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RESEARCH COUNCI L OF ALBERTA

Preliminary Soi1 Survey Report 63-1

EXPLORATORY SOIL SURVEY

of

Alberta Map Sheets 74-M, 74-L, 74-E and

73-L (north half)

bY

J.D. Lindsay, S. Pawluk, and W. Odynsky

(Appendix by L. A. Bayrock)

.Alberta Soil Survey Hel i capter Project

1962

Research Council of Alberta 87th Avenue and 114th Street

Edmonton, Alberta

Foreword

Alberta has a large area of undeveloped land, primarily in the northern portion of the province. Although much of this northern area is reiatively inac- cessible to ordi nary ground inspection, nevertheless information is very desirable

for estimating its timber possibilities, for outlining the areas that may be suitable

for future agricultural development, and for the planning of roads which could be utilized for minera1 prospecting and other developments.

TO assist in obtaining this information, the Soils Division, Earth Sciences

Branch of the Research Council of Alberta, started an exploratory soil survey program in 1952, and that year covered about 1,150,OOO acres by means of pack horses. In

1953 the area covered was around 1,350,OOO acres and in 1954 about 400,000 acres. Obviously this method of operation was much too time-consuming in relation to the enormous region to be surveyed. Consequently, a new method using a helicopter was tried in 1955 and proved to be an excellent way of making a rapid preliminary inspection of large areas in the region. Since the inception of the helicopter method about 81 million acres of land have been covered, primarily in northern Alberta.

TO carry out a helicopter exploratory soil survey efficiently and successfully, it is necessary to transfer all pertinent aerial photograph information -

such as observations on soils, topography, and vegetation - to base maps for field use. Alberta is in the fortunate position of having available a complete set of aerial photographs of the region, on a scale of 3,300 feet to the inch.

The information obtained during exploratory soil surveys may aid in forest management studies and Will serve as a guide for planning reconnaissance soil surveys

in areas which appear to be suitable for future agricultural development. Furthermore,

the designation of arable and nonarable areas serves to outline the areas which should be reserved as permanent forest management districts, and could be of considerable value in indicating possible sites for other future developments.

A geologist of the Research Council is included in the field staff taking part in the exploratory soil survey , The addition of this man proves invaluable, particularly in regard to the identification of the soil parent materials. At the same

time, a study of the surficial geological deposits of the area is made possible.

The Research Council has published a series of reports and maps giving

the location and characteristics of the exploratory soil suwey areas. These reports are entitled Preliminary Soil Survey Reports 58-1, 59-1, 60-1, 61-1, and 62-1. These reports deal with the exploratory soil survey areas covered in the years 1957 to 1961. This report and maps, Preliminary Soil Survey Report 63-1, covers the 1962

exploratory soi I survey , Reports on previous exploratory soil surveys wil I be published in due course.

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The helicopter exploratory soi1 survey represents only a portion of the work planned each year by the Alberta Soi1 Survey Advisory Committee, which is responsible for outlining the joint program conducted by the Soil Survey staffs of the Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, and the Research Council of Alberta, through the chairmanship of the Professor of Soi1 Science of the University of Alberta.

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Contents

Page

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5&6

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9

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Foreword . . . . . . .

List of tables and illustrations .

Acknowledgments . . . .

Introduction . . . . . .

Location and extent . . . ,

Method of survey , . . ,

Soi I classification and mapping

Climate . o .

Vegetation . .

Alberta map sheet Area I Area I

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . 15

74-M . . . . . 0 . . . . . o . o 0 17 17

I : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 20 Area III . . . Area IV . . . Area V . . . Area VI . . . Summary . . .

22 24. 25 26 27

Alberta map sheet Area I Area I Area I

74-L . ,

I ::: II . . .

27 28 28 30 32 33 34 34 35

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Area IV . . . Area V . . . Area VI . . O Area VII . . . Summaty . . .

Alberta map sheet 74-E . . Area I . . . Area II . . . Area Ill . . . Area IV . . . Area V . . .

35 36 36 37 37 39

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Area Vi . . . . . Area Vii . . . . Area VIII D . D . Area IX . . . . Area X ., . . . Area Xi . . . . Summary . . . .

Alberta map sheet 73-L (north haif) Area i . . . . Area IIA . . . . Area IIB . . . . Area iii D . . . Area IV . . . . Summary . . 0 .

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Some chemi cal and physicai characteristics of representative soii profiles .

References cited . . . . 0 . . . . .

Appendix - Surficiai geoiogy . . . . D . Bedroc k . . . . . . . . Surficiai deposiis . . . . 0 e Glacial and recent history . . . Map sheet 73-L (north haif) . . . References cited . . . 0 . .

Preiiminary soii survey rating maps:

Table i .

Table ii.

Table iii.

Table IV.

Alberta map sheet 74-M . . . . Alberta map sheet 74-L , . . . Alberta map sheet 74-E . . . . Alberta map sheet 73-L (north haif) e

Tabi es

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l 40 41

: 41 43

: 43 . 44

. 44 . 45 . 46 . 47 . 49 l 50 0 50

* 50

0 56

0 57 0 57

l 57

. 60 0 a1 . 62

. 63 o 64 -65 0 66

Temperature and precipitation data for seiected stations in or near the 1962 soi i survey area . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Frost-free periods at selected stations . . . . . . . . 15

Summary of the acreage of the land rating categories for map sheet 74-M . . . o . . . . . . . . . . . ; .27

Summary of the acreage of the land rating categories for map sheet 74-L . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .35

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Page

Table V. Summary of the acreage of the land rating categories for map sheet 74-E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Table VI. Summary of the acreage of the land rating categories for map sheet 73-L (north half) . . . . . . . . . , . . 51

Table VII. Soil reaction (pH), organic carbon, nitrogen, carbon-nitrogen ratio, calcium carbonate equivalent, and particle size distribution of some representative soil profiles . . . . . 54

Table VIII. Total cation exchange by summation, exchangeable cations, and percentage base saturation of some representative soil profiles . 55

II lustrations

Figure 1. Location map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Figure 2. Bedrock outcrop on the Precambrian Shield . . . . , . 17

Figure 3. Free-blowing Sand in map sheet 74-L . . . . . . . . 31

Figure 4. Surficial deposits of map sheets 74E,L, and M . . , . . 58

Acknowledaments

The base maps and aerial photographs for the map area were supplied by

the Technical Division, Alberta Department of Lands and Forests.

The co-operation and assistance received ut each of the campsites is grateful ly acknowledged - Mr. E. Gordon and Mr. B.E. Olson ut Hay Camp, Mr. E. Campbell ut the Embarras Airport, and Cities Service Athabasca Inc. ut Bitumount.

The writers’ associate, Mr. C. van Waas, made the aerial photograph interpretations and transferred the pertinent data to base maps. The maps accompanying this report were prepared in the drafting office of the Research Council of Alberta.

The staff of Associated Helicopters Limited - Messrs. S.R. Kaufman, T. Vaasjo, H. Eskelson, and E. McKinnon - were most co-operative throughout the

survey .

report.

Mrs. A. Bembridge assisted in the preparation and proofreading of this

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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

v-i-

* i M.Gri ..“& ç;-u11, ‘) l M - 550: I

0 50 100 U. S. A.

Miles

Figure 1. Sketch map of Alberta showing the location of the 1962 exploratory soi1 survey areas.

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EXPLORATORY SOIL SURVEY OF ALBERTA MAP SHEETS

74-M, 74-L, 74-E, and 73-L (north half)

Introduction

In 1962, the Soils Division of the Research Council of Alberta continued a program of exploratory soil survey by helicopter. This program has been carried on continuously since 1955 for the purpose of determining the location and extent of potentially arable land in the undeveloped northern portion of Alberta. The information obtained during this study is required by the Alberta Department of Lands and Forests to facilitate the establishment of a permanent-forest management program, and also by other agencies interested in the development of the soil resources of northern Alberta.

Location and Extent

The 1962 exploratory soil survey covered Alberta map sheets 74-M, 74-L, 74-E, and 73-L (north half). Each complete map-area extends opproximately 69 miles north to south by 72 miles east to west, and covers about 5,000 square miles or 3,000,OOO acres. As shown in figure 1, the area lies between 110 and 112 degrees west I ongi tude. The three most northerly map-areas, 74-M, 74-L, and 74-E occupy the area between north latitudes 57 and 60 degrees while the most southerly map- area, 73-L (north half) is f ound between north latitudes 54 degrees 30 minutes and 55 degrees.

These four map-areas caver approximately 17,700 square miles (11,300,OOO acres) in the vicinity of the Slave River, Embarras, Bitumount, and Cold Lake in northeastern and central Alberta, The two most northerly map-areas, 74-M and 74-L, lie partially within the boundaries of Wood Buffalo National Park.

The entire 1962 map area lies west of the Fourth Meridian but more specifically, Alberta map sheet 74-M includes all or parts of townships 115 to 126 between ranges 1 and 12; map sheet 74-L includes all or parts of townships 104 to 115 between ranges 1 and 12; map sheet 74-E includes all or parts of townships 92 to 104 between ranges 1 and 13; while finally map sheet 73-L (north half) includes all or parts of townships 64 to 69 between ranges 1 and 14.

Method of Survey

The exploratory soil survey of these map-areas was carried out during the latter part of August and in early September of 1962. The lack of passable roads in the area necessitated the use of a helicopter to traverse most of the area. Supplies and field crews were transported to the various camp locations by fixed-wing aircraft. A small portion of the area, in the vicinity of Lac La Biche and Cold Lake, was inspected by car in the month of June.

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Prior to the field work a preliminary map on a scale of four miles to one inch was prepared from aerial photographs. This map showed the location of maior

land forms and, where possible, the type of surface geological material associated with these land features.

The helicopter survey was carried on from a central base camp located as near as possible to the tenter of each map-area. The areas were divided into 12

“pie-shaped” segments which were Iined from the base camp at 15-degree intervals. The radii of the segments ranged from 20 to 60 miles, thus making the total length of the traverses about 50 to 130 miles.

Approximately 80 to 90 landings were made in each map-area for soi1 inspections. The distribution of the landings depended upon the nature of the terrain

and forest caver, but wherever possible attempts were made to land about every 10 miles along the Iines of traverse.

Soil Classification and Mapping

The soils are mapped and classified very broadly, and no attempt has been made to correlate them with any of the soi1 series established in the province.

