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Muskeg field program: Mer Bleue peat bogMacFarlane, I. C.

NATIONAL RESEMCH COUNCIL

CANADA

DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEmGH

MUSKEG FIELD PROGRAM - MER B m U E PEAT BOG

b.$r

Ivan @. MacParlane

Internal Report No. 384

of the

Division sf Building Research

OTTAWA

September 1964

PREFACE

The value of laboratory studies of the properties of

undisturbed peat is limited by the complexity sf the material and

by sampling difficulties. There is consequently a real need for

full-scale f i e ld testing far strength and csmpreeeibility sf the

natural peat. Fortunately, the Mer B l e w peat bog, which is

located within a reasonable distance of the Building Research

Centre, contains a rather c~rnrnon class 0% peat and is therefore

an ideal location for field studies. As a first step in such etudies

a portion of the bog has been surveyed and sounded, Tkie r epork

describes the area, indicates the most suitable location far study,

and oratBPnes the nature of the proposed t e s t s .

The author of this report is a civil engineer in the

Soil Mechanics Section whose w o r k with the Division concerns

research on organic terrain,

oetaw %I

September 1 96 4 R. F, Legget

Director

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PHTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P

PROPOSED FIELD TEST PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

CONCLUSIONS AND RECB NDATZBNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

WPENBIX A . NOTES ON THE MER B U U E PEAT BOG FROM MINES BRANCH BULLETIN No . 1. 1909

MUSKEG FTSLD PROGRAM - MER BLEUE PEAT BOG

The Mer Bleue Peat Bog is a Sgc~w%inedBe muskeg area

approximately 8 eqaare milee in size, located about 9. 5 miles east

of the centre sf the City s f Ottav~a. Situated on the northwest edge 0 4

the bog is the hamlet s f Blackburn Statism, and on the southeast edge

i s located the village of Garlisbad Springs. The Canadian Pacific

Railway main line t s hIIoatreak ski r t s the northern edge of the bog and

the Canadian National Railway line is located wear the southern edge.

The bag is bisected by the Gloucester -Cumbarland Township line

(Figure I ) .

The Mer Bletle Peat Bog is m z h l y wasteland and at

present is not being utilized t o any great extent. Aerial photsgraphs

(Figure 2) show that some of the fa rms on the periphery have

encroached on i t very slightly, t o the extent of a. few acres . The

central par t of the bog is the property sf the Department of National

Defence and during the Second World War an a r e a one mike in diameter

was used by the EX. C. A. F. as a bsmbing rar-gee A large p a t of the

west end of the bog is now par t of the National Capital Commission

Green Bekt a r e a and is t o become a bird sanctuary and game r e s e r v e (%I . The eas tern pa r t of the bog is individuaP8y owned by severa l 08 the

bed % B F ~ B I S .

F i r e s have occurred regularly on the bog in the past 58

years and recently, during the s u m m e r of 1955, a rather extensive

f i re occurred. This f i re as well as sporadic f i r e s which occurred

since thew burned a Barge a r e a of %Be bog. Nevertheless, it has been

noted that fairly la rge expanses of the bog still show no signs of recent

f i res , so evidently were not affected by the 1955 conflagration,

although were probably burned over by earl ier fires, There is ass

doubt, therefore, that the present surface vegetation more or less

ref lects the f i re his tory of the bog.

The elevation of the edge s f the Mer BHeue Pea t Bag is about

225 ft above sea Bevel. Local geology indicates t h a ~ the bog is deposited

in the depression of a former r ive r channel QactuaPfy, a delta). Ridges along both the north and south extremities sf the bog a r e quite evidently

beach lines. 1t is a so-called Pshighmcps%r38 type bog, with the centre being of oPightHy higher elevation than the edges. T o reach the $02, it is necessary t o wade for several feet through a water -filled, low-lying

a r e a around the periphery ( h o w as a "lagg") until the higher level is attained.

