicus (bullwhip)

Cladium jamaicense (sawgrass)

SALINE MARSHES

Spartina alternif/ora (oysterg rass)

Salicornia sp.

Juncus roemerianus (black rush)

Batis maritima

Avicennia nitida (black mangrove)

Distichlis spicata (saltg rass)

Page 25: Louisiana Peat Resources

Figure 5.

1 KM

r------- ----- --- ---I i I I i I

LAKE CHARLES.

STUDY AREA

LEGEND

~ <1.5 M

!III] 1.5 - 3 M

~ 3 - 4.5 M

[] 4.5 - 6 M

III > 6 M

~ UNKNOWN

--- --------7 BATON ROUGE

Gueydan prospect. Approximate depths to the Pleistocene. (After F. Shutt & Sons, Civil Engineers, Lake Charles, La.)

Page 26: Louisiana Peat Resources

Figure 6.

a::

I~ 1 KILOMETER 3

3.5

a::

I~

o 50 100

-100% OM

Gueydan prospect. Location and analysis of the two most impor­tant cores. Histograms show percent organic matter versus depth (OM = organic matter). High-grade peat is present in the center of Latanier Bayou between depths of -1 to -2.2 m.

16

Page 27: Louisiana Peat Resources

Peat is hemic, of reed sedge origin. and averages 92.2% moisture and 78.3%

organic matter. Elemental analyses indicate that sulfur content is less than

1% (Bailey, 1982. personal commun.). Total estimate is 0.49 x 106 metric

tons (Table 1).

Avery Island Prospect

The Avery Island prospect, which is located south and southwest of the

Avery Island salt dome in Iberia Parish (Fig. 7). represents a blanket

peat-forming environment. The size of the area is approximately 50 km2 •

Four auger holes and five vibracores. each about 4 m deep. were drille'd.

Stratigraphic interpretation of cross sections is shown in Figures 8 and 9. A

cypress swamp deposit, about 2 m thick (-1 to -3 m deep), is present in most

cores. This deposit is characterized by organic-rich sediments with abundant

cypress wood frag ments. Within this deposit, two peat beds can be recog nized.

Isopachs of the peat and swamp deposits are shown in Figures 10 to 12. The

swamp deposit possibly correlates with a marsh deposit at the same depth at

Sale-Cypremort (Kearns. 1982. personal commun.). The subsurface swamp horizon

originated in a freshwater environment. and the present surface is classified

as a saline marsh (Chabreck and Linscombe, 1978) (Table 3).

tonnage of both peat beds is 1.05 x 106 metric tons.

Calculated

The presence of pyrite, together with a sulfur content of +3%, indicates

that postdepositional inundation by saltwater greatly influenced the sulfur

content of the peat (Bailey, 1982, personal commun.).

Sale-Cypremort Prospect

The Sale-Cypremort prospect is located south of Franklin. St. Mary Parish

(Figs. 1 and 13). and represents primarily a blanket peat-forming environment.

Several organic-rich horizons present in the subsurface were first shown by

17

Page 28: Louisiana Peat Resources

Figure 7.

-----------------

Avery Island prospect. cross sections.

1 KM

LEGEND _ LINES INDICATE CROSS SECTIONS

• CORE LOCATIONS

Location map showing core locations and

18

Page 29: Louisiana Peat Resources

5

o

-1

-2

-3

-4M---

100% OM

7

LAGOONAL CLAYS ?

100% OM

p.

A' 8

100% OM

o KM 5 KM

a o

-1

-2

-3

-4 M---

2

100% OM --­LAGOONAL CLAYS?

a' 4

o KM 5 KM

Figure 8.

LEGEND

~ SPOIL ~ MUCK

~ CLAY tl] PEATY MUCK

EJ MUCKY CLAY • PEAT

[Z] CLAYEY MUCK ~ WOOD

THIN LENS OF ORGANIC MATTER

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION: 500

Avery Island prospect. Dip sections A-A' and B-B'. Two peat beds are present within a cypress swamp deposit.

19

Page 30: Louisiana Peat Resources

C 5 3

o

- 1

- 2 ----------... DEPOSIT

-3 LAGOoNAL CLAYS

- 4 M --- -100% OM

I o KM I

5 KM

LEGEND

C8J SPOIL ~ MUCK

~ CLAY 121 PEATY MUCK

El MUCKY CLAY • PEAT

EZ1 CLAYEY MUCK 5] WOOD

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION: 500

Figure 9. Avery Island prospect. Strike section C-C' • Two peat beds (I and II) are present within a cypress swamp deposit.

CYPIlESS PEAT I

9 C'

-100% OM

I

0

-1

--- - 2

--- - 3

--- - 4 M

10 KM

Page 31: Louisiana Peat Resources

·6

( !( o I / Q) 0

\ \ : g cf \ \ \ ( (~ (0 \ I"" ( /

to. 0 ( \ ~ 9

----1KM

• AREA FOR WHICH VOLUME HAS BEEN CALCULATED

CORE LOCATIONS

CONTOUR INTERVAL : 10 CM

IlIIIII1l > 30 eM THICK

Figure 10. A very Island prospect. Isopach map of lowermost peat bed (I). Pattern indicates peat with a thickness of 30 to 60 cm. Eastern part of the area was not included in the calculation of volume because core 9 was isolated.

I •

Page 32: Louisiana Peat Resources

~ / N

5 / j • /

/ '\0 IO~3 \

1 ~ \ • I

) N \ N 7 0 9 • fl,0 •

/ I I~ AREA FOR WHICH VOLUME

.8 HAS BEEN CALCULATED

• CORE LOCATIONS

[llill) 30 CM THICK

CONTOUR INTERVAL: 10 CM 1 KM

Figure 11. A very Island prospect. Isopach map of upper peat bed (II).

