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
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,
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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
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
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
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. L o c a ~ i o n 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
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
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 10
6
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/cm
3
, 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
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 km
2
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 10
6
metric
tons; Louisiana peat has an average of 90% moisture, 80% organic matter, and a
bulk density of 0.12 g Icm
3
(Table 1). All units of measurement in this
report are metric.
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
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/cm
3
t
0.12 g/ cm3
tt Figures for average quantity are
AVERAGE QUANTITY
AREA THICKNESS METRIC TONS
Btu (km
2
) (m) (x 10
6
)
9227* 3.43 km
2
1.20 m 0.49 x 10
6
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 10
6
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
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
.
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 percentages, 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/cm
3
, with an average of 0.12 g/cm
3
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
p
E
R
C
E
N
T
100
90
.
60
70
60
SO

____ T-__ ____ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ____ __
0.05 0.06 0.07 0.06 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 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
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/ cm
3
for
depths less than -1 m to 0.15 g/ cm
3
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
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
e O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ __ - 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 / cm
3
. respectively.
...
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 .91LNX41.93 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
3 D ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - r __ ~ ~ ____ r y - ~ ~ ~ ~ __ 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_R
2
> 3 METCR AEGRESSION, T-50.49e.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
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
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 / cm
3
, 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
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
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)
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.)
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 impor-
tant 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
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 10
6
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 km
2

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 10
6
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
Figure 7.
-----------------
Avery Island prospect.
cross sections.
1 KM
LEGEND
_ LINES INDICATE CROSS SECTIONS
CORE LOCATIONS
Location map showing core locations and
18
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
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
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
~
/
N
5
/
j

/
/ '\0
I O ~ 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).
~
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.
\
\
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
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 10
6
m
3
With a bulk density of 0.12 g/ cm
3
, this amounts to 7 x 10
6
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 10
6
metric tons of peat, most of which is
present in the updip part of the basin along strike section A-A'.
26
A A'
2 3 5 6 7 8
o
- 1 - 1
- 2 - 2
- 3
- 3
- 4 100"4 OM
- 4
- 5
____ _
-------
-------------------
_____ ---------
--------
-------
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.)
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
..,
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.)
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
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 inter-
depth (about
13
I I
8 9
14
8'
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
- 9 M
10
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 ! ! ! l I I ! I ! l l i i i : ; ! ! I I I ! ! ! I I ! ! ! ! ! l I I I I I I I ! ! I ! ! ! l I I I I I ! I ! ! l I ! ! ! ~ ~ ~ ~ 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
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
0-0
1
. . .. . . .
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
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 10
6
m
3
Five percent of the total
38

U D
I .ltto4,." I
. I


I
I
O.

: . \ :
I I
c:7' ;).p. ()






I


'U
!J
:
"
I

I
. .
..
.
I
I
I
I
---===' 2KM
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
Figure 21. Barataria prospect. Location map showing
cores and cross sections.
34
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
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
o
- 1
-2
- 3
-4 M---
Figure 24.
C
19
NCPENT MARSH
LEVEE CLAYS
o KM
2 10
RECENT MARSH
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
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
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>tO MEAhOEA OF
BAYOU BARATARIA
,.--,
E'
/1
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
I
\
\
--- 0
----1
--- - 2
--- - 3
----4 M
------
10 KM
A 31
9 28 16
0
- 1
- 2
-3
--
- 4M--
\ I
o KM 2
j j
I
4
I
3
I w
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 13
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
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
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
E
o
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4M--
Figure 30.
E'
36 35
~ ~ I I _ " ____ - -"
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
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.
C
9
.
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
270

260

9
100 -
M
+ +
+3lo + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + + + + +
+ + + + + +300

+ + + + + + + + +
LEGEND
< 1 M DEEP
[III] 1-2M
D 2-3M
GJ 3-4M
30

+ + + + + + + + + + 320
+ + + + + + + + 370 + + -e\ I
+ + + + + + + + + . ' + + + 2lQ
+ + + + + + + + + + + + 340
+ + + + + + + + + + + ., t I-
+ + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + 330
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + +
+ + + + +



Figure 32.
Barataria prospect. Map showing depth to the 30%
organic matter isopleth. Number next to core
locations indicates actual depth (m).
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 10
6
m
3
,
resulting in 2.51 x 10
6
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 km
2
, that contains peat. The average thickness of the
peat is 1.08 m, resulting in a total of 10.53 x 10
6
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
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
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 105C for 24 hours. Ash percentage was established by
putting the sample, after the moisture procedure was completed, in a muffle
oven at 555C 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 105C 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
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.
49
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.
60
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
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,
criticism, and moral support.
62
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
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.
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.
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
APPENDIX B
Bulk Density Data
Organic Matter Moisture Bulk Density Depth
Prospect (%) (%) (g Icm
3
) (cm)
Gueydan 84.7% 92.0% 0.08 g Icm
3
- 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/cm
3
- 34 cm
73.5 89.2 0.10 -144
Sale-Cypremort 50.2% 87.6% 0.12 g Icm
3
-103 cm
90.3 91.3 0.10 -113
90.3 91.3 0.10 -164
Barataria 70.7% 91.2% 0.09 g/cm
3
- 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
58
APPENDIX B (cont.)
Organic Matter Moisture Bulk Density Depth
Prospect (%) (%) (gfcm
3
) (cm)
Barataria 82.2% 91.2% 0.13 gfcm
3
- 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 fcm
3
-110 cm
69
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
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
61
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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Grand Forks Energy Technology Center
Box 8213, University Station
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Mr. Frank I. Honea
Grand Forks Energy Technology Center
Box 8213, University Station
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U.S. Department of Energy
Technical Information Center
P. O. Box 62
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Mr. Sam Spadone
FE-23, GTN
U.S. Department of Energy
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Assistant Chief for Prosecution
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Gas Research Institute
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63