The type of soi1 occurring at specific points in each map-area is shown

on the accompanying maps. For the purpose of this exploratory soi1 survey an adaptation of the three-number system formerly employed in Alberta (12) is used for

descri bing most of the soi1 profi les. Organic and Gleysolic soils have simply been

indicated as such on the maps. At some locations the Organic soils were found to

be frozen and in such cases the depth from the surface at which ice was encountered is also shown on the maps.

In the number system, the first number refers to the Great Soil Group,

the second number denotes the type of parent material, and the third number refers to certain special or differentiating characteristics of the soi1 profile.

The following table explains the system of numbers used in describing soi I profi I es:

Fi rst number Great soi1 group

Regosol Dark Grey Wooded

Brown Forest Acid Brown Wooded Brown Wooded Grey Wooded Bisequa Grey Wooded Podzol

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Second number Parent material 1 Residuai (rock outcrop) 2 Glacial till 3 Reworked ti I I 4 Grave1 ly outwash 5 Al Iuvial, water-sotted 6 Aeolian, wind-sorted 7 Lacustri ne

Third number Profi le development 1 Little profile development 2 Orthic soi Is (normal soi Is of a Great Soi I Group) 3 Depressional, non-saline 4 Saline 5 Solonetz 6 High lime to surface

An example of the number system would be 7.2.2 which would refer to a Grey Wooded soil developed on glacial till with normal profile development.

Each of the accompanying maps has been separated into two or more maior areas on the basis of parent materials and designated Area 1, Area II, etc. Topographie areas having a predominance of a particular type or types of soi1 parent material were grouped together on each map as one area, and numbered accordingly. Owing to the broad nature of the survey it was not possible to keep these areas to a single type of material, but the material first named on each map- area is the one most frequently occurring.

The color descriptions used in the field atid in this report are those given in the Munsell Soil Color Name Charts. All descriptions and analyses referred to are of virgin soils.

The topography of the area is shown on the maps by a system of hatch- ing. The system used for classifying the slopes is similar to the one described in published reports of the Alberta Soil Survey (9) and is shown in the following table:

Per cent slope Mapped phases 0.0 - 0.5) 0.5 - 1.5)

------- Level and undulating

2 - 5) 6 - 9)

------- Gently rolling

10 - 15 ------- Rolling

16 - 30 ------- Hi 1 [y

11

Irregular, often steeply sloping banks adjacent to drainage courses ---- Rough and broken

The topographical classification includes a consideration of the steepness of slope, as well as the shape and frequency of the various slopes which determine the relative roughness of the surface.

The maps are colored on a soi1 rating basis. The soil rating is that used and described in published reports and is based on a consideration of such factors as the characteristics of the soil profile, the degree of stoniness, and the topography . For the purpose of this survey the mapped areas have been separated into three soi1 rating categories, namely, pasture and woodland, doubtful arable, and potential arable.

The first category - pasture and woodland - refers to those areas considered unsuitable for agricultural development for reasons of poor soil, excessive stoniness, rough topography, or some other associated feature.

The doubtful category includes areas in which some feature of the soil or terrain makes their value as agricultural land uncertain at present. Perhaps at some

time in the future an increased demand for agricultural land may stimulate consideration of these less desirable areas for agricultural development. For example, some of the bog areas might become suitable agricultural land if satisfactory drainage were provided. Th b d e roa general nature of this helicopter survey did not allow for detailed separations in the marginai or mixed areas and hence the need arose for a doubtful category .

The third category - arable land - consists of those areas in which the soil and topography are considered suitable for agricultural development. In assessing the agricultural potential of any area, however, it is realized that factors other than the soil and topography must be considered. Such economic factors as the cost of land clearing, accessibility, and distance to markets are factors to be evaluated before any of the arable land indicated in this exploratory soil survey could actually be opened to settlement. Present economic conditions would seem to suggest that much of this remote area Will remain undeveloped for the time being.

The greater proportion, about 87 per cent, of the area covered in the 1962 exploratory soil survey has been classed as pasture and woodland owing to a combination of factors - notably, inferior soils, steeply sloping topography, and inadequate drainage. The remaining 13 per cent is found in map sheet 73-L where the soi1 and associated land characteristics are more suitable for agricultural development. Some portions of this latter area are presently being farmed successfully in the vicinity of Garth, Rich Valley, and Lac La Biche.

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CI i mate

There is only a limited amount of meteorological data (4) (6) recorded for the area covered by the exploratory soi1 survey in 1962. It is therefore necessary to utilize the climatic summaries of stations which lie outside the boundaries of the map area to facilitate a discussion relative to the broad general climatic characteristics of this northern area. Perhaps the most complete climatic record for any station in northern Alberta is that of Fort Vermilion where the records (5) have been compi I ed for some 50 years .

Table I shows the mean monthly and mean annual temperature and precipitation data for seven stations in or near the map area.

The range in annual precipitation in this general area of northern Alberta is from about 12.63 inches at Fort Smith, near north latitude 60 degrees, to 18.30 inches at Slave Lake, near north latitude 55 degrees 15 minutes. It is interesting to note that at Fort Vermilion where the mean annual precipitation is 12.76 inches, the extremes in annual precipitation range from a low of 6.7 inches to a high of 19.9 inches for the period 1909 - 1958. For the same period the depth of snowfall ranged from a low of 13.8 inches to a high of 88.1 inches, with the mean being 39.8 inches. There appears to be a general lowering of annual precipitation in this region with increase in latitude.

With regard to mean annual temperature, the range is from about 34.6 degrees Fahrenheit at Lac La Biche to 25.5 degrees at Fort Smith. Again referring to the 50-year average at Fort Vermi lion, the mean annual temperature is 28.7 degrees Fahrenheit, while the extreme high and low mean temperatures are 33.5 and 23.2 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.

The length of frost-free period is an important consideration in assessing the agricultural potential of any area, and it is interesting to note the length of frost-free period for stations near the 1962 survey area. The frost-free period is taken as that period between the last time the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring and the first time it reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the fall of the year. The frost-free period for nine stations is shown in table II. Data for Beaverlodge, Edmonton, and Lethbridge are included for comparison.

Table II shows that there is a marked decrease in the length of frost- free period in a northerly direction, At Peace River, near the 56th parallel, the average period without frost is 91 days, while at Fort Vermilion, near the 58th parallel, it is only 72 days.

General ly, however, a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit is not considered to be a killing frost; the majority of crops are not damaged until a temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower is reached. On this basis, for a 50- year period, the average length of cropping season at Fort Vermilion is 104 days while the shortest and longest seasons for the same period are 22 and 148 days respectively .

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Table 1. Mean monthly and annual temperature and precipitation data for selected stations in or near the 1962 exploratory soi1 survey area

Station

Fort Smith

Mean Mean Approx. annual annual

MaP elev., sheet feet Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July AU~.

temp., precip., Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. OF. inches

T 0.. -13.4 -a.7 5.4 26.2 45.2 55.4 61.2 56.8 44.2 31.7 9.8 -7.0 25.5 -- 74-M 665 P... .53 .66 .67 ,52 .97 1.41 1.99 1.65 1.54 .96 .86 .a7 -- 12.63

Fort T - a.7 -3.9 11.0 32.1 49.1 57.2 62.1 58.2 47.5 34.4 11.4 -4.6 28.7 -- Vermi I ion 84-J 950 P::I .71 .66 .74 -61 1.36 1.67 1.87 1.66 1.27 .61 .74 .a6 -- 12.76

P Embarras T - 9.1 -3.0 10.9 31.4 48.1 56.8 63.3 58.8 48.4 36.3 12.4 -2.5 29.3 -- Ai rport 74- L 775 p::: 096 .69 .76 .72 1,.27 1.49 1.90 2.33 2.20 1.14 1.03 .93 -- 15.42

Keg T - 2.4 1.6 18.6 34.1 48.2 55.6 59.9 57.0 48.1 37.7 15.4 -0.8 31.1 -- River 84-F 1405 p::: .72 .76 .72 .76 1.80 1.76 2.16 1.74 1.40 .9a 1.09 1.06 -- 14.95

Fort McMurray T - 6.2 .5 15.4 34.4 48.8 56.2 61.6 58.0 47.8 36.5 15.0 -1.8 30.5 -- Airport 74-D 1216 P::: .a3 .62 .85 .77 1.39 2.11 3.08 2.25 1.67 .97 .95 .a3 -- 16.32

Slave Lake

T 3.3 7.1 20.5 36.4 49.0 55.7 61.3 57.6 48.6 38.2 21.5 7.1 33.9 -- 83-o 1921 P: 1: .99 1.05 .92 .91 1.72 2.38 3.12 2.33 1.71 1.15 1.08 ,94 -- 18.30

Lac La Biche T . . . 1.0 7.5 20.2 33.2 50.6 57.9 62.7 59.1 50.7 40.1 22.5 9.4 34.6 -- Airport 83-i P .DO 1.07 .69 .76 .a0 1.80 2.47 2.92 2.42 1.36 .90 1.08 1.03 -- 17.30

T .0. Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) P . . . Precipitation (in inches)

Table II. Frost-free periods -- shortest, longest, and average -- at selected stations since records were started

Station MaP sheet

Average Shortest period, peri od,

days days

Longest period, days

Number of years records

kept

Fort Smith

Fort Vermi Ii on

Keg River

Buffalo Head Prairie

Peace River

Fort McMurray

Beaverl odge

Edmonton

Lethbridge

74-M 59 15

84-J 72 5*

84-F 57 29

84-K 73 35 97 17

84-C 91 39 164 26

74-D 67 29 101 27

83-M 94 27 140 38

83-H 100 44 144 60

82-H 111 80 147 26

94

119

79

26

50

15

* One isolated occurrence

Factors such as these are extremely important and must be given careful consideration when selecting the kind and variety of trop to be grown in these northern areas,

Veaetation

The vegetative caver is a factor influencing soil formation and provides some information for differentiating soil drainage and texture within an area.

The major portion of minera1 soils has a mixed caver of trembling aspen - . (Populus tremuloides), white spruce (Picea glauca), and iack pine (Pinus banksiana). On the porous sandy soils, found extensively throughout map-areas 74-M, 74-L, and 74-E, iack pine is the most prominent tree species while aspen and white spruce predominate to some extent on the more heavily textured soils. The flood plain of the Peace River supports excellent stands of merchantable white spruce, some of which is presently being utilized for Iumber production.

Meadow, Peaty Meadow, and Organic soils are of widespread occurrence throughout the entire map-area. The Meadow soil areas are characterized for the

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most part by the growth of sedges, marsh reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and in some cases dwarf birch (Betula glandufosa) and wiilow (Salix). These Meadow soils usually have a variable depth of peat at tfie surface an-dare therefore classified as Peaty Meadow soils where the peat layer ranges from three to 12 inches in thickness.