Page 33: Louisiana Peat Resources

~

I 8 •

5.1-___ _

• ____ 1 KM

\

\ \

\ ~ CP o

\

\

\

\ ~ o o

\

AREA FOR WHICH VOLUME HAS BEEN CALCULATED

CORE LOCATIONS

\

CONTOUR INTERVAL: 10 CM

Figure 12. Avery Island prospect. Isopach map of organic-rich cypress swamp deposit. in which peat beds are developed.

\

\

Page 34: Louisiana Peat Resources

WEST COTE BLANCHE BAY

8'

• CORE LOCALITY

t N

Figure 13. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Location map showing cores and cross sections..

- 1 KILOMETER 1 MILE

Page 35: Louisiana Peat Resources

Coleman (1966) and in more detail during the LGS project (interpretation by

Kearns, 1982, personal commun.) (Figs. 14-16).

The area is a slowly subsiding interdistributary basin between Bayous

Sale and Cypremort. These bayous were distributaries of the Maringouin and

Teche delta lobes, two of the oldest Holocene Mississippi delta systems

(Frazier, 1967). Depth to the Pleistocene ranges from -5 to -19 m (Coleman,

1966). Organic-rich horizons are intercalated with organic-poor beds. This

cyclicity is mostly due to delta lobe switching. Three depositional cycles

can be recognized in the upper 9.5 m of the subsurface. The tops of each of

the organic-rich horizons occur at approximately -1.2, -4.3, and -6.4 m with

respective thicknesses of 1.2, 0.4, and 0.8 m (Kearns, Autin, and Gerdes,

1982) . Only the uppermost organic-rich horizons contain material of peat

quality. The peat is mostly hemic and sapric and of reed sedge origin. The

lowermost horizon probably represents a swamp environment (Kearns, 1982,

personal commun.).

Due to extreme variation and discontinuity of the beds, isopaching

techniques were not expected to be reliable. Instead, contouring techniques

were used (Figs. 17-19). Boreholes reached a depth of about -8 m, but

contouring was executed to a depth of about -4.5 m in order to be able to

analyze the relationship between the different settings of the Sale-Cypremort

and Barataria basins. Analysis of the distribution curves (Fig. 20) shows

that about 15% of the total volume is peat, which amounts to 58.8 x 106 m3

With a bulk density of 0.12 g/ cm3, this amounts to 7 x 106 metric tons.

The contoured cross sections are based on the assumption that the entire

area is marshland. An estimated 20%, however, is open water. Recalculation

results in a total of 5.5 x 106 metric tons of peat, most of which is

present in the updip part of the basin along strike section A-A'.

26

Page 36: Louisiana Peat Resources

A A' 2 3 5 6 7 8

o

- 1 - 1

- 2 - 2

- 3 - 3

- 4 100"4 OM - 4

- 5 _-------------------J~O~-O~-----____ _ -------

-------------------------_!9..2:!.E~ _____ ---------

--------------- LEGEND

- 5

- 6M-- 0 SPOIL D o - 35l1. ORGANICS

~ CLAY ~ 35 - 100ll. ORGANICS 100' 0 ... ___ -------------- -

- 8M

~ MUCKY CLAY

[?J CLAYEY MUCK

EJ MUCK

~ PEATY MUCK

• PEAT

CJ WOOD

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION - 500

o KM 5 KM 10 KM 15 KM

Figure 14. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Strike section A-A' (Interpretation by Kearns, 1982, personal commun.)

Page 37: Louisiana Peat Resources

o ---

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

-9M--

Figure 15.

I I I I I

------------------------------------------------------------______ I ----------- 100% OM LEGEND 1iiOi'Ci'M --------------- 7~

10 KM

[g] SPOIL

§l CLAY

r;] MUCKY CLAY

I2l CLAYEY MUCK

I5B MUCK

~ PEATY MUCK

• PEAT

[3j WOOD

o 0 - 35% ORGANICS

035 - 100% ORGANICS

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION = 500

15 KM

I I I I I I I

~

-- 0

---1

---2

---3

---4

---5

---6

---7

---8

I I I I I I I I I I I

---9M

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Dip section B-B' (Interpretation by Kearns, 1982, personal commun.)

27

Page 38: Louisiana Peat Resources

.., 011

0 0 --

- 1 --

-2

- 3

-4 --

- 5

-6 --

- 7

- 8 -- _--------------------~:;::~-----------------'"""'--

_--- 100l!. OM - 9M-- -----

------~~~~~~------------

OKM 5 KM

23

0' 24

LEGEND

SPOIL

CLAY

o MUCKY CLAY

t{]" CLA YEY MUCK

~ MUCK

• ~ PEATY MUCK

PEAT

WOOD

o 0 - 35% ORGANICS

~ 35 - 100% ORGANICS

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 500

10KM

Figure 16. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Strike section D-D' (Interpretation by Kearns, 1982, personal commun.)

Page 39: Louisiana Peat Resources

A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A' 0 --

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

~ CC - 5 -- D 0 - 10% OM

III 10 - 30% OM -6M-- IillJ 30 - 70% OM

f?$jJ 70 - 100% OM

I I I I I I I I o KM 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Figure 17. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section A-A'. interval is 10% organic matter.

Contour

Page 40: Louisiana Peat Resources

8 0

7 11 12

-1

- 2

-3

- 4

- 5 [] 0 - 10% OM .. ,

- 6 M [l]]]]] 10 - 30% OM

co 0 30 - 70% OM 0

~ 70 -100% OM

I I I I o KM 2 3 4 5

Figure 18. Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section B-B'. val is 10% organic matter. Dashed line indicates -4.5 m) to which planimetering was carried out.

