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Title: State of New York peat resource inventory. Volume 1

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6199911

A comprehensive peat resource inventory of the State of New York has been prepared based on airphoto interpretation supported by field reconnaissance and detailed surveys of certain selected peatlands. The entire State, with the exception of Adirondack Park and a number of other protected areas, was included in the study. A total of 872 peatlands were identified, of which 235 individual deposits were judged usable for peak ;mining and were mapped using airphotos. Of these, approximately 5740 acres were selected for detailed surveys. Over 425 boreholes were made on these and other individual deposits across the State and 138 samples were taken for laboratory analysis. The results of the inventory have been recorded as a set of index maps at a scale of 1:250,000 showing the location of all the mapped and catalogued deposits. Also, maps at a scale of 1:24,000 outlining all the mapped deposits were prepared as well as at a scale of 1:10,000 for the deposits studied in detail. The study shows that the State of New York has over 145,910 acres of peatland containing an estimated 336 million tons of peat (at a 50% moisture content) located in deposits which may be technically mineable. However, various other factors, such as ownership, location in a park, wildlife management holdings and an existing use may exclude some of the otherwise potential deposits from possible use. The peat deposits of New York State generally contain high fuel grade peat. Laboratory analysis of over 100 samples taken from representative bogs revealed the average calorific value of New York peat to be 8860 Btu/lb (on a dry basis) and the ash content to be 13.1%. This compares favorably with the quality of fuel peats used in Europe.

Research Organization:
Carlson and Sweatt - Monenco, Inc., New York (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG01-81FE05110
OSTI ID:
6199911
Report Number(s):
NYSERDA-82-25-Vol.1; ON: DE83013687
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English