Organic soils, those having more than 12 inches of peat at the surface, occupy a significant proportion of the map area. Two types of Organic soils - sedge and moss (muskeg) - were recognized in the area. The sedge type, formed from sedge and grasses, is a relatively fine textured fibrous peat whereas the moss type, derived primarily from sphagnum moss, is coarser in texture. Black spruce (Picea mariana) and labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) are characteristic tree and-g=nd -Plants of the moss bogs in this area.

The moss bog soils in some portions of this area are frozen at depths ranging from 19 to 36 inches from the surface. However, with respect to this frozen condition no apparent geographical distribution was evident from the data obtained in 1962. That is to say, frozen muskeg did not follow any definite pattern but occurred spasmodically throughout all the map areas.

It is possible that the presence or absence of ice in the muskeg may have been related or influenced to some degree by the abnormal amount of surface water present in the depressional areas during the summer of 1962. Past experience in this general area has indicated that frozen muskeg usually occurs where the peat is relatively dry and is least Iikely to be found in locations where free water occurs within the profile. The occurrence of ice or a frozen condition in some of the Organic soils of northern Alberta has been noted previously by several workers (7), (8), (11).

In some portions of the survey area the Organic soils show clearly defined patterns in which relatively large level areas are separated by slightly elevated ridges. The ridges may support a caver of either black spruce or dwarf birch. Typical examples of this patterned ground are located in township 97, range 8,and in township 103, range 9.

Sjt\rs (10) in discussing similar patterns found in the sub-arctic parts of the boreal zone suggests that the reason for the elevated ridges seems to be the pressure of the ice being exerted horizontally during the freezing period in early winter. A similar explanation may well apply to the patterned ground of northern Alberta.

One of the few areas of free-blowing sand in the province is located about 18 miles east of the Embarras Airport in township 106,range 6. The presence of burned tree debris would seem to suggest that this area was once stabilized by vegetation but has become free-blowing as a result of the vegetation being de- stroyed by fire. The present vegetative caver is very sparse and consists mainly of heather (Hudsonia tumentosa) and northern awnless brome grass (Bromus pumpellianus) together with a Iight tree caver of jack pine and birch (Betula papyrifera). The jack

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pine are characterized by stunted growth and very short needles which may be a

result of desiccation in an unfavorable growing environment.

Alberta Map Sheet 74-M

Alberta map sheet 74-M is located in the extreme northeastern corner of the province. The Canadian or Precambrian Shield occupies the greater proportion of the map-area, extending from the Saskatchewan boundary to the Slave River, A portion of Lake Athabasca lies in the southeastern section of the map-area while a part of Wood Buffalo National Park is included in that portion of map sheet 74-M west of the Slave River.

Area I

Area I is the largest separated area in map sheet 74-M and comprises about 67 per cent of the total area. This area is a part of a broad physiographic region known as the Canadian Shield or Precambrian Shield. The area is typified by the presence of rock outcrops which Godfrey (3) d escribes as being principally granite or granitic-type rocks. These rock outcrops, which may caver up to 90 per cent of the surface of a given area, have a rather high local relief, in the order of 200 to 300 feet. Godfrey attributes the relief to the general weather-resistant nature of the massive granites and the faults within the granites which are evident as prominent fractures and scarps. Differential glacial erosion of the various bedrock surfaces has also undoubtedly contributed to the present-day relief found on the Precambrian Shield. A section of this area is shown in figure 2; the granitic rock outcrops are seen in the background with sedge and moss bog in the foreground.

Figure 2. Bedrock outcrop on the Precambrian Shield.

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There is a multitude of lakes in Area I which vary in size from a few acres to the Iargest, Lake Athabasca, which covers approximately 165,000 acres in that portion found in map sheet 74-M. Some of the other prominent lakes in this area are: Andrew Lake (13,000 acres), Colin Lake (11,000 acres), Cornwall Lake (8,600 acres), and Wylie Lake (5,600 acres). Godfrey describes, in some detail, the possible origin of several of the Iakes. He attributes their origin and to some extent their shape to structural features such as folding and faulting, and to the glacial erosion of soft sediments found within the Precambrian Shield.

The Slave River represents the western Iimit of the Shield in this area and according to Godfrey the course of this river is largely controlled by bedrock structures of the Precambrian Shield. He states: “It is no coincidence that the Slave River generally follows the line of overlap of the Paleozoic rocks onto the Precambrian basement which is believed to be a structural ly control led contact”.

The Organic soils in Area I occupy for the most part the depressional areas between the bedrock outcrops. These soils are of both the moss peat (muskeg) and sedge peat types. The occurrence of ice in these peat areas appears to be spasmodic in that ice is present at certain locations but is absent from others. For the most part, in 1962, the moss and sedge bogs were extremely wet and this may account for the absence of ice from certain locations.

The minera1 soils of Area I are principally Podzol and Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on glacial and post-glacial materials which appear to be primarily of a sandy nature. It is suggested that for the most part the sands are of outwash origin, but in some cases the occurrence of glacial erratics suggests that some of the deposits may be sandy till . The depth of the sand is extremely variable and ranges from a few inches to several feet. Dune sand also provides the parent material for some of the soils, particularly in the east-central portion of the area.

The following description is that of a Podzol soil developed on glacial outwash overlying bedrock in Area 1:

Horizon

L-H

Ae

Thickness, in inches

1

2

Bf 8

C

IIC

10

at 21 inches below surface

Description

Pine needle litter, pH 4.3.

Light grey (1OYR 7/2 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 3.8.

Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.7.

Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.5.

Bedrock - granite.

18

The soi1 reactions (pH) of the various horizons in the above soi1 profile are extremely acid. This is no doubt a result of the parent materials being formed from sediments of Canadian Shield origin. The granite and granite-ii ke rocks of the Shield contain no lime carbonate and this characteristic is reflected in the soi1 profiles in the form of low or acidic pH values.

In some locations in Area I the soils are developed on stratified lacustrine material of silty clay loam and silty clay texture. These soils are believed to be of minor occurrence on the Precambrian Shield since at most of the inspection sites the glacial sediments were of a sandy nature. The following soi1 profile description, however, is that of Grey Wooded soil developed on stratified Iacustrine material found in Area I of map sheet 74-M:

Horizon

L-H

Ah

Ae

Bt

C


2

2

3

Description

Deciduous leaf litter.

Black (1OYR 2/1 dry), silt, loose, granular, friable.

Light grey (IOYR 7/2 dry), silt loam, large platy, vesicular, firm.

14 Pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2 dry), silty clay, large blocky, hard,

at 21 inches Grey (lOYR5/1 dry), silty clay, lacustrine, no lime below surface carbonate.

In addition to the two above described soil profiles a minor occurrence of Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on sandy parent materials was noted.

There is also, in Area 1, a considerable acreage of soils that are poorly drained. These soils are found primarily in the depressional areas between the bedrock outcrops and are, for the most part, Podzols which have mottling or gleying characteristics in the various horizons. Such soils are termed gleyed Podzols and show the following characteristics:

Thickness, Horizon in inches Description

L-H 1 Pine needle litter.

Ae 4 Grey, Sand, mottled, single grain, loose.

Bf 25 Reddish brown, Sand, mottled, single grain, loose.

19

IIC

IIIC

2 Pinkish grey, silty clay, mottled, lacustrine sediments.

at 32 inches Grey, Sand, mottled, no lime carbonate. below surface

Area I of map sheet 74-M covers a total area of about 2,244,OOO acres. A sizeable proportion of this acreage consists of lakes and sloughs. The actual amount of water has not been calculated but it is roughly estimated to caver 30 per cent of the surface. The largest lake, of course, is Lake Athabasca whose areal extent is about 165,000 acres in map sheet 74-M.

The area has been classified as pasture and woodland. The common occurrence of bedrock outcrop together with deeply leached sandy Podzol soils and muskeg suggests that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development.

Area II

Area II comprises about 243,000 acres or eight per cent of the total area of map sheet 74-M.

The topography in this area is generally level to depressional, with about 70 per cent of the area consisting of Meadow or Organic soils.

The soils of Area II are developed partly on a saline Iacustrine silty clay and partly on aeolian sand which overlies the Iacustrine material. The sand is found, for the most part, in the northern portion of the area. A prominent escarpment situated to the west and northwest of this area is the source of the salt which affects the area. This escarpment was examined during the course of the 1961 soi1 survey (7) and an analysis of the soils in the adjacent area showed that the principal salt present is sodium chloride. A high concentration of the chloride ion is uncommon in Alberta soils and this area, therefore, is one of the few areas in the province thus affected.

An inspection of the soils of Area II indicated that those developed on the silty clay Iacustrine deposition were predominantly saline Meadow soils. In the slightly higher areas which have been unaffected by either salinity or drainage the soi Is appear to be principal1 y Brown Wooded. These latter soils, however, are of minor occurrence since the greater proportion of the area has been influenced to some extent by salinity.

The following soil profile description is representative of the saline Meadow soi Is of Area II:


L-H 3 Sedge peat slightly decomposed in lower portion.

20

Ah5 3 Black (IOYR 2/1 moist), clay loam, granular friable, conductivi ty 6 mmhos/cm.

Bgs 20 Dark brown (IOYR 4/3 moist), silty clay, mottled, massive to subangular blocky, friable.

Cks at 26 inches Dark brown (10YR 4/3 moist), mottled, silty clay, below surface cal careous D

The saline nature of the above soil profile is evident from the electrical conductivity measurement of a water extract taken from the Ah horizon. In the above case the electrical conductivity is 6 mmhos/cm.; however, in another soil profile examined in this same area the Ah horizon had a conductivity of l& mmhos/cm. In either case the conductivity is above the 4 mmhos/cm. limit suggested by the United States Department of Agriculture as being the point above which trop growth is affected by soluble salts. The saline nature of the soils in Area II may well account for the absence of vegetation in certain portions of the area and it would appear that only the most salt tolerant plants Will be adaptable to this portion of map-area 74-M.

The Brown Wooded soi Is developed on the Iacustrine si I ty clay material are found principally in the eastern portion of Area Il. The following is a description of this type of profile:

Horizon

L-H

Ah

AB


Bm 9

Ck at 16 inches below surface

Description


Black (10 YR 2/1 dry), clay loam, granular, friable.

Greyish brown (IOYR 5/2 dry), silty clay, medium subangular blocky, firm.