I 6

I 7

Contour inter­depth (about

13

I I 8 9

14 8'

0

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

- 9 M

10

Page 41: Louisiana Peat Resources

0

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

- 5

- 6 Co) ...

- 7

- 8

- 9 M

Figure 19.

0 0' 19 20 13 21 22

!!I!i!i!l!!!lII!I!lliii:;!!III!!!II!!!!!lIIIIIII!!I!!!lIIIII!I!!lI!!!~~~~ LEGEND o 0 - 10% OM

o KM 2 3 4 5 6

Sale-Cypremort prospect. Contoured section D-D'. Contour inter-val is 10% organic matter. Dashed line indicates depth (about -4.5 m) to which planimetering was carried out.

!IIlID 10 - 30% OM

Cill 30 - 70% OM

~ 70 - 100% OM

7 8

Page 42: Louisiana Peat Resources

r % FREOUENCY

60 ~------------l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I : 'Il 50

40

30

20 ..•............................

_. _(

10

o 20 40 60 80 100 +- % ORGANIC MATTER

Values for each Cross Section:

0-10% OM 10-30%OM 30-70%OM 70-100%OM

A-AI ............... 19.36 14 45.29 21.08

8-8' ----- 8 .56 20.97 61 .80 8.67

0-01 . . .. . . . 20.02 32 .00 34.93 12.94

Average 16.07 22.32 47.34 14.23

Figure 20.

LOUISIANA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Sale- Cypremort prospect. Frequency distribution plot for quantities of material resulting from the planimetering of contoured cross sections. Values for cross sections are quantities in percentage of the total.

32

Page 43: Louisiana Peat Resources

Barataria Prospect

Barataria Basin, located southeast of Lake Salvador in Jefferson and

Lafourche Parishes, is a rapidly subsiding interdistributary basin (Figs. 1

and 21) exemplifying an interdistributary peat-forming environment. Depth to

the Pleistocene ranges from -20 to -50 m (McFarlan, 1961). Organic-rich

deposits are formed during periods of rapid deltation. Hence, due to highly

varying degrees of subsidence and detrital influx, an extremely high

variability in the amount of organic matter, both horizontally and vertically,

is present. Variation is such that separate peat beds cannot be mapped

(Figs. 22-26).

Cross section C-C', a dip section along Bayou Barataria (Fig. 24), shows

the following stratigraphy: levee clay in the lower portions is overlain by

organic-poor sediments with numerous clay lenses. This unit is interpreted as

"incipient marsh," which implies that the activity of Bayou Barataria as a

distributary declined and marsh started to grow. Marsh growth was still

frequently interrupted by overbank flooding, resulting in organic-poor

sediment and clay lenses. When Bayou Barataria became inactive, flooding

stopped, and the organic-rich "recent marsh" developed as the upper unit.

After the cross sections were planimetered and quantified (Figs. 27-30),

the frequency distribution of sediments in the Barataria prospect shows that

about 5% of the total amount of material is pBat (Fig. 31), compared to 15% at

Sale-Cypremort. Barataria prospect contains less peat than Sale-Cypremort for

the following reasons: 1) difference in depth to the Pleistocene surface,

causing variations in subsidence rates; 2) different depositional setting; and

3) larger influx of detrital matter in the form of crevasse splays and small

distributaries in Barataria Basin.

The total volume of the basin, from the surface until the 30% organic

matter isopleth (Fig. 32), is 317 x 106 m3 • Five percent of the total

38

Page 44: Louisiana Peat Resources

.-----------~--- ---------~ • U D • I ~~oU .ltto4,." I • . I • • • • • I • I · O. • ~l. : . fJ~' \ : I I"Q~01t~ tll I • c:7' ;).p. ()

• ~ll~

• • • • •

I ~ ;

~ 'U !J ~ : " I

• I . . ~ .. . I I I I

---===' 2KM

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

Figure 21. Barataria prospect. Location map showing cores and cross sections.

34

Page 45: Louisiana Peat Resources

w Z ::::; :I: U f-­< ::;

o

-1 --

-2 --

-3 --

- 4M---

35

Figure 22.

9

100"' OM

o KM

39

10 KM

~ ~ [;J EZl ~ rll • ~

40

BAYOU PEROT r-----1

26

41

LEGEND

SPOIL ~ SILTY CLAY

CLAY ~ SILT

MUCKY CLAY PALEOSOL

CLAYEY MUCK W ROOTLETS

MUCK MUDCRACKS

16

5 KM

15 KM

PEATY MUCK THIN LENS OF ORGANIC MATTER

PEAT REED CHUNKS

WOOD

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION :500

Barataria prospect. Dip section A-A'.

36

42 A'

w z ::::;

--- 0

-- - 1

---2

-- - 3

--- - 4 M

Page 46: Louisiana Peat Resources

s 29 6 26 36 21 6

o

-1

-2

-3

-4M--

o KM 5 KM 10 KM

LEGEND

~ SPOIL E!l WOOD

~ CLAY EJ SHELL BED

~ MUCKY CLAY ~ SILT

CZJ CLAYEY MUCK THIN LENS OF ORGANIC MATTER

~ MUCK (THICKER LENS OF) REED CHUNKS

rl1 PEATY MUCK 0 SAND

• PEAT

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION: 500

s' 14 22 23 46 25 46

o

-1

- 2

-- -3

-- -4M

15 KM 20 KM

Figure 23. Barataria prospect. Dip section B-B'.

36

Page 47: Louisiana Peat Resources

o

- 1

-2

- 3

-4 M---

Figure 24.