Soma of the Mer Bleue is treeless, but a fairly large

proportion of the area, particularly a& the centre, is quite heavily

wooded. Much of this tree growth is scrub, up to 15 %t hi&, but

there are some areas where the trees are dense in growth and wel l

over % 5 bt high. In the open areas the predominant vegetation is low

woody shrubs (less than 2 ft highband m o s s e s . Incidentally, the name

of the Mer Bleue Peat Bog apparently springs from the fact that during the blueberry season it is veritably a "blue sea, D B for blueberry bu~hes

are owe of the predominant vegetative features of these open areas,

Generally, the moss, which is knee-deep in places, 9s fairly humrn~cky

and '8epringyit so that walking is quite difficult until onme acquires the

technique of the &bog trotting gait. @ Occasisnal patches $of faiz1y

limited area) of short grass and mses also occur, so the area offers

a fairly good range of muskeg types.

Drainage Pattern

As can be noted f r o m Figures B and 2, the Mer BPeue Peat

Bog is naturally drained at the west end by several small streams and

at the east end by two extensive man-made ditches draining into Bear

Brook. It is understood that these ditches w e r e dug during the 1 9 3 0 e s

as a '%make-work" project &a alleviate local unempls%p~9lean$ rather thaw

as a serious attempt to reclaim the area. The cost is reputed to have

been $ 6 0 , O O O , This work has wow been undone by beavers. The long

ditch adjacent to t h e township line was observed to be %argely choked with

shrubs and bushes at the south end, and at the north end to be compketdy

filed wi th water. This ditch is about 4 ft deep, with sloping sides, and

is about 10 ft wide at the tap,

PROPOSED FIELD TEST PROGRAM

A laboratory test program to determine the engineering characteristics of peat has been underway at the Division s f Building

Research for some time. It is not always possible, however, $0

extrapolate laboratory results to fit field conditions. It wae considered,

therefore, that it would be useful to set up a field test program so that

model and full-scale shear strength and settlement tests could be carried

out concurrent with the laboratory program, to check orat the latter

results. This field program will be carried out in three stages:

The objectives wi l l be to:

1. 85tain a vehicle for access, such as a DeMuekeg Buggy, " 8%~t'8 or s n W ~ a s e h . $'

2, G a t r y out a survey of the M a r BPeue Peat Boge

(a) Lay out s proposed line for 3 survey, pf sferably a north- easreh, east-wee& grid system; grid p ~ f n t ~ $ mils apart.

(b] Probe fst depth and type of peat at the grid points. Determine

t y p e of u~%$erlyHng mineral soill. G l e e sbf y surface vegetation.

3. Select areas of various muskeg type8 for vane shear and cone

penetrometer testing.

[a) Conduct vane ehear smd eons pesetresmster t es t s 1x1 these areas.

(b) Obtain peat samples for water content, or ganfc content and ~ p e c i f i c gravity determinations.

4 Select an area for the proposed detailed t e ~ t program. Fence it

off if necessary.

The program will be continued as %a%Bows:

1. From within the large test area, select a specific area (or areas) far proposed load teete.

2. Gsaadaect load tests an the muskeg, using tanlee filled with watep on

gravel pads, or a similar loading system.

(a$ Obeerve load-deflection -time.

($1 U s e various load increments.

{ c ) Use variou~ sizes of loaded area.

More detailed t e a t s w i l l %a carried out:

1 , Second series s f load teats.

[a) ImstaBI pfezometere to measure pare-water pressures,

(b) 1nezstal.l lateral movement gauges.

( c ) Install settlement plates at various depths in the peat.

(d) Conduct load t e s t s as for Stage 11.

2 , Field shear tests.

fa) Load peat to failure - in different muskeg types, if possible.

(b) Analyze the failure, Check calculated shear values with vane shear, cone pe~etrometer and labor ator y values.

arUndiaturbed'D peat samples will be sbtained throughout the

profile of the deposit %or laboratory cornpressHon and sheer teetfng, for routine index teats, B&C.