Dark grey (10YR 4/1 dry), silty clay, massive to medium blocky, firm.

Grey (10YR 5/1 dry), with some pink coloration, silty clay, stratified Iacustrine sediments, calcareous.

The Brown Wooded soils in Area II are believed to be of a minor occurrence since the greater proportion of the area is low lying and consists essentially of saline Meadow and Organic soils.

As mentioned previously, in a number of locations in Area II the Iacustrine sediments are overlain by a sandy deposit. The depth of this sand is quite variable and may be sufficiently deep to allow dune formation or may only

21

consist of a thin overlay of less than one foot. The saline nature of the underlying lacustrine material undoubtedly has an effect on plant growth on the shallower sandy soils but may have no influence where the Sand is sufficiently deep to prevent plant roots from penetrating to Salt depth.

The following description is that of an Acid Brown Wooded soil developed on a shallow sandy deposit overlying saline Iacustrine clay loam:

Horizon

L-H

Ah

Bmfl

Bmf2

II BS

IICsk


2

2

Description

Mixed deciduous - coniferous litter.

Dark brown (10YR 4/3 dry), loamy Sand, granular, friable,

3 Brown (IOYR 4/3 dry), I oamy Sand to Sand, granular, friable.

2 Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

4 Brown (10YR 4/3 dry), clay loam, columnar flat tops breaking to blocky, very firm.

at 13 inches Dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2 dry), clay loam, below surface loam, massive, very firm.

Area II is about 155,000 acres in size. The area has been classified as pasture and woodland owing to the salinity, poor drainage, and Sand found in the area.

Area III

Eleven per cent of the total area of map sheet 74-M is included in Area Ill. This area is characterized by a widespread occurrence of Sand, which for the most part has been affected by wind action with the consequent development of dunes, The topography, therefore, consists essentially of a level to undulating plain with some gently rolling to rolling Sand dunes, The eastern boundary of Area Ill

. the is marked by a series of well-defined beach lines which probably represent former extent of a laking basin or flood plain adjacent to the Slave River.

Area Ill is drained principally by the Slave River and some of its tributaries, notably the Hornaday River and Murdock and Darough Creeks. The extent of Organic and Gleysolic soils is quite variable but taking the area as a whole about 50 per cent of the surface is poorly drained.

22

The minera1 soils are generally Minimal Podzol or Acid Brown Wooded developed on aeolian Sand. The Minimal Podzol soils are typified by a thin Ah horizon, a bleached Iight colored Ae horizon and a reddish brown Bf horizon. The fol lowing description is that of a Minimal Podzol soil profile examined in Area III:

Horizon

L-H

Ae

Bf

BC

Ck


1

1

Description

Pine needle litter, pH 4.6.

Pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.6.

4 Reddish brown (5YR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 6.7.

9 Yellowish brown (1OYR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 7.3.

at 15 inches Greyish brown (1OYR 5/‘2 dry), Sand, pH 7.5. below surface

The above described soil profile is fairly typical of the Podzol soils of Area Ill. These soils normally exhibit a minimal amount of development in that the Ae and Bf horizons are relatively shallow and the depth to the lime carbonate horizon is not excessive.

The Acid Brown Wooded soils are perhaps the most commonly occurring soils found in Area III. These soils are characterized by a thin Ah horizon and a reddish brown Bmf horizon. They differ from the Podzols in that a well- defined bleached Ae horizon is not evident below the Ah horizon. The following description is that of a typical Acid Brown Wooded soil examined in Area Ill:



Bmfl 3 Light reddish brown (5YR 6/4 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

Bmf2 4 Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

BC 10 Yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

23

C at 18 inches Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), Sand, non-calcareous. below surface

The Acid Brown Wooded and Minimal Podzol soils examined in Area III form a part of a genetic sequence of soils common to this area. The Acid Brown Wooded soils appear to represent a stage of development which upon further degra- dation or Ieaching Will develop Podzolic characteristics in the form of a bleached Ae horizon. The Podzolic Ae horizon in the soils found in Area Ill is seldom more than one inch in thickness and these soils cari generally be termed Minimal Podzols. A similar relationship between these soils was noted in Area IA of map sheet 84-P which is situated immediately to the west of the area presently being discussed.

Gleysolic soils are also frequently encountered in Area Ill in the Iower lying locations. These soils are extremely varied with respect to classification and include Meadow, Peaty Meadow, and Calcareous Meadow profiles. A sandy subsoil, however, is common to all Gleysolic soils in this area.

Area III is about 316,000 acres in size. The sandy characteristics of the soils make this area unsuitable for cultivation and the area has been classified as pasture and woodland. Some of the meadow areas should provide fairly good rough pasture in their native state; however, it would appear unwise to disturb, through cul tivation, any of these areas since they are underlain by sand and would become extremely droughty if the water-table was lowered for any reason.

Area IV

Area IV is situated in the extreme northwestern section of map sheet 74-M and makes up about six per cent of the total area.

The topography in this section of the map sheet varies from level to depressional. Organic and Gleysolic soils are commonly occurring soils that occupy about 50 per cent of the total area.

The upland portions of Area IV are invariably sandy, and the soils developed on this material are for the most part Acid Brown Wooded and Brown Wooded in character. A description of the Brown Wooded soi I encountered in this area is as follows:

Horizon Thickness, in inches Description

L-H 2 Deciduous leaf litter.

Ah 1 Dark grey (1OYR 4/1 dry), loamy Sand, granular, friable.

24

Aei 1 Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 dry), loamy sand, weakly platy, friable.

Bm 3 Yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4 dry), loamy sand to sand, single grain, loose.

Ck at 7 inches Light brownish grey (1OYR 6/2 dry), loamy Sand, below surface cal careous,

Day and Leahey (2) h ave described a similar soil, the Fort Smith series, at a point a few miles northwest of the present survey area.

The Meadow soi 1s of Area IV are morphologi cal I y simi lar to a soi1 series - the Norberta series - described in this general area by Day and Leahey. The Norberta series is a Peaty Meadow soi1 and in Area IV of map sheet 74-M this soi1 profile had the following general characteristics:


L 3 Undecomposed sedge peat .

Ah9 4 Black (1OYR 2/1 moist), loam to sandy loam, granular, friable.

5 10 Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 moist), Sand, single grain, loose, mottled.

Ck9 at 17 inches Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 moist), Sand, calcareous, below surface mottled.

Area IV is about 177,000 acres in size. This area has been classed as pasture and woodland because of the coarse-textured nature of the soils. Sandy soils are characterized by a low moisture-holding capacity and low fertility. The low moisture-holding capacity is offset to some extent by the surface peat layer in some of the Gleysolic soils. However, since these soils are underlain by Sand, any disturbance of the soi1 profile would Iikely result in a Iowering of the water- table thus creating a droughty moisture regime.

Area V

Area V is the smallest separated area in map sheet 74-M comprising less than one per cent of the total area.

Area V includes a steeply sloping escarpment and the small area situated above this slope. Actually, the greater proportion of this area occurs in map sheet 84-P and has been descri bed in Preliminary Soi I Survey Report 62-1.

25

One of the most significant features associated with Area V is the presence of brine Springs. These Springs issue from the base of the escarpment and

contribute to the salinity of the lowland area to the east. The most common salt associated with the Springs is sodium chloride. Another interesting feature found in

Area V is a band of sink holes about one to two miles wide which parallels the top of the escarpment. These sink holes are formed by dissolution of gypsum beds in the

Devonian rocks of the area, resulting in collapse of the overlying dolomite with a consequent formation of pits or sink holes.

The soils in this area are for the most part Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on aeol ian Sand. These soi Is have been descri bed in some detai I in

Preliminary Soil Survey Report 62-1 (Area IB map sheet 84-P).

Area V is about 4,000 acres in size. The occurrence of sand suggests

that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development, consequently the area has been classified as suitable for pasture and woodland.

Area VI

Two per cent of the total area of map sheet 74-M is included in Area VI.

This area consists of the flood plains of the Slave and Peace Rivers in the southern and southwestern sections of the map area.

The topography in Area VI is level to depressional . Meander stars and

oxbow lakes are of common occurrence and these sites are now marked by the presence of mass and sedge bog, swamps, and sloughs. The more level portions of the flood plain, where drainage is better, are covered by excellent stands of white spruce and aspen.

The soils for the most part are Regosolic. They exhibit few morphological

characteristics that cari be attributed to soil genesis or development. A surface Ah or organic horizon is underlain by various strata or depositional layers that range

in texture from sand to silty clay . General ly, however, the major portion of the soi1 profiles is of a silt loam to silty clay loam texture, Buried organic or Ah

horizons are common to this type of soi1 profile.

The following soi1 profile description is that of a Regosolic soi1 examined on the flood plain of the Slave River:

Thickness, Horizon in inches

I 6

II 2

Descri otion

Dark grey (10YR 4/1 moist), mixed minera1 and organic layer, silty clay loam, recent flooding indicated.

Black (10YR 2/1 moist), silt loam, buried Ah horizon.

26

III 20 Dark grey (1OYR 4/1 moist), silty clay loam, mixed minera1 and organic layer, mottled.

There are many variants to the above-described soi1 profi le. In the above soil, for example, lime carbonate was not encountered to a depth of 30 inches whereas in other similar soil profiles in this vicinity lime was detected within a foot of the surface.

Area

A rea

Area Arable, Dou btfu I , Pasture and Woodland, Water, acres acres acres acres

Area I 2,079,OOO

II 243,000

Ill 316,000

Area IV 177,000

Area V 4,000

Area VI 73,000

Lake Athabasca 165,000

Tota I 2,892,OOO 165,000

Alberta Map Sheet 74-L

The only permanent settlement found in map sheet 74-L is located at Fort Chipewyan on the western end of Lake Athabasca. A number of smaller post offices, usually operated by local traders or trappers, are found throughout the remainder of the map sheet. The Department of Transport has established an airport

27

Area VI is about 73,000 acres in size. The extremely poorly drained characteristics of this area suggests that the area should be classified as pasture and woodland,

Su mmary

A summary of the acreage in each of the land rating categories for map sheet 74-M is given in table Ill.

Table Ill. Land rating classification for map sheet 74-M

at Embarras along the Athabasca River in township 106, range 9.