C 19

NCPENT MARSH

LEVEE CLAYS

o KM

2 10

RECENT MARSH ~------jY.r-----

lEVEE CLAYS

[gJ SPOIL

~ CLAY

~ MUCKY CLAY

.-~"""> CREVAS

«--- .........

5 KM

LEGEND

• PEAT

~ WOOD

------­LEVEE CLAYS

~ SILTY CLAY

45

El ~

CLAYEY MUCK

MUCK

~ ALTERATION OF LITH . ON LAMIN . SCALE

(THICKER LENS OF) REED CHUNKS

~ PEATY MUCK

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION: 500

Barataria prospect. Dip section C-C'. (Levee clays: clays with less than 5% organic matter, occasional rootlets, and oxidation colors. Incipient marsh: mucky clays, clayey mucks, and mucks with numerous clay lenses. Recent marsh: mucks and peaty mucks without clay lenses. Crevasse splay: silty clays.)

C' 44

--- 0

----1

----2

----3

----4 M

100% OM

10 KM

Page 48: Louisiana Peat Resources

o o

-1

-2

-3

-4 M---

Figure 25.

LAKE INTRACOASTAL

SALVADOR W'WAY ., 28

100% OM

OKM

BAYOU PEROT

ENTRANCE

15

Barataria prospect.

BAYOU PEROT

21

100% OM

5 KM

LEGEND

~ SPOIL ~ MUCK

~ CLAY 121 PEATY MUCK

r;J MUCKY CLAY • PEAT

121 CLAYEY MUCK I§ SILTY CLAY --

~ AL TERA TION OF LITH. ON LAMIN. SCALE

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION: 500

Strike section D-D'.

13

--

BAYOU

RIGOLETTES

--- - -

BAYOU BARATARIA

0'

o

--- -1

--- -2

--- -3

--- - 4M

10 KM

Page 49: Louisiana Peat Resources

E 36

o

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4 M---

o KM

Figure 26.

35 14

[8J ~ El [Z] ~ rl1

SPOIL

CLAY

MUCKY CLAY

CLAYEY MUCK

MUCK

PEATY MUCK

BAYOU

PEROT

5 KM

LEGEND

• PEAT

Erl WOOD

~ SILTY CLAY

15

100'11> OM

THIN LENS OF ORGANIC MATTER

(THICKER LENS OF) REED CHUNKS

VERTICAL EXAGGERA liON: 500

Barataria prospect. Strike section E-E'.

4

BAVOU RIGOlETTES

./ ./

/' ./

( lEVEE

---

2

ABANX>t£O MEAhOEA OF

BAYOU BARATARIA ,.--,

E'

/1 / \

/ \ / \

/ \ I \ \

--- 0

----1

--- - 2

--- - 3

----4 M

------

10 KM

Page 50: Louisiana Peat Resources

A 31 9 28 16 0

- 1

- 2

-3 --

- 4M--

\ I o KM 2 j j I

4 I 3

Iw IZ 1-1-' I:x; 1(.) I f-1< 35 39 40 4 1

I 1 14 I j I I ,I, I 8KM 10 1 1 1 3

LEGEND

D 0 - 10% OM .. ,

[]]]]]] 10 - 30% OM

[] 30 - 70% OM

~ 70 - 100% OM

Figure %7. Barataria prospect. Contoured section A-A'. is 10% organic matter. Dashed line indicates -4.5 m) to which planimetering was carried out.

40

Wi Z :::i :x; (.) f­<

34 ::;;

I 7

A' 42

--0

---1

--- 2

--- 3

--- 4M

1

Contour interval depth (about

Page 51: Louisiana Peat Resources

I UJ Z :::;

11

B

29

o KM

Figure 28.

12

8 7

I 3

13 14 15

26

I 4 5

16

LEGEND

[J 0 - 10% OM

IIIlIll 10 - 30% OM

lEI 30 - 70% OM

~ 70 -100% OM

38

6 7

17 18

Barataria prospect. Contoured section B-B'.

21

I 19

is 10% organic matter.. Dashed line indicates -4.5 m) to which planimetering was carried out.

41

I 8 9

20

Contour depth

UJ Z :::; :t () >-

6 « ::;

10

--0

---1

---2

---3

---4M

interval (about

Page 52: Louisiana Peat Resources

D 28 15 21 o

- 1

-2

- 3

- 4

- 5 M---

Figure 29.

o KM 2 3 4

LEGEND

D 0 - 10% OM

[llll]] 10 - 30% OM

E] 30 - 70% OM

~ 70 -100% OM

5

Barataria prospect. Contoured section D-D'. . is 10% organic matter. Dashed line indicates

-4 • 5 m) to which planimetering was carried ou t.

Contour interval depth (about

D'

6 7 8

Page 53: Louisiana Peat Resources

E o

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4M--

Figure 30.

E' 36 35

~~II_" _ ___ - -" 14

o KM 2 3 4 5

LEGEND

D 0 - 10% OM

!II 10 - 30% OM

IEl 30 - 70% OM

~ 70 - 100% OM

Barataria prospect. Contoured section E-E'. is 10% organic matter. Dashed line indicates -4.5 m) to which was planimetering was carried ou t.

6 7

Contour interval depth (about

8 9 10

Page 54: Louisiana Peat Resources

fr' FREQUENCY

60 r'-'- '-'- '-'- '- '-I

o 20 40 60 80 100 +-% ORGANIC MATTER

Values for each Cross Section

0-10% OM 10-30% OM 30-70% OM 70-100% OM

A-A' ------ - -

B-B'

0-0'···············

E-E' - '-'-'-

Average

~

Figure 31.

C9.7O 25.45 47.35 7.50

20.49 28.99 43.02 7.50

19.12 19.25 56.73 4.91

34.15 25.61 36.28 3.96

23.88 16.96 58.26 0.89

23.47 23.25 48.33 4.95

LOUISIANA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Barataria prospect. Frequency distribution plot for quantities of material resulting from the planimetering of contoured cross sections. Values for each cross section are quantities in percentage of the total.

