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Title: Peat resource estimation in South Carolina. Final report, Year 2

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5626867· OSTI ID:5626867

South Carolina has few indigenous energy resources. Most widely known and utilized are hydropower, wood, and solar. Peat is a material composed of partially decomposed organic matter that, after burial for long periods of time, may eventually become coal. Peat is utilized as an energy resource for the production of electricity and for home heating in Europe and the Soviet Union. There are peat deposits in South Carolina, but peat has never been used as an energy resource within the state. This report presents the results of the two years of a planned four-year study of the quantity and energy potential of peat in South Carolina. In this year's survey two activities were undertaken. The first was to visit highly probable peat deposits to confirm the presence of fuel-grade peat. The second was to survey and characterize in more detail the areas judged to be of highest potential as major resources. The factors carrying the greatest weight in our determination of priority areas were: (1) a description of peat deposits in the scientific literature or from discussions with state and federal soil scientists; (2) mention of organic soils on soil maps or in the literature; and (3) information from farmers and other local citizens.

Research Organization:
South Carolina Univ., Columbia (USA). Dept. of Geology; South Carolina Energy Research Inst., Columbia (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG01-79ET14694
OSTI ID:
5626867
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/14694-T6; ON: DE82006852
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English