Area I

Area I represents that portion of map sheet 74-L in which bedrock outcrops are of major significance on the land surface, This portion of the Precambrian Shield comprises about eight per cent of map sheet 74-L. In regard to soils, topography, and vegetation this area is very similar to Area I of map sheet 74-M, which was descri bed in a previ ous section of this report,

The topography is primarily controlled by the bedrock surface and consists of rolling and gently rolling knolls. The soils are developed for the most part on glacial or post-glacial outwash sands, dune sands, and occasionally Iacustrine clays. These deposits are of variable depth and in some locations are but a few inches thick overlying the bedrock. The depressional areas between the bedrock are usually occupied by moss and sedge bog.

The following description is that of a Grey Wooded soi1 developed on Iacustrine siity clay examined in Area I of map sheet 74-L:


L-H 1 Deciduous leaf I itter.

Ae 3 Grey (10YR 6/1 dry), sandy loam, platy, friable.

Bt 15 Pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2 dry), sandy clay, medium blocky, firm.

C at 19 inches Pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2 dry), lacustrine, silty clay. below surface

The above soi1 profile was noted to be distinctly pinkish in color in the B and C horizon. This coloration occurred also in some of the soi1 profiles on the Precambrian Shield to the north of this map sheet and it is believed to be associated with the granite and sandstone rocks of the Shield.

Area I is about 255,000 acres in size, The extent of bedrock outcrop together with moss and sedge bcgs and predominantly sandy soils make this area unsuitable for agricultural development. lt has therefore been classed as pasture and woodland.

Area II

Area II is the largest separated area in map sheet 74-L and comprises about 26 per cent of the total area.

28

Area II represents the delta or flood plain, or both, of the Athabasca and Peace Rivers. Drainage, or more exactly, the lack of surface drainage is perhaps the most important single characteristic of the area. This drainage feature has resulted, in part at least, from the level to depressional nature of the surface relief. There is virtually Iittle or no gradient to the area; the elevation of Lake Claire in the western section of the map sheet is 695 feet above sea level while Lake Athabasca to the east has exactly the same elevation.

The vegetation in Area II consists essentially of willow and sedge. In 1962, however, both the sedge and willow areas were under water which varied in depth from a few inches to two feet or more. The area adiacent to the Peace River, however, is perhaps somewhat better drained than most of the area to the south and supports in some places excellent stands of white spruce.

There are many lakes in Area II. These lakes vary in size from a few acres to the large Baril and Mamawi Lakes which occupy 15,000 and 39,000 acres respectively. It should be noted also that Lake Claire and Lake Athabasca have areal extents of 84,000 and 347,000 acres in map sheet 74-L.

There are numerous streams and rivers which traverse Area II, The Chenel des Quatre Fourches is an important drainage-way, with respect to northern transportation, since it provides a link between Lake Athabasca and the Peace and Slave Rivers to the north. Also found within Area II are the Embarras River, Fletcher Channel and Goose Island Channel. These latter drainage-ways are a part of the Athabasca River system.

The only highland areas noted in Area II were associated with bedrock outcrops. These areas are few and the rocks appear to be a part of the Precambrian Shield.

The flooded condition of Area II made soil inspections difficult if not nearly impossible in 1962. However, the limited information obtained indicates that the soils are Regosolic in nature with varying thicknesses of sedge peat at the surface. The underlying minera1 soil is generally of a silt loam to silty clay loam texture.

The soil that is encountered in Area II appears to be a gleyed Regosol and has the following soil profile description:


I 3 Sedge pea t .

Ilk 9 Greyish brown, interstratified sedge peat and silt loam, massive, friable, calcareous.

29

Illk at 12 inches Greyish brown, silty clay loam, massive, firm, below surface cal careous.

The depth at which lime carbonate is encountered in the soils varies considerably throughout Area I 1. In some cases it is found at or near the surface while at other locations it is absent to a depth of three feet or more.

In the dozen or more locations at which soi1 inspections were made in this alluvial area, only one could be termed a fairly well drained site at which soi1 horizon development was easily recognizable. The soi1 found at this particular site

was a Brown Wooded soi1 in which lime carbonate was present relatively near the surface . The following is a description of this type soi I profile:

Horizon

L-H

Bm

Ck


3

Description

Deciduous leaf mat, slightly decomposed in lower portion.

7 Dark brown (1OYR 4/3 dry), loam, granular, friable.

at 10 inches Greyish brown (lOYR5/2 dry), sandy clay loam, below surface massive.

Area II is about 818,000 acres in size. The lack of adequate drainage, both interna1 and external, in the soils of this area suggests that the area is unsuitable for agricultural development. Accordingly the area has been classified as pasture and woodland.

Area Ill

Area Ill comprises about 25 per cent of the total area of map sheet 74-L.

The topography in all portions of Area Ill is quite variable consisting primarily of undulating to hilly sand dunes. The sand dunes are of both the U-shaped and longitudinal types and appear to have formed on sandy outwash and Iacustrine materials.

In some portions of the area moss bog forms in the depressions between the dunes. However, by comparison to other areas covered by this survey the moss bog is not of widespread occurrence in this area.

The soils of Area Ill are for the most part Podzols which are characterized by a distinct whitish or greyish colored Ae horizon and a reddish colored Bf horizon. The following is a description of a typical Podzol soi1 examined in this area:

30

Ho ri zon

L-H

Ae

Bf

C

Thi ckness, in inches

1

5

14

at 20 inches be I ow su rfa ce

Description

Pine needle litter and feather mosses.

Light grey (1OYR 7/1 dry), Sand, singlegrain, loose, pH 3.8.

Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.7.

Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), Sand, noncalcareous, pH 4.5.

Free-blowing sand or unstabilized sand dunes are of comparatively rare

occurrence in northern Alberta; however, some examples of this feature are found in Area Ill of map sheet 74-L, at a point about 18 miles east of the Embarras airport

in township 106, range 6. The largest of these open sand areas is estimated to extend about six miles north and south by about two and a half miles east and west at the widest point. A portion of the open sand area is shown in figure 3. The grass

seen in the foreground is awnless brome grass while the tree caver in the background consists primarily of iack pine.

The presence of burnt tree debris in the open sand suggests that this area was at one time stabilized by vegetation and that the sand has become mobile due to the destruction or removal of the vegetation. In some locations the present vege-

tation is being buried by the frontal edge of the advancing Sand.

Figure 3. Free-blowing sand in map sheet 74-L.

31

Two surface samples to a depth of ten inches were obtained from this sand area for a particle-size distribution analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that the material consists of about 99 per cent sand and one per cent silt. Considering the sand fraction alone, the results of the laboratory analysis show that about 85 per cent of the sand falls in the medium (0.5-0.25 mm.) and fine sand (0.25-o. 10 mm.) fractions, The coarse sand (1 .O-0.5 mm .) and very fine sand (0.10-0.05 mm.) fractions constitute a comparatively small proportion of the samples.

Area Ill is unsuitable for agricultural development owing to the widespread occurrence of Sand. This area, which covers about 794,000 acres, has therefore been classified as pasture and woodland.

Area IV

Area IV comprises about 15 per cent of the total area of map sheet 74-L.

The topography in this area is quite variable and covers the complete range of topographie classes.

The parent materials for the soils in this area are generally of a sandy texture and the mode of deposition appears to be associated primarily with ice- contact deposits such as kames and eskers. It is also possible, however, that some of the parent materials may be of till origin, but some difficulty was encountered in distinguishing between gravelly outwash and till since no characteristic bedding could be defined in these sandy deposits.

Moss bogs are not of wide occurrence in Area IV and do not comprise more than about 25 per cent of the total area. A multitude of small lakes, however, is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of this area. One possible explanation for their presence would be that the Iakes formed in the depressions of a pi tted outwash plain .

The well-drained upland soils of Area IV were found to be, without exception, Podzol soils. In this respect they are similar to the Podzol soils described in Area Ill. The major difference between the soils of the two areas is primarily one of stoniness; the sandy soils of Area IV usually contain a fairly high stone content as compared to the wind deposited stone-free sands of Area Ill.

The following is a description of a Podzol soi1 examined in Area IV of map sheet 74-L:


L-H 1 Pine needle litter, pH 4.5.

Ae 3 Pinkish grey (1OYR 6/2), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 3.7.

32

Bf 4 Strong brown (7SYR 5/6 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 3.9.

BC 25 Yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.7.

C at 33 inches Pale brown (1OYR 6/3 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, below surface pH 4.4.

Area IV is about 475,000 acres in size. The deeply leached Podzol soils in this area are unsuitable for cultivation and the area has been classified as pasture and woodland.

Area V

Area V has been delineated mainly on the basis of the occurrence of a relatively high percentage of moss bog. This area comprises about eight per cent of map sheet 74-L.

It should be noted at this point that Area V and Area IV are underlain by Precambrian rocks and are thus geologically a part of the Precambrian Shield. Areas IV and V differ from Area 1, however, in that for the most part the Pre- cambrian rocks are mantled by Pleistocene and postglacial sediments, and do not outcrop at the surface to an appreciable extent. Where the rock outcropped in Area V, however, it was identified as Precambrian Athabasca Sandstone.

Moss bog covers about 75 per cent of Area V. The remainder of the area consists essentially of sand dunes, crevasse fillings and glacial outwash. Stoniness is a characteristic of some portions of the area, and all soil parent materials are of a sandy nature.

The minera1 soils are Podzols and are therefore similar to those examined in Areas Ill and IV. The following is a description of a Podzol soil developed on outwash Sand found in Area V:


L-H 1

Ae 3

Bf 10

C at 14 inches below surface

Pine needle litter.

Pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose.

Brown (1OYR 5/3 dry), Sand, single grain, loose.

33

Area V is about 253,000 acres in size. The extent of moss bog and sandy

soils indicates that this area is best suited for pasture and woodland.

Area VI

Area VI is one of the smaller separated areas of map sheet 74-L and comprises only two per cent of the entire area.

Area VI represents an extension of Area II of map sheet 84-l. The area is characterized by depressional to gently sloping topography in which moss and sedge bog are of frequent occurrence and caver about 70 per cent of the land surface. Many portions of the area are extremely wet, particularly in the northern section in the vicinity of Lake Claire. In fact, the amount of water found in Area VI in 1962 made inspection of the soils very difficult if not nearly impossible. At several sites only a cursory inspection was made to determine the possible origin and texture of the underlying minera1 material. These examinations, coupled with the fact that there is no topographie break between this area and Area II of map sheet 84-1, indicate that the soils are developed on glacial till and lacustrine sediments.

The soils inspected in Area VI of map sheet 74-L were all Gleysolic in character . The following is a description of a gleyed Regosol found in Area VI:

Horizon Thi ckness, in inches Description

L-H 2 Sedge peat.