44

Page 55: Louisiana Peat Resources

270 •

260 •

9

100 -M

+ +

,?>O~ +3lo + + + + + +

+ + + + 340~ + + + +

+ + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + +

+ + + + + +300 ++++++ .~

+ + + + + + + + +

LEGEND ~ < 1 M DEEP

[III] 1-2M

D 2-3M

GJ 3-4M

30 •

+ + + + + + + + + + 320 + + + + + + + + 370 + + -e\ I + + + + + + + + + . ' + + + 2lQ

+ + + + + + + + + + + + 340 A~ + + + + + + + + + + + ., t I-~ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + ~ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 330

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + • + + + + + +>~ + + ~

+ + + + + +. ~~-----

!:> ~,~r[la~ ~o

Figure 32. Barataria prospect. Map showing depth to the 30% organic matter isopleth. Number next to core locations indicates actual depth (m).

Page 56: Louisiana Peat Resources

volume, including the bottom clays, is peat. Because construction of the

isopleth map on the top of the clay was possible, the amount of peat above

that surface is higher, namely 6.6%, which amounts to 20.95 x 106 m3 ,

resulting in 2.51 x 106 metric tons (Table 1).

Lake Pontchartrain Prospect

The Lake Pontchartrain prospect, located between Lakes Pontchartrain and

Maurepas (Fig s. 1 and 33), represents a delta flank depression, covered mostly

with freshwater swamp and marsh. Access to the prospect and coring was

extremely difficult because there are very few bayous and canals in the area.

An attempt was made to penetrate the area by marsh buggy , but even with this

vehicle, access was very limited. This area has been discarded as a possible

prospect so as not to disturb the delicate cypress swamp environment.

High-grade peat is present at or near the surface in a zone along

Interstate 55 (I-55). In addition, peat was found in the eastern part of the

area (Fig. 33). Comparing these results with infrared U-2 aerial photographs,

one can assume that there is, on either side of I-55, a roughly rectangular

area, totaling 82 km2, that contains peat. The average thickness of the

peat is 1.08 m, resulting in a total of 10.53 x 106 metric tons (Table 1).

METHODS

Sampling

Most sampling was done with a vibracore, and some was carried out with a

McCauley peat sampler. The vibracore has two advantages over the auger:

First, it allows for precise logging and correlation of boreholes. This

is especially advantageous in the South Louisiana marshes, where much

compaction takes place during coring. Also, if field work consists entirely

46

Page 57: Louisiana Peat Resources

SCALE LEGEND SCALE FOR CORE DESCRIPTION

r-r--, o 1 2km

PEAT OTHER

D "organics

TANGIPAHOA ST . TAMMANY

ASCENSION _J __ - I _.... I ST. JOHN

//- I THE BAPTIST

'\ / ST. I - CHARLES I JEFF.

Figure 33. Lake Pontchartrain prospect. prospect area and cores.

47

Location of

22 24

,:p ,j

25

'"

'" .00

Page 58: Louisiana Peat Resources

of coring, the vibracore enables one to drill holes without the necessity of

logging them in the field. Field trip costs are thus reduced. Taking all

this into account, we prefer vibracoring to augering; about 90% of all holes

drilled were vibracores.

Determination of Percent Moisture and Ash

About 2000 samples were taken from every logged core or auger unit and

analyzed. The cores were logged according to sedimentologic features and the

classification system given in Table 2. Three samples of 20 g each were taken

from every logged unit, and moisture and ash percentages were determined.

Moisture was determined by leaving the sample in a porcelain crucible in a

moisture oven at 105°C for 24 hours. Ash percentage was established by

putting the sample, after the moisture procedure was completed, in a muffle

oven at 555°C for the same amount of time. T he average value based on the

three samples per unit was then calculated.

Bulk Density

Only vibracore samples were used for bulk density measurements; after the

core was split lengthwise and logged, a half-core sample 5 cm long was taken

from an organic-rich unit in the core. The sample was then placed in a

graduated cylinder, which was previously filled with 150 ml water. The volume

of the displaced water was taken as the volume of the sample. The contents of

the cylinder were put in a beaker and placed in a moisture oven at 105°C for

24 hours, after which dry weight was calculated. The method has an estimated

+5% standard error. Results have been compared against depth and percent

organic matter (Figs. 2 and 3, App. A). Because bulk density correlated

reasonably well with moisture content, we believe that the method is reliable.

48

Page 59: Louisiana Peat Resources

Calculation of Peat Tonnage

Estimates of the amount of peat present were made by isopaching the peat

bodies, calculating the volume, and multiplying it by the bulk density of the

material. In the Sale-Cypremort and Barataria areas, isopaching of the peat

beds proved to be an unreliable technique due to extreme horizontal and

vertical variations within the organic-rich horizons; instead, the follOWing

technique was used there. Values for percent organic matter, as established

by lab analyses, were plotted on cross sections at the exact depth on each

core location. The cross sections were then contoured at 10% organic matter

isopleths (Figs. 17-19 and 27-30). Next, the total range (0-100% organic

matter) was divided into four ranges: <10%, 10-30%, 30-70%, and >70% organic

matter. Each range roughly represents certain sediment classes (Table 2):

the <10% range represents clays; 10-30%, mucky clays and clayey mucks; 30-70%,

mucks and peaty mucks; and >70%, peats. Because of the discrepancy in average

ash content, as determined by DOE and LGS, 70% organic matter was chosen as

representing peat.

Each range was then quantified along the cross sections by planimetering

its area and calculating the amount of each range in percentages of the total.