STAGE I: SUMhAER 1962 - FIELD WORK

Vehicle

After considerable investigatieaw it was learned that a

Bombardier B. B. Carrier (amphibious) awned by the National Research

Cauncill, Divisf on sf Mechanical Engineering, coab%d be obtained on loan,

This vehicle provided generally eatisfacterr y transportation over the

bog but it had variolas defect8 which might militate against the purchaee of this particular model by the Division of Building Reeeareh. Csnsf der - able maintenance was requfr ed, particularly to the eHectricai gystem, The motor H B compBete1y enclosed in a watertight compartment, making

access for repaire very difficult. The motor also had a tendency $0

overheat, e s that the vehicle could be driven only Psr an hour or 80 at the most before it had to be allowed to cod off. To its advantageB however,

is the track system, which gave little trouble, even when travelling o%*er

burned-over terrain containing tree stumps. Nevertheless, it was necessary to clean the tracks of moss and other debris at least once

each day and often more frequently, depending upon the type of terrain.

Arrangemente were made to leave the vehicle overnight and

weekends in the farmyard of Mr. John Lauthier, a tenant in the last

house an the Dolman Ridge Road,

Survev of Mer Bleue Peat Boa

The Mer Bleue Bog wae found to be more heavily wooded than originally anticipated, ss that it was not possible to adhere strictly

$0 the $-mile grid system - at least withoat extensive bush work. Although the vehicle could negotiate in fairly heavy bush, quite

extensive areas had tree growth too large for the Bcsmbardier to get

through, In addition, past fires had left forests of dead tree trunks and

stumps which were extremely hard and brittle. These areas were an e%Bective sftank traps' and it was considered expedient to avoid them for

dear 0% track damage or puncturing of tires. As it was, on one excursion into the fringe of a burned-aver area, a dead tree got caught in the track, backlashed, and crashed through the windshield of the B~mbardier.

Consequently, it w a s found necessary to scale dawn some-

what the actual extent 0% the surveyg and to vary the distances between the grid points where appropriate. An attempt wae made to tie in gr id

points with some location easily Identifiable from aer ia l photographs.

In general, gr id points were maintained in a north-aorrth and east -west

relationship ueing a simple compass. Distances were measured by

counting the t rack rev04~tions af the Born4CBba.r dier. Figure 1 indicates

the %ocat%an of the points where depth probes were made, and Table I surnmarisee the field fnf~rrnation obtained, Figures 3 to 'I portray

typicah areaka sf the PA@$ BBeue Peat Bogo

Time did not permit s complete survey of the Bog during

the ~ u m m e r e The eelobelc between Balman and Bortbwick Ridges on the

w e s t and the large expanee sf bog between the two ditches on the east end were untouched. In both cases, access w a s difficult from the

"sheadquarters" a rea on Dolman Ridge. Heavy t ree growth prevented

easy accesa in the case of the lobe of bog between the t w o ridges; the

width and depth of water in the ditch at the west and retarded access to

that area. The Bobe'sf bog to the north of Dolman Ridge also is bisected

by a ditch which can create difficulty for the Bsmbardier, even though

it is not very deep or wide. Since this survey w a s carried out, It haa

been learned that a eimilar survey was conducted in 1908 (29. The

resulte of this early survey provide vary useful confirmatory information

and are included as Appendix A s f this report.

Vane Shear and Cone Penetrometer Tests

A series of vane shear and cone penetrometer tests were

carried out in a single muskeg type, at two grid points: 10-3N and

18-5M, 1% w a s originally intended to conduct such measurements at

other grid points in various muskeg t y p e s , but time did nst permit this.

The results s f theee tests a r e shown in Figures 8 to Bl. The vane used

was a medium-size vane as deecribed 3x1 a previoue paper (31, Fr ie t~sn

corrections were made for these t e s t s , but w e r e found to be. insignificant

for the depths involved for this particular type of muskeg. The cone

penetrometer is a Soiltest rnodei CN-970, with a cone size as follows:

diameter at base - 2.84 c m , height = 5. Bb cm. Penetrometer readings were taken where limited muskeg a reas Qa few square feet in size] of

different coverage types were adjacent to each sther. Depth of cone penetrometer meaeearementa were limited by the length of the rods

available. Vane teste were carried out only in the predominant vegetative

type.

Figur e e 8 and I 8 show the vane shear -depth relationship for predominantly amon-woody fine-fibroue peate. An increase in shear strength with depth i s observed dawn to a depth of about 2* f t , followed

by a decline in strength. The shear strength increases again at the transitional zone between the peat and the mineral sail substratum.