Ah 3 Black (IOYR 2/1 moist), fine sandy loam, granular, friable.

cg 15 Greyish brown (IOYR 5/2 moist), sandy clay loam, mottled, massive, friable.

IlCg at 20 inches Grey (IOYR 5/1 moist), Sand, mottled, single grain, below surface I oose.

Area VI is about 69,000 acres in size. The predominance of Organic and Gleysolic soils suggests that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development and should be classified as pasture and woodland.

Area VII

Area VII is a small area in the extreme southwest corner of the map sheet. This area, which comprises less than one per cent of map sheet 74-L, represents a portion of the lower slope of the Birch Mountains escarpment.

The Birch Mountains area has been described in some detail in Preliminary Soil Survey Report 62-l.

34

The topography in Area VII consists essentialiy of the rolling to hilly slope of the Birch Mountains escarpment. The soils of this escarpment, although not inspected in 1962, were found to be primarily Grey Wooded soils developed on till in the survey of 1961.

Area VII has been classified as pasture and woodland owing to the steeply sloping, somewhat eroded, nature of the escarpment. This area has an areal extent of about 4,000 acres in map sheet 74-L.

Summary

A summary of the acreage in each of the land rating categories for map sheet 74-L is given in table IV.

Table IV. Land rating classification for map sheet 74-L

Area Arable, Doubtful, acres acres

Pasture and Woodland, acres

Water, acres

Area I 255,000

Area II 818,000

Area Ill 794,000

Area IV 475,000

Area V 253,000

Area VI 69,000

Area VII

Lake Athabasca 347,000

Lake Claire 84,000

Lake Ri chardson

Total 2,668,OOO 443,000

Alberta Mao Sheet 74-E

A portion of the Athabasca Oil Sands is found within the boundaries of map sheet 74-E. This is perhaps the best known feature of the area since these sands

35

have received considerable publicity over the years. A pilot plant designed for the extraction of oil from the sands was established at Bitumount in 1930 but at the present time is not in operation. The only permanent settlement is situated at Fort MacKay on the Athabasca River in the southwestern portion of the map sheet.

Area I

Area I is a comparatively small area comprising about two per cent of the map sheet.

The area is primarily an outcrop of the Precambrian Shield. The bedrock high consists of granitic and gneissic rocks together with moss bog and some Sand. The location of Area I marks the approximate western boundary of the Precambrian Shield (1) in this area.

The presence of rock outcrop together with sandy soils and moss bog suggests that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development, consequently the area has been classified as pasture and woodland. The areal extent of Area I is about 65,000 acres.

Area II

Area II is known Iocally as the Fort Hills and consists essentially of a bedrock high that has been mantled with glacial Iacustrine sands. About one per cent of the map area is included in this area.

It should be noted that the rock formations giving rise to this highland area are of Paleozoic age (1) and therefore differ in this regard from Area I where the rocks were of Precambrian age.

The topography in Area II varies from gently rolling to rolling with the steepest slopes occurring around the outer perimeter of the area.

The soils, as mentioned above, are developed on sand. The soi1 profiles show the typical morphology of the Podzol soils of this general area. These characteristics include a bleached whitish-colored Ae horizon and a reddish brown, iron-enriched Bf horizon. Th e o owing is a description of this soi1 profile type f II in Area II:

Thickness, Horizon in inches

L-H 1

Ae 3

Descriotion


Light grey (5YR 7/1 dry), fine Sand, single grain, I oose.

36

Bf 10 Strong brown (7.5YR 5/8 dry), fine sand, single grain, I oose .

BC 20 Brownish yellow (1OYR 5/8 dry), fine sand, single grain, loose.

C at 34 inches Pale brown (IOYR 6/3 dry), fine Sand, lacustrine. bel ow surface

Area II is 44,000 acres in size. Th e soils in this section of the map sheet are extremely sandy and unsuited to agricultural development. The area has been classified as pasture and woodland.

Area III

Area III comprises about nine per cent of map sheet 74-E.

This area is of variable topography ranging from depressional to rolling. A considerable proportion of the area is covered with moss bog while the remainder consists essentially of wind blown Sand. Typi cal U-shaped and longitudinal sand dunes are a characteristic of the area.

In well-drained locations the soils are invariably Podzol profiles similar to those descri bed in previous sections of this report.

Area Ill is 287,000 acres in size. The widespread occurrence of sand suggests that this area is best suited for pasture and woodland.

Area IV

Area IV comprises 16 per cent of map sheet 74-E. This area is known locally as the Muskeg Hills. The elevation of this highland ranges from about 1,200 to 2,000 feet above sea level .

The topography in this section of the map sheet consists essentially of a long undulating to gently rolling slope from the base of the hills to an Upper plateau.

Moss bog or muskeg characterizes much of this area and it is estimated that about 70 per cent of the surface is occupied by Organic soils.

The soils of Area IV are developed from glacial till and from glacial outwash that overlies the till. The soils developed directly on till are generally Grey Wooded while the soils developed on outwash material are Podzols. The information obtained during this exploratory soi1 survey would seem to indicate that the Podzol soils developed on outwash material are of greater areal extent than the Grey Wooded soi Is deueloped on ti I I .

37

The following description is that of a Podzol soi1 developed on outwash material overlying glacial till:

Horizon

L-H

Ae

Bf

C

IIC

Thickness, in inches Description

1 Pine needle litter and moss.

2-3 Light grey (5YR 7/1 dry), Sand, single grain, loose.

10 Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), loamy Sand, single grain, I oose.

2 Yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 dry), I oamy Sand, single

grain, loose.

at 16 inches Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 dry), sandy clay loam,

below surface glacial till .

The soils developed directly on glacial till have the following description

in Area IV:

Horizon

Thi ckness, in inches Description


Ae 3 Pale brown (1OYR 6/3 dry), sandy loam, platy,

friable.

Bt 12 Brown (1OYR 5/3 dry), sandy clay loam, blocky, firm.

Ck at 16 inches Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), sandy clay loam, till,

below surface calcareous.

The till in Area IV is considerably finer textured than the ti l I found in the area to the north, that is in map sheets 74-L and 74-E. This may be accounted for on the basis of the underlying geological materials. In the northern map sheets (74-M and 74-E) the glacial materials have been derived principally from granitic and granitic-Iike rocks that give rise to coarse -textured sediments whereas the

Cretaceous rocks underlying Area IV of map sheet 74-E normally are associated

with glacial deposits of sandy clay loam and clay loam texture.

Area IV is 501,000 acres in size. The extent of moss bog together with

a fairly common occurrence of outwash sands suggests that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development and should be classified as pasture and woodland.

38

Area V

74-E. Area V comprises about seven per cent of the total area of map sheet

The topography in this section of the map sheet is predominantly depressional to undulating . Moss bog is the most prominent feature of the area and these Organi c soi Is caver an estimated 80 per cent of the area.

The minera1 soils are Minimal Podzol and Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on Iacustrine sands. It was interesting to note beach lines paralleling the contour Iines along the Upper slope of the Muskeg Hills to the east. These beach lines were found to consist of sand and fine grave1 and probably mark the Upper limit of the lake basin in the Athabasca River Valley.

The depth of the sand is quite variable and was found to overlie both sandy clay loam till and bedrock in some locations in Area V. The sand over bedrock occurs in a relatively confined area adiacent ot the Athabasca River in townships 94 and 95.

Podzols and Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on sandy materials have been described in earlier sections of this report. These descriptions are similar to and cari be applied to the soils of Area V.

Area V is about 218,000 acres in size. The area is classified as pasture and woodland owing to the widespread occurrence of moss bog and Sand.

Area VI

Six per cent of map sheet 74-E is included in Area VI. The topography in this area is generally gently rolling to rolling. There is little depressional topography in this section of the map sheet, consequently moss bog does not occur to a significant extent.

The minera1 soils are Podzols and Acid Brown Wooded soils developed on lacustrine sands. In this regard Area VI is very similar to Area V. The separation of the two areas is based mainly on factors other than the minera1 soil, namely the occurrence of moss bog in Area V and the gently rolling to rolling topography in Area VI.

Area VI is about 190,000 acres in size. The sandy soils of this area are not suited to agricultural development, therefore the area has been classified as pasture and woodland.

39

Area VII

Area VII, the largest separated area in map sheet 74-E, comprises about 24 per cent of the total area.

The topography in this area is generally rolling but varies from gently rolling to hilly. Depressional topography is of Iimited extent,consequently moss bog does not occur to a signifi tant degree in this section of the map sheet .

The soils in Area VII are for the most part Podzols and are derived principally from ice-contact deposits such as kames, eskers, and crevasse fillings. The parent materials are sandy in nature and all the soils have this common characteristic. In some places Area VII has the appearance of a drumlinized till plain and it may well be that some of the sandy material is till .

The following description is that of a Podzol soil developed on sandy outwash material examined in Area VII:



Ae 5 Light grey (5YR 7/1 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.1.

Bf 18 Reddish brown (5YR 4/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, pH 4.5.

C at 24 inches Yellowish brown (1OYR 5/6 dry), Sand, single grain, below surface loose, pH 4.8.

A review of the various Podzol soil profiles examined in Area VII shows that there is a considerable variation in respect to the depth or thickness of the horizons. For example, at a site adiacent to the above described soil the respective depths of the Ae and Bf horizons were 13 and 10 inches. The over-all depth of the various sola (A plus B horizon) does not appear to alter appreciably throughout the area but the thickness of the Ae and Bf horizons does vary, imparting a somewhat “wavy” appearance to the horizons in the soil profiles.

Area VII is about 477,000 acres in size and has been classified as pasture and woodland owing to the widespread occurrence of sand and somewhat steeply sloping relief in the area.

40

Area VIII

74-E. Area VIII comprises about 15 per cent of the total area of map sheet

The topography in Area VIII is for the most part of undulating to depressional in character. Isolated areas of gently rolling, rolling and hilly topography also occur in Area VIII but make up a comparatively small proportion of the area.

The undulating to depressional areas are characterized by the occurrence of moss bog and it is estimated that Organic soils occupy about 70 per cent of the area.

The minera1 soils of Area VIII are Podzol soils developed on sandy deposits of outwash, kame, and probably till origin. Thus these soils are similar to the soils of Area VII.

Area VIII is classified as pasture and woodland. The 477,000 acres included in this area consist for the most part of moss bog and coarse-textured sandy soils which are unsuitable for agricultural development.

Area IX

Area IX parallels the base of the Birch Mountains escarpment on the west side of the Athabasca River. The area includes about 11 per cent of map sheet 74-E.