Frequency distributions of the ranges appear to be very close for different

cross sections and significantly different for different prospects for

sediments containing more than 70% organic matter (Figs. 20 and 31). This

method provides reliable comparisons between peat basins of different

depositional settings. Planimetering was done to a depth of -4.5 m. The

volume of the prospect area to that depth was calculated, and the amount of

peat was calculated based on the percentage that resulted from the cross­

sectional planimetering technique.

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STATUS OF SURVEY

This investigation completed the assessment of peat resources under the

terms of the DOE contract. All originally proposed prospects and an

additional prospect have been surveyed and sampled, and estimates have been

established. It should be emphasized that virtually all of the Holocene

deltaic and chenier plain of Louisiana can be considered a possible peat

prospect. Thus, a complete assessment of Louisiana peat resources would

require consideration of this entire area. The surveyed areas do represent,

however, examples of the different kinds of peat that can be found in this

coastal setting.

FUTURE PLANS

The state of Louisiana has funded peat research at the Louisiana

Geological Survey for another year. Half-cylinder cores of most of the

vibracores taken in 1982 have been kept at lDcC. Further research will

emphasize the study of modern coal-forming environments. Research will be

concentrated in the A very Island/ Sale-Cypremort and Barataria areas.

Additional coring will be done in these areas and in offshore detrital peats;

furthermore, the LGS will perform X-ray diffraction and radiography of clays

and study early diagenetic features in peats. Micropaleontological and

botanical analyses will be done in order to determine the original salinity

and depositional setting of the peat-forming environments. Radiocarbon dating

of the tops and bottoms of organic-rich horizons will be done iT! order to

establish rates of accumulation of organic matter over time.

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PUBLICATIONS

Bailey, A., and E. C. Kosters, 1983a, Silicate minerals in organic-rich

Holocene deposits in southern Louisiana, in Proc., workshop on mineral

matter in peat: Los Alamos Nat. Laboratory, Los Alamos, N. Mex. [in

press].

and , 1983b, Inorganic composition of Holocene peats in -----southern Louisiana and comparisons with coals: Abstracts with Programs,

Geol. Soc. America [in press].

Kearns, F. L., W. J. Autin, and R. G. Gerdes, 1982, Occurrence and

stratigraphy of organic deposits, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana: Abstracts

with Programs, Geol. Soc. America, Northeastern and Southeastern Sec.,

vol. 14, nos. 1 8. 2, p. 30.

Kosters, E. C., and Bailey, A., 1983a, Peat deposits in the Mississippi River

Deltaic Plain (abs.): Bull., Am. Assoc. Petro Geol., vol. 67, no. 3,

p. 497.

and , 1983b, Characteristics of peat deposits in the

Mississippi River Delta Plain: Trans., Gulf Coast Geol. Soc., vol. 33

[in press].

61

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project would not have been finished without the assistance of many people. First, I wish to thank those who helped to initiate the program: Robert Gerdes, who led most of the field trips in the fall of 1981; Fonda Kearns, who introduced me to numerous procedures, literature sources, and techniques; Whitney Autin, who headed the first part of the program; Todd Davison; and Robert Kemp.

Work during the second part of the program was greatly assisted by David Pominski, who worked in the field, planimetered, and did other office chores; Paul Templet and Michael Halun, who took care of the equipment, designed and built a number of pieces, and assisted in the field; and Peggy Autin, who processed, indexed, and catalogued most laboratory samples.

Thanks also go to Rick McCulloh, Laurel Gorman, Paul Kemp, Dianne Lindstedt, David DeBlanc, David Sonnenfeld, and Nameh Salem for field assistance and to Clay Kimbrell and Don Stadter for computer plotting and initial statistical work.

Drs. James Coleman, Harry Roberts, and Arthur Cohen provided fruitful discussions and sugg estions.

I am also indebted, first, to Raymond Bonin and Edmund Mcilhenny, Jr., of the Mcilhenny Co. of Avery Island for enabling the Survey to core the Avery Island site and, second, to Harvey Oudekerk and Robert Markman of the Markman Peat Co. for permitting the sampling of the Gueydan prospect.

Furthermore, I would like to thank Dr. Everett Besch and his colleagues at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. James Gosselink of the LSU Department of Marine Sciences for use of their cooled storage facilities.

I also benefited from the Louisiana Geological Survey administrators C.G. Groat, Harry Roland, and especially Don Bebout, who provided discussions, suggestion~, criticism, and moral support.

62

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REFERENCES

Adams, R. D., B. B. Barrett, J. H. Blackmon, B. W. Gane, and W. G. McIntyre,

1976, Barataria Basin--Geologic processes and framework: La. State Univ.,

Sea Grant Pub. T 76.00, 117 p.

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1969, Standard classification of

peats, mosses, humus and related products: Standard D2607-69,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Bailey, A., 1982, Personal commun.: Univ. Southwestern La., Dept. Geol.,

Lafayette, La.

Boelter, D. H., 1969, Physical properties of peats as related to degree of

decomposition:

606-609.

Proc., Soil Science Soc. America, vol. 33, no. 4, p.

Chabreck, R., and G. Linscombe, 1978, Vegetative type map of the Louisiana

coastal marshes: La. Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries, New Orleans, La.

Cohen, A. D., 1982, Personal commun.: Los Alamos Nat. Laboratory, Los Alamos,

N. Mex.

Coleman, J. M., 1966, Coastal sediments and late Recent rise of sea level,

Vermilion, Iberia, and St. Mary Parishes, Louisiana: La. State Univ.,

Center for Wetlands Resources, Coastal Studies Inst., Baton Rouge, La.,

Rept. TR-17, 73 p.