The cone penetrometer tests are hardly extensive enough

t o permit any definite eonaclueione to be drawn. Nevertheless, it was

possible to make a preliminary assesamen$ sf this instrument. It is

mach simpler and fzster ts use than $8 the vane, and in this r e g a r d it

has to commend it. It does nots however, reflect sxact1y tb.e

same trend of ahease strength with depth ae does the vane. A continuing

increase in cane penetration P eeistance is indicated somewhat beyond

that point at which the vane ~ h e a r ~ t a s t e show a deerease in strength.

Assuming that the vane apparatus i s an adequar-,a device for refleeting the conditions that actually exist, it m a y wel l be that the cone pane-

treatmeter - at least of the small sf ze used - may not be appropriate far all peat conditions. Further csmparat-kva tests will have to be carried

out to ~o~afbrm this.

Figure 9 indicates the cone penetration reaiatance in three

different muskeg t y p e s . These curves represent an average of the

results of three t e s t s in the same area. The greatest rssietance to

penetration i s indicated for the PI muskeg, the least for BI, with EI intersmediate. This is opposite to what might normally be expected.

The relationship in Figure B O is more logical, however, except that

the va;buee for the EH area ape abnormally high, which indicate the

poseibilbty 0% a log (or heavy root mesh) below the 36-in. depth.

60NC EUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

From this greliminar y survey, it appears that the most appropriate location for a proposed test site would be immediately

north s f the Dolman Ridge Road, in the vicinity of gr id point EO -2E -1 5, where the depth to minerah soil is 18 ft. This i s an EI muekeg azea,

and is easily accessible from the road. Far a possible t e s t site in FH muskeg, the a rea immediately east of Dolman Ridge would be appropriate

(Figure 21. Finah choice of a suitable site, however, slkaodd await

completion of the sulrvey.

Ira the vicinity of the above-mentioned sites there would be

little difficulty in obtaining a building to ehelter a vehicle, znd even one for a field keadwarter s, Many of the houses along the Dolman

Ridge Road are empty and a re offered for rent. They are s m e d by

the National Capitall Csmmissioaa who have expropriated the land for the Green Belt. E%ectricity and telephone services w~uldl also be eanven-

iently available. All faci%i&iee would have $0 be negotiated for with the

NCC.

The method of load application for the f ie ld settlement teats muet essentially be simple and portable, yet effective, The use

of a t e s t f i l l sf gravel or s a ~ a d may be an u%tima%a poesibility, but it

is advisable to utilize initially a simpler method of load appliestisn.

It is suggested that a farm of "sPfpan5 could poesibly be used, which could act both as a rneane of carrying equipment, when attached to a vehicle, and IB a method of appP$Pi;ng a Load. It hecsa9%d be designed t o aeeommsdate flexible tanks of water so theht the load cauld be varied. The bearing surface could be a plate, e. g. a 36-in. diameter, 3 -in. thick plywood plate, reinforced by aluminum alloy channel@,

Other platee of larger diameter could also be uaed. If the ~ 1 f p e is ~IBD

sf a BPghtwei&t aluminum alloy, it esuld be attached t c s the plate and left in that position for the duration of the %a&. A pump would supply

wafer to four tanks fn the ~Bipe, with the water being metered to p a ~ m i t

control sf the exact weight desired. Water tube levels attached to each

corner of the ~ l p e , and leading to an adjacent control panel, wokpPd

help to assuss the operator of an even dietribution sf the load. A small hole in the bearing plate and fn the bottom 0% the dipe would give access 4,s eattlernent gauges and to piezometers, For future guidance, a schematic drawing incorporating theee euggeetione is shown in Figjar e % 2.

References

(1) Montreal Gazette? 24 Jane 196%.