The topography in this area consists essentially of a long undulating slope from the base of the Birch Mountains towards the Athabasca River. The range in elevation is from about 1,200 feet in the west to 900 feet above sea level along the eastern edge of the area.

The extent of moss bog and Gleysolic soils varies considerably throughout Area IX; perhaps the wettest portion of the area occurs in the northern section. Drainage from the Birch Mountains contributes in a large part to the general poor drainage conditions in much of Area IX.

The better-drained minera1 soils in Area IX are primarily Grey Wooded soils developed on both Iacustrine and till deposits. These soils are of clay loam and silty clay texture.

The following description is that of a Grey Wooded soil developed on till examined at the base of the Birch Mountains in Area IX:

41

Horizon

L-H

Ah


2

1

Description

Deciduous leaf mat, pH 5.9.

Very dark greyish brown (1OYR 3/2 dry), loam, granular, friable.

Ae 8 Light grey (1OYR 7/2 dry), sandy loam, platy, friable, pH5.1.

Bt

D

BC

13 Brown (IOYR 5/3 d ) ry , silty clay, prismatic breaking to large blocky, firm, pH 4.4.

20 Yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 dry), clay loam, massive, firm, pH 6.3.

Ck at 44 inches Light brownish grey (1OYR 6/2 dry), clay loam, till, below surface pH 7.4.

The Grey Wooded soils developed on Iacustrine sediments had the following soil profile characteristics in Area IX:

Thickness, H&i zon in inches Description

L-H 1 Deciduous I eaf I i tter.

Ael 2 Light grey (1OYR 7/2 dry), silt loam, platy, friable.

Ae2 3 Pale brown (IOYR 6/3 dry), silt loam, platy, friable.

Bt 10 Brown (lOYR5/3 dry), clay, small blocky, hard.

C at 16 inches Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 dry), clay, mottled, massive, bel ow surface occasional stone,

A separation of the Grey Wooded soils developed on till from those developed on Iacustrine sediments was not possible in Area IX because of the intimate association of the two parent materials. A similar situation was encountered in Area III of map sheet 84-H which lies adjacent fo the presently discussed area.

As mentioned earlier much of Area IX is poor1.y drained and Gleysolic soils make up a significant proportion of the soil pattern in the area. The following description of a Peaty Meadow soil is representative of some of the Gleysolic soils in this area:

42

Horizon

L-H

Ah

Bg

cg


4

3

14

Description

Peat, slightly decomposed in lower portion.

Biack (1OYR 2/1 moist), clay loam, shotty granular,

friable.

Dark grey (10YR 4/1 moist), silty clay, mottled, massive,

at 21 inches Dark grey (1OYR 4/1 moist), silty clay to clay, be I ow surface mottled, lacustrine sediments.

Area IX is 350,000 acres in size. The poorly drained characteristics

of the area suggest that the area is unsuitable for agricultural development and should be classified as pasture and woodland.

Area X

Area X represents that portion of the Birch Mountains which is found

in map sheet 74-E. In all it comprises about six per cent of the map sheet.

This area is typified by a steeply sloping escarpment of rolling to hilly topography, and a plateau area above the escarpment which varies from

gently rolling to rolling.

Area X is a relatively small area and was not examined during the course of the 1962 exploratory survey. However, this area is an extension of Area IA of map sheet 84-H which was studied in some detail in 1961 and should have similar soil characteristics.

The soils of the Birch Mountains are predominantly Grey Wooded soils developed on clay loam till and Podzol soils developed on gravelly and sandy outwash materials.

Area X of map sheet 74-E is about 187,000 acres in size. The area has been classified as pasture and woodland owing to the rough morainic topography

and relatively high elevations in this section of the map sheet,

Area Xl

Area Xl is a comparatively small area comprising about two per cent of map sheet 74-E. This area delineates the flood plain and some of the Upper terraces along the Athabasca River in the northern portion of the map sheet.

43

The topography is essentially level to depressional throughout Area Xl, but in some locations the various terrace levels are separated by short,rough, broken sl opes,

Drainage conditions vary considerably throughout this area, The lower lying terraces are extremely poorly drained and in some locations subject to periodic flooding . The Upper terraces, on the other hand, are excessively drained and

extremely dry. Moss and sedge bog caver about 30 per cent of the area.

The soils in the lower lying positions are Regosolic in character and show no horizon development beyond an accumulation of organic matter ut ihe

surface. One of the Regosolic soils was examined and described as fol lows:

Thickness,

Horizon in inches Description

I 2 Grey (1OYR 5/1 moist), silty clay loam, recently deposited alluvium.

II 6 Black (1OYR 2/1 moist), sedge peut, relatively

undecomposed.

Ill 14 Dark grey (1OYR 4/1 moist), silty clay loam, mottled, contains an occasional thin buried organic layer.

The Upper terraces along the Athabasca River are for the most part

sandy and the soils exhibit Podzolic characteristics. Si mi lar soil profi les have been described in earlier sections of this report,

Area Xl is about 58,000 acres in size. The poorly drained, somewhat flooded condition of the lower river terraces coupled with the sandy nature of the Upper terraces suggests that this area is unsuitable for agricultural development. The area, therefore, has been classified as pasture and woodland.

Summary

in each of the A summary of the acreage

sheet 74-E is given in table V.

land rating categories for map

Alberta Map Sheet 73-L (north half)

There are numerous lakes in the north half of map sheet 73-L but perhaps

the best known are Lac la Biche and Cold Lake. The former is located in the north-

western corner of the map area while the latter is found in the southeastern section. This area is relatively unsettled with the only maior settlement being at the Town of Lac la Biche. Scattered agricultural communities are located in the vicinities of Craigend, Garth, and Cold Lake.

44

Table V. Land rating classification for map sheet 74-E

Area Arable, Dou btful , Pasture and Woodland, Water,

acres acres acres acres

Area I 65,000

Area I I 44,000

Area I II 287,000

Area IV 501,000

Area V 218,000

Area VI 190,000

Area VII 755,000

Area VIII 477,000

Area IX 350,000

Area X 187,000

Area Xl 58,000

McClelland Lake 8,000

Tota I 3,132,OOO 8,000

Area I

Area I is one of the larger separated areas in map sheet 73-L (north half) and comprises about 38 per cent of the total area.

This area is characterized for the most part by depressional to gently

rolling topography with only occasional small areas of rolling and hilly topography.

Moss bog occurs to a significant extent in Area I and it is estimated that about 50 per cent of the total area is occupied by Organic soils. The remainder consists for the most part of sandy outwash material that overlies glacial till. The depth of the outwash sands is quite variable and ranges from less than a foot to

several feet or more,

The soils developed on the sandy outwash are Podzols. The following is a description of one such soil examined in Area 1:

45

Horizon


L-H

Ae

1

6

Bfl 12

Bf2 8

C at 27 inches

below surface

Pine needle litter.

Light grey (5YR 7/1 dry), Sand, single grain, loose,

gravelly.

Reddish brown (5YR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, gravelly.

Yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6 dry), Sand, single grain, loose, gravelly.

Sand and gravelly outwash.

Area I is about 675,000 acres in size. The occurrence of moss bog and sandy soils makes this area unsuitable for agricultural development,consequently it has been classified as pasture and woodland.

Area IIA

Area IIA is the largest separated area in map sheet 73-L and comprises about 49 per cent of the total area.

The topography in Area IIA is extremely variable, consisting essentially of gently rol ling to rolling knol Is with short steep-sided slopes. Moss bog does not occur to a significant extent in this section of the map sheet and comprises less than 20 per cent of the total area.

The soils in Area IIA are principally Grey Wooded soils developed on glacial till. However, it is typical of morainic areas to have some outwash material associated with the till and such is the case in Area IIA. The soils developed on the coarse-textured outwash material in this area are generally Podzol soils.

A Grey Wooded soil developed on till examined in Area IIA had the following description:

Thickness, Horizon in inches Descriotion


Ael 2

Ae2 3

Light grey (1OYR 7/2 dry), sandy loam, platy, friable.

Pale brown (1OYR 6/3 dry), sandy loam, platy, friable.

46

AB 2 Brown (1OYR 5/3 dry), clay loam, small subangular blocky, firm.

Bt 10 Light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4 dry), clay loam to clay, subangular blocky, slightly hard.

BC 5 Greyish brown (10YR 5/2 dry), clay loam, massive, slightly hard.

Ck at 23 inches Greyish brown (1OYR 5/2 dry), clay toam, till. below surface

The depth to free lime carbonate is extremely variable in the above described soi1 types and the carbonate may occur anywhere from two to six feet below the surface.

The Grey Wooded soils in this area generally possess Ae horizons that cari be separated into an Upper Iight greyish colored Ael horizon and a lower pale brown Ae2 horizon. The exact significance of this color change is not clearly understood but it has been suggested that the Upper Ael horizon is indicative of .the initial stages of podzolization in these soils.

Area IIA is about 880,000 acres in size. This area has been delineated to include all three land rating categories, namely, potential arable, doubtful arable, and pasture and woodland. The potential arable land amounts to about 456,000 acres and includes that portion of the area in which the topography is not too steeply sloping for cultivation. The doubtful arable land, about 224,000 acres, denotes areas in which some land suitable for cultivation is intimately mixed with unsuitable land while the pasture and woodland includes the steeply sloping land and the poorly drained areas that are characterized by the occurrence of moss bog. The pasture and woodland area comprises about 85,000 acres. It should be noted also that some small areas of coarse-textured soils, that are unsuitable for cultivation, occur within the potential arable area. However, the scale of happing employed for this survey was such that the smaller areas could not be delineated. A more detailed soi1 survey would enable the separation of the coarse-textured sandy soils SO that they could be given a lower soi1 rating than the remainder of the area.

Area IIB

Area IIB is found in the southwestern portion of the map area and comprises about four per cent of the total area.

The topography in Area IIB consists essentially of undulating to gently rolling till ridges that show a distinct northwest-southeast Iineation. The inter- ridge depressional areas are characterized for the most part by Meadow soils and sedge bog .

47

Dark Grey Wooded and Grey Wooded soils developed on ti I I are the principal better drained soils in Area IIB. The fairly common occurrence of Dark Grey Wooded soils is the main reason for separating Area IIB from Area IIA. The following soi1 profile description is that of one such Dark Grey Wooded examined in Area IIB:

Horizon

L-H


3

Ah 3

Ae 6

BA 3

Bt 14

C at 29 inches Brown (10YR 5/3 dry) and dark yellowish brown (IOYR below surface 4/4 moist), loam, till, some stones, pH 4.9.