, 1982, Personal commun.: La. State Univ., Coastal Studies --------Inst., Baton Rouge, La.

Coleman, J. M., and W. G. Smith, 1964, Late Recent rise of sea level: Bull.,

Geol. Soc. America, vol. 75, p. 833-840.

53

Page 64: Louisiana Peat Resources

Fisk, H. N., 1958, Recent Mississippi River sedimentation and peat accumula­

tion, in E. Van Aelst, ed., Congres pour l'avancement des etudes de

stratigraphie et de geologie du Carbonifiere, 4th, Heerlen: Maastricht,

Netherlands, Compte Rendu, vol. 1, p. 187-199.

Frazier, D. E., 1967, Recent deltaic deposits of the Mississippi River: Their

development and chronology: Trans., Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc., vol.

17, p. 287-315.

Frazier, D. E., A. Osanik, and W. C. Elsik, 1978, Environments of peat

accumulation--Coastal Louisiana, in W. R. Kaiser, ed., Proc., Gulf Coast

lignite conference: Geology, utilization, and environmental aspects:

Univ. Texas at Austin, Bur. Econ. Geol., Austin, Tex., Rept. Inv. No. 90,

p. 5-20.

Ingram, R. L., and L. J. Otte, 1982, Peat deposits of Pamlimarle Peninsula-­

Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, North Carolina: Prepared

for U.S. Dept. Energy, Contract DE-ACI8-79FCI4693, and N • Carolina Energy

Inst., 36 p.

Kearns, F. L., 1982, Personal commun.: La. Geol. Survey, Baton Rouge, La.

Kearns, F. L., W. J. Autin, and R. G. Gerdes, 1982, Occurrence and strati­

graphy of organic deposits, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana: Abstracts with

Programs, Geol. Soc. America, Northeastern and Southeastern Sec., vol. 14,

nos. 1 & 2, p. 30.

Kress, M. R., 1980, Preliminary assessment of peat resources, Louisiana Gulf

Coast region: La. Geol. Survey, Baton Rouge, La., unpub., 45 p.

McFarlan, E., Jr., 1961, Radiocarbon dating of Late Quaternary deposits, south

Louisiana: Geol. Soc. America, vol. 72, no. 1, p. 129-158.

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Renton, J. J., C. B. Cecil, R. Stanton, and F. Dulong, 1979, Compositional

relationships of plants and peats from modern peat swamps in support of a

chemical coal model, in A. C. Donaldson, M. W. Presley, and J. G. Renton,

eds., Carboniferous coal short course and guidebook: Volume 3: W. Va.

Geol. and Econ. Survey Bull. B-37-3, Supp., p. 57-102.

Shutt, F., & Sons, n.d., Florence peat deposits--Approximate thickness

interpreted from cross sections and 1968 areal photos: F. Shutt & Sons,

Civil Engineers. Lake Charles. La •• unpub.

Weller, J. M., 1959, Compaction of sediments: Bull., Am. Assoc. Petro Geol.,

vol. 43, no. 2, p. 272-310.

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Gueydan Prospect

(Btu)

9227

A very Island Prospect

(Btu)

8365 8292

APPENDIX A

Btu Values

Sale-Cypremort Prospect

(Btu)

8929 9469 8528 8161 8417 8766 8128 8305 7861 8694 8694 8169 8888 7889 7431 8599 7808 8973 8785 7268 8306 9294 9300 9315 8365 8292

67

Barataria Prospect

(Btu)

7862 8223 8484

Lake Pontchartrain Prospect

(Btu)

8620 8371 9635 9470 8491 8631 7687 7917 8577 8804

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APPENDIX B

Bulk Density Data

Organic Matter Moisture Bulk Density Depth Prospect (%) (%) (g Icm 3) (cm)

Gueydan 84.7% 92.0% 0.08 g Icm3 - 30 cm

73.8 91.2 0.09 -148

72.0 92.2 0.10 -188

Avery Island 68.5% 91.7% 0.08 g/cm3 - 34 cm

73.5 89.2 0.10 -144

Sale-Cypremort 50.2% 87.6% 0.12 g Icm3 -103 cm

90.3 91.3 0.10 -113

90.3 91.3 0.10 -164

Barataria 70.7% 91.2% 0.09 g/cm3 - 19 cm

36.5 84.7 0.08 - 23

74.5 90.6 0.10 - 28

73.7 89.8 0.10 - 30

40.2 86.7 0.09 - 33

68.3 89.6 0.12 - 40

89.9 99.8 0.11 - 48

54.0 88.6 0.11 - 48

70.7 87.6 0.14 - 48

74.5 90.5 0.10 - 53

70.9 88.4 0.10 - 53

58.6 87.8 0.12 - 53

83.0 89.4 0.09 - 58

88.6 63.5 0.13 - 58

79.2 89.5 0.10 - 63

62.9 89.7 0.16 - 63

55.3 87.8 0.15 - 68

57.8 85.5 0.16 - 78

56.2 88.3 0.09 - 83

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APPENDIX B (cont.)