(2) ~ ~ e t r k ! r n , E, and S. A, Anrep, Investigatisn of Canada during the

season 1908-1909. Canada Dept, of Mines, Mines Branch,

Bulletin No. 1 {Report #SO), Ottawa, 1909,

) MacFarlane, I. G. and A, Rutka, An evaluation of pavement

performance over rnea~lleeg in Northern Ontario. Highway Research Board Bulletin NQ. 316, 1962, p. 32-43,

TABLE 1

T OF FIELD SUWYE Y DATA

Depth

Grid Surface of Slabsoil

DRZ-EL BFE at edge af FK 4 Fins sand

BR3-Nk F9 a 3 Sand

DR3-%.89 FI a $4 Bandy able Very wet; water at eurkce

5 Gray silty clay

a 6 Blue -gray firm ri l ty cloy

EFIat edge of BEI Gray eHay

Fairly soft clay Patchy TI, a

EI hummocks

C l a y

Sand

Silty sand

Fine sand

Very wet; water at surfsee

Very wet; water at surface

Very wet; wzter at aurfaee

El; patches of Ff

BE%; FH patches

F i n s eand

Gray sand

Sand

Fine sand

Very lpboggylC and wet aeea

Vary wet and soft zrea

Very wet srea

FI; El h u m r n o ~ k ~ a

Quite wet; did cone and vane t a r t s

Gray sand

Shaky - Bike a floating bog Sand

IF; between FI and BFH

BParxt: and cone t e s t s carried

out

Sand

Clay

Fine sand

Bluish silt

DEI and DFE Burned ever area. Dry

V e r y Dssp~ngyit &re%

El; small FP pateke8

Fine gray tiand

Fine earad Dry, 'vspowgy" area EI at edge of L

A e BE%

Bluish etPty clay

Silty aand Quf.te dry af ea

1 6 . 2 5 Gray clay Water at surface

a 17. 5 Blue-gray clay Dry rsrxrface

29 Fine sand V e r y wet area

5% Fine sand Extremely w e t ares

D4-ZW F1; EI hummocks a 3 Sandy silt 'Vary wet and shaky. W a t e r at surface

D4-3W Ff alternating with

EH clumpm

32. Brown sand Essentially a floating bog area

RO EH 15 Fairly soft chagr Dry and crisp area

RB -lE EI ! 6 Clay Dry surface

TABLE 1 - continued

DepeX

Gafd Surface s f Subsoil P% ~iiPLt Cover Topagraphy Peat, f t Twe General Remarks

RO-3E-BN El; FI patches

BO-3E-BS EI

RO-3E -2s B * Dl;

ssms D F I

RQ -4E FI; alternating with El clumps

RO-4E-1N EX; eoma FE patches

WO-6E EI; earns FIpatcAes

RO-66-PM FEI

80 -4E El

RB-tE-1S Edge of BEIandEH

RO -8E EI

RO-8E-19 EP

G P El; some BET

C 2 * (B)EX

X 0 - I S E I

xc -0s O ~ E I

XO-IW (B)EI

X8-2W EE

XO-ZW-IN El

XQ-2W-2N EE

XO-2W-3N (B)EI

XQ-3W (B)EI

XO-4W F%;EIePurnps

x0-5W EII

XO-6W (B)EI

XO-SW-PN EI

XO-7%' E P

XO-8%: EI

XO-9W EP

8

Some

7) Bandy milt

8 Band Very dry area

B 8 Silty clay Vane tes ts carried out

a 94 Silty sand Dry area

fJ$

Flat 17*

Flat

9 and

Stiff gray eilty clay

Stiff c l a y e y silt

Stiff eilty elay

Stiff clay

Gray sand

Silty cPay

Fine sand

Gray sand

Firm eilty slay

Gray sfit

Fine sand

Gray clay

Fins sand

Firm gray clay

Stiff elay

Stiff clayey sfat

Silt

Clay

Silt

Silty clay

Sandy sitt

Sandy ai i t

Silty clay

Silty clay

Sand

Dry area

Dry area

Dry area

W e t area

Dry hummocky area

Dry area

Dry area

Zairly dry; wet in depseesfim~

Wummctcky area

Fairly dry area

Spongy area

Ds y at surface

Adjacentto heavy tsee growth

Vary dry area

Very dry area; burwed over

Dry area

Flat 1 4 Plastic blue clay Very dry area

Flat Blue siltyelay Dry area

Flat 12i Greysiltyclay Day area

Flat 10; Si l tyclay

Flat l0-f Firm silty clay V e r y dry

* Bracket (B) indicates possibility of this & ) ~ e of cover prior to recent burn.