Organic Matter Moisture Bulk Density Depth Prospect (%) (%) (gfcm3 ) (cm)

Barataria 82.2% 91.2% 0.13 gfcm3 - 83 cm

(cont. ) 84.6 88.7 0.11 - 85

36.5 84.7 0.12 - 93

81.5 87.2 0.11 -103

70.9 87.3 0.11 -103

76.1 91.4 0.07 -113

71.6 84.7 0.15 -113

53.2 81.6 0.10 -128

59.8 84.2 0.14 -144

78.5 88.3 0.10 -168

64.6 89.2 0.13 -168

49.7 83.3 0.18 -169

80.2 89.0 0.10 -188

40.9 77.9 0.18 -203

65.0 88.2 0.09 -213

79.9 88.8 0.13 -228

42.2 84.5 0.15 -238

77.0 88.7 0.13 -253

65.8 88.2 0.14 -287

56.3 84.2 0.15 -288

65.9 87.0 0.16 -301

43.9 82.0 0.18 -313

44.0 83.2 0.14 -315

65.8 88.2 0.15 -318

51.3 83.7 0.13 -343

Lake Pontchartrain I 78.9% 90.7% 0.12 g fcm3 -110 cm

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APPENDIX C

Sale-Cypremort Prospect: Percent Moisture and Percent Organic Matter

DEPTH: < 1 m DEPTH: 1-3 m DEPTH: > 3 m Organic Organic Organic

Moisture Matter Moisture Matter Moisture Matter (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

88% 58% 91% 76% 86% 47%

90 73 90 73 86 64

87 51 89 76 79 40

88 71 84 39 83 62

82 45 90 86 79 48

89 69 85 58 84 45

90 64 86 76 83 40

87 55 90 88 84 48

80 34 84 45 79 36

83 35 83 60 81 46

89 61 90 79 83 50

87 54 89 80 84 62

87 53 81 35 85 61

90 74 89 72 82 45

81 35 88 77 86 59

87 52 84 44

82 35 90 72

87 50 90 88

88 62 87 74

85 43 86 39

90 74

88 66

87 67

89 83

76 47

88 73

86 72

85 60

88 58

89 84

88 79 60

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APPENDIX D

Barataria Prospect: Percent Moisture and Percent Organic Matter

DEPTH: < 1 m Organic Organic Organic

Moisture Matter Moisture Matter Moisture Matter (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

89.3% 52.8% 86.9% 43.5% 89.6% 72.4%

87.9 42.4 87.7 47.0 88.7 56.8

86.5 49.6 81.1 37.8 87.5 70.7

84.9 36.3 87.2 59.3 88.4 70.9

91.2 70.7 88.7 73.0 89.4 83.0

88.6 54.0 84.7 51.3 90.9 74.9

88.7 56.5 89.0 67.9 85.2 52.5

88.3 51.4 90.5 81.7

90.1 78.1 89.6 68.3

84.1 37.3 87.6 61.5

90.6 69.6 89.9 79.8

92.9 63.6 87.8 58.6

I 91.1 62.7 89.7 62.9

" 88.0 56.0 85.2 60.6

I 76.5 46.6 90.5 70.1

I 91.1 58.6 86.9 67.5

I 89.7 77.9 81.0 38.1

I 91.9 82.2 88.6 63.5

I 89.8 73.7 86.8 76.0

I 85.0 45.8 81.5 45.9

I 86.4 64.1 82.6 55.1

I 86.7 40.1 80.9 44.1

I 83.3 40.2 88.3 56.2

I 88.3 60.6 84.2 38.4

I 88.6 59.2 85.5 57.8

I 88.9 79.4 74.0 51.9

I 85.1 36.1 91.7 77.3

I 87.2 53.7 84.1 52.4

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APPENDIX D (cont.)

DEPTH: 1-3 m DEPTH: > 3 m Organic Organic Organic

Moisture Matter Moisture Matter Moisture Matter C%) C%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

87.8% 55.5% 88.9% 57.9% 80.4% 36.7%

83.3 49.7 87.5 71.6 85.6 44.4

87.9 42.4 80.6 43.3 82.5 36.6

90.5 74.6 84.7 71.6 78.9 41.7

87.9 52.5 88.3 77.7 83.7 69.3

87.9 54.6 87.3 70.9 83.2 44.0

89.3 64.6 84.6 37.4 83.7 51.4

87.8 55.3 89.0 80.2 87.0 62.9

87.5 77.1 87.3 76.9 77.0 35.8

84.3 39.6 88.1 65.0 85.8 59.7

83.1 52.9 88.7 77.0 81.9 36.7

88.0 63.5 81.7 35.6 88.9 39.4

82.7 41.4 88.9 79.9 88.3 67.0

87.3 69.6 84.5 42.1 84.0 44.6

77.7 36.7 85.2 43.9 I 84.2 56.3

84.3 48.5 85.4 61.2 I 81.3 39.4

85.7 45.7 82.7 49.2 I 82.0 43.9

83.1 44.7 77.9 40.9 I 80.7 36.7

88.8 72.7 89.8 68.2 I 86.0 56.9

86.6 59.8 87.4 55.0 I 82.6 38.9

84.2 59.6 81.0 62.4 I 81.7 47.5

87.7 69.1 92.1 79.5 I 86.3 68.1

87.4 54.0 82.9 42.3 I 81.9 58.8

88.3 78.5 77.4 36.8 I 84.8 44.6 84.9 40.4 I 89.9 68.8 88.7 84.6 I 83.8 50.2 87.0 65.9 I 81.8 47.5 81.2 47.6 I 84.7 36.5 84.1 54.8 II 89.6 67.3 83.1 55.2

" 91.1 79.6 82.8 40.6

" 87.9 74.5 II 62

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REPORTS DISTRIBUTION LIST

Contracting Officer Grand Forks Energy Technology Center Box 8213, University Station Grand Forks, ND 58202

Technical Project Manager Mr. Frank I. Honea Grand Forks Energy Technology Center Box 8213, University Station Grand Forks, ND 58202

U.S. Department of Energy Technical Information Center P. O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Mr. Sam Spadone FE-23, GTN U.S. Department of Energy Germantown, MD 20545

Assistant Chief for Prosecution U. S. Department of Energy California Patent Grou p P.O. Box 808 L-376 Livermore, CA 94550

Gas Research Institute Attn: Mr. John Happe 8600 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago, IL 60631

63

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