Figure 2 Aerial view sf Mes Bleue Peat Bog (from 3 5 , 000 f t ;

scale: 5600 ft = 1 in. $. (Photograph courtesy RGAF.

F I G U R E 2 8

MER BLEUE P E A T B O G - G W I D POINTS

8a3Qyl-3

Figure 3 G r i d Point 16 -3N

BFE and PI Muskeg

Figure 4 G r i d Point RO -8E E% Muskeg

Figure 5 Grid Point X6-6W 23% Muskeg

Figure 6 G r i d Point RO -5E E% Muskeg

Figure 47 GridPo i rn t XO EP Muskeg

VANE S H E A R , P. S . F .

FE Muskeg

F I G U R E 8

V A N E S H E A R T E S T G R I D P O I N T 1 0 - 3 N

P E N E T R A T I O N R E S I S T A N C E , LB 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

F I G U R E 9

C O N E P E N E T R O M E T E R G R I D P O INT 10-3N

V A N E S H E A R , P. S . F . 100 rn 300

F I G U R E 1s

V A N E S H E A R T E S T G R I D P O I N T 10-5N

P E N E T R A T I O N R E % % S T A N C E , kB

20 3 40 50 70 a 93 100 110 120 1%

F I G U R E 11

C O N E PENETROMETER G R % D P O I N T 18-5N

L O A D I M G

Load fs applld by pumping water into 4 f lexlble tanks In the slipe. An even load i s applied to the bearing plate and differential se3Sement avoidtd by adjusting the water Bevel In the tanks as indicated by the water e~k levels. s e ~ 9 g - l ~ ~ C - c

F I G U R E 12

S C H E M A T l C D R A W I N G O F L O A D I N G A R R A N G E M E N T FOR MER B L E U E T E S T S

NOTES ON THE BAER BLEUE PEAT 886 FROM

M p m S BRANCH BULLETIN No. 1, 1969

[ ~ y a t r & m and Anrep], Fagee 10 and 1 1

The bog is situated about 8 milee from Ottawa, Ox~tarEo BW

the townships of GPsucester and Cambarland and covere more or %ese

sf:

Lots 6 3 - 16, con. 111, township of GPouceeter.

Lots 3 - 25, con, %V, 9 t s l ? s

Lets h - 16, con. V, I L 8 ? ? !

Lote 1 - 2 , eon, VII, w 1 8 1 D F

Lots 9 - 16, con. XI, township of Cumberland.

kote 12 - 16, con. X, D I Tt 6 I

The total area covered by this bog is approximately '

5684 acres. 8% this area 1564 acres have a depth of leas than 5 ft ,

average depth 2 ft 9 in. ; 2237 acres have a depth of 5 to P O ft ,

average depth 6 ft 8 in. ; 856 ac r e s have a depth of 10 to $ 5 ft,

average depth 1 II f t 8 in. ; 347 acres have a depth of more than 15 ft,

average depth 16 f t *

The peat is fairly well humified and unifsrm in quality.

After the bog is thoroughly drained, the peat will probably settle from

one to three feet.

The bog consists of three distinct basins, partly separated

by two eomparative2y high ridges. These ridges are east oi $gat 5 in

GPoucester Township, partly submerged in the bog, but in places fa rm

what may properly be called islands in the bog. The bottom s f the bog

is a compact blue clay.

The principal vegetation forming the peat in this bog is

Sphagnum, more os: l e s s mixed with Eriopkorum, and many sther plant

types to a lesser extent. Large a r ea s 0% the surface of the bog a r e covered by a more or l e a s heavy growth of spruce and tamarack and

the peat itself is intermixed with large quantities of rerate, trunks and stumps of trees.

The accompanying map indicates the range of depths thrsugh-

out the Mer Bleue Peat Bog. The notations A, B -, B and B+ refer $0

humifirsatican a s related to the use of peat as a fuel and as such a r e not

r ePevawt to this r epoxt.