The lower-lying topographie positions are characterized by the occurrence

Description

Deciduous leaf litter, fairly well decomposed in lower 2 inches, pH 6.3.

Very dark grey (10YR 3/1 moist), silt loam, granular, friable, pH 6.5.

Light grey (10YR 7/2 dry) and brown (10YR 5/3 moisr), silt loam, platy, friable, pH 6.1.

Brown (1OYR 5/3 dry) and Iight yellowish brown (1OYR 6/4 moist), loam, medium subangular blocky, friable, pH 6.0.

Brown (IOYR 5/3 dry) and yellowish brown (1OYR 5/4 moist), sandy clay loam, weak prismatic breaking to medium blocky, firm, pH 5.9.

of Gleysolic and Organic soils. A Meadow soi I examined in Area II B had the following soi1 profile description:


L-H 2 Mixed sedge peat and deciduous leaf litter, pH 6.0.

Ah 5 Black (10YR 2/1 moist), loam, granular, friable, pH 6.1.

AB 4 Dark grey (10YR 4/1 moist), silty clay, small subangular blocky, friable, pH 6.5.

51 12 Yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6 moist), silty clay, mottled, medium subangular blocky, friable, pH 6.5.

48

,Bg2 10 Brown (10YR 4/3 moist), silty clay, mottled, medium subangular blocky, friable, pH 6.9.

Ck at 33 inches Brown (1OYR 413 moist), sandy clay loam, till, below surface calcareous, pH 7.5.

Area IIB is about 73,000 acres in size. The soils and topography in

this section of the map sheet are suited to agricultural development and the area has been classified as potential arable land. A considerable proportion of Area IIB has, in fact, been farmed for some time.

Area Ill

Area Ill comprises about seven per cent of the mapped portion of map sheet 73-L.

This area appears to be a former spillway of the Sand River and is characterized by the occurrence of coarse-textured outwash deposits adiacent to the present stream course. In the southern portion of the area some of the outwash sands have been reworked by wind into longitudinal and U-shaped dunes.

The topography is extremely variable and ranges from undulating to rolling. The soils are for the most part Podzols. The following description is that

of one such soil profile:

Horizon

L-H

Ae

Bf

BC

C


2

4

Pine needle litter.

Pinkish white (5YR 8/2 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

3 Reddish brown (5YR 5/4 dry), Sand, single grain, I oose.

14 Yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6 dry), sand, single grain, I oose .

at 23 inches Pale brown (1OYR 613 dry), outwash sand. below surface

The coarse-textured samdy soils commonl y found in Area III are unsuitable for agricultural developnent and the area has been classified as pasture and woodland. About 126,000 acres are included in this area.

49

Area IV

Area IV is the smallest area separated in map sheet 73-L and comprises less than one per cent of the map area.

This area is characterized by gently rolling to rolling sandy knolls that are separated by moss and sedge bog. The soils developed on the coarse-textured sandy outwash material are for the most part Podzols. The following description is that of one such soil examined in this area:

Horizon

L-H

Ah

Ae

Bfl

Bf2

C


1

1

2

10

14

Description

Pine needle Iitter.

Light grey (10YR 7/2 moist), Sand, single grain, loose.

Pink (7.5YR 7/4 moist), Sand, single grain, loose.

Strong brown (7.5YR 5/6 moist), Sand, single grain, I oose .

Reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8 moist), Sand, single grain, I oose.

at 28 inches Light yellowish brown (2.5YR 6/4 moist), Sand. below surface

Area IV is about 13,000 acres in size. The occurrence of sandy soils and moss bog suggests that this area is suitable only for pasture and woodland.

Su mmary

A summary of the acreage in each of the land rating categories for map sheet 73-L (north half) is given in table VI.

Some Chemi cal and Physical Characteristi cs of Representative Soi I Profi les

A number of soils were sampled in the survey area and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The analyses serve a twofold purpose. They assist in the classification of the soils and at the same time give some indication of the pro- ductive capacity 6f the soils.

Table VII shows some chemical and physical data for four soil profiles sampled in the survey area. In general, the nitrogen content is highest at the surface and decreases with depth in all soils. There is a pronounced decrease in the amount of this constituent from the L and Ah horizons to the Ae and B horizons.

50

Table VI. Land rating classification for map sheet 73-L (north half)

Area Arable, Dou btful , Pasture and Woodl and, Water, acres acres acres acres

Area I 656,000 15,000

Area IIA 456,000 224,000 85,000 115,000

Area IIB 73,000

Area Ill 126,000

Area IV 13,000

Total 529,000 224,000 880,000 130,000

The lowest nitrogen contents encountered occur in Profile 2, a Podzol soi1 from the Precambrian Shield region,

The organic carbon content of the soils follows a somewhat similar pattern to that of nitrcgen in that it is highest at the surface and decreases with depth. The analyses indicate that the B horizons of the Podzol soils are not characterized by an accumulation of humus.

The carbon-nitrogen ratios are highest in the surface horizon. It is generally considered that where the carbon-nitrogen ratio is above 15:l the nitrogen becomes unavai lable for plant growth. On this basis, it would appear that generally the nitrogen is not available for plant growth in the surface horizons of the soi1 profiles analyzed for this report. The nitrogen levels, with the possible exception of Profile 1, are extremely low and give some indication as to the relative unfertile nature of these soils in northeastern Alberta.

As mentioned in earlier sections of this report, sandy soils characterize a large proportion of the area covered by the 1962 exploratory soi1 survey. Profiles 2, 3, and 4 are representative of these soils and it cari be seen from the particle size distribution analyses, shown in table VII, that the sand fraction is predominant. Profile 2 is typical of most of the soils of the Precambrian Shield area and it is seen that the various horizons in the soil profile contain less than one per cent clay, about two to nine per cent silt, and 91 to 98 per cent Sand. A fractionation of this sand indicates that the medium to fine sand fractions predominate with only a trace of either very fine or very coarse sand being present in this profile. Profile 1, a Dark Grey Wooded soil, is fairly typical of this group of soils since it shows an eluviation or removal of clay from the Ae horizon with a subsequent accumulation of this material in the Bt horizon.

51

There is a wide range in soi1 reaction in the four soit profiles shown in table VII. The Podzol soi1 profile, Profile 2, is the most acidic of the soils analyzed, ranging from extremely acid at the surface to very strongly acid in the subsoil. The absence of lime carbonate in the granitic materials of this area is undoubtedly one of the factors contributing to the extreme acidic reactions in this soi1 profile. The Minimal Podzol and Acid Brown Wooded soi1 profiles are acidic in the sola but become alkaline in the parent materials. The Dark Grey Wooded soi1 profile has a slightly to medium acidic solum and a very strongly acidic parent material. Generally, in Alberta this latter group of soils is typified by an acidic solum but the underlying parent material is usually somewhat alkaline in reaction.

The calcium carbonate equivalent analysis confirms the field observa- tion that free lime carbonate occurs in the parent materials of Profiles 3 and 4 but is absent in Profiles 1 and 2. The amount of this constituent, however, is not abnormally high in either of the profiles in which it is present.

Table VIII shows the total cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations, and base saturation percentage for the four soi1 profiles.

The total cation exchange capacity closely parallels that of the clay and organic matter content in all profiles. The Dark Grey Wooded and Acid Brown Wooded soils are the finest textured profiles and possess the highest total exchange capacities whereas the Minimal Podzol and Podzol soils are extremely coarse- textured and exhibit the lowest cation exchange capacities.

The base-saturation data indicate a high base status in three of the four soi1 profiles. The fourth, a Podzol soi1 from the Precambrian Shield area, has a relatively low base-saturation percentage of 42 and 45 in the Ae and Bf horizons. These percentages are somewhat lower than the average for Podzol soils in Alberta, a feature which may again be attributed, in part at least, to the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the sandy outwash materials associated with the Precambrian Shield.

In the field the morphology of Profiles 3 and 4 suggest a minimal degree of soi1 development since distinct eluvial and illuvial horizons are not strongly expressed in the soi1 profiles. This fact is borne out by the base-saturation percentages which are over 90 in most horizons. The eluviated Ae horizon of the Minimal Podzol soi1 has a base saturation of 65 per cent which indicates the loss through leaching of some bases.

The Wood Buffalo Park region of northeastern Alberta is characterized by sandy soils that have a reddish chroma in the soi1 solum. This coloration is generally associated with Acid Brown Wooded and Podzol soils and is attributed to the translocation and accumulation of iron in the B horizon. However, the soils of this region are also characterized by an excessively high base saturation which is more typical of Brown Wooded and Degraded Brown Wooded soi 1s. Thus a soi1 classification problem arises in distinguishing among these groups of soils in this area.

52

A Iimited number of iron determinations have been made on these soi 1s and the data obtained indicate a movement of iron from the Upper to lower B horizon in the Acid Brown Wooded soils,amounting to about 1.2 per cent. It would appear, therefore, that on the basis of present knowledge there is justification for classifying these soils as Acid Brown Wooded and Minimal Podzols regardless of the base saturation status.

53

Table VII. Soi1 reaction (pH), organic carbon, nitrogen, carbon-nitrogen ratio, calcium carbonate equivalent, and particle size distribution of some representative soi1 profiles

Organi c Sand Silt Thickness, carbon Nitrcgen C/N

CaC03 Clay equiv. 2.0-0.05 mm., 0.05-0.002 mm., < 0.002 mm.,

Horizon in inches PH % % ratio % % % %

Profile 1 - (3.2.2.) Dark Grey Wooded, loam (29-65-13 W.4)

L-H 3 6.3 1.74 0.736 2 Ah 3 6.0 13.11 0.514 25 Ae 6 6.1 0.58 0.048 12 BA 3 6.0 0.51 0.047 11 Bt 14 5.9 0.45 0.040 11 C at 29 inches 4.9 0.0

below surface Profile 2 - : L-H 1 (9.4.2.) Podzol, sand (27-108-l W.4)

4.0 4.49 0.094 47 Ae 5 3.8 0.11 0.007 15 Bf 14 4.7 0.05 0.004 14 C at 20 inches 4.5 0.01 0.0

below surface Profile 3 - (9.6.2.) M animal Podzol, sand (18-118-10 W.4) L 1 4.6 22.61 0.297 76 Aëj 1 4.6 1.39 0.038 37 Bf 4 6.7 0.43 0.017 25 BC 9 7.3 Ck at 15 inches 7.5 3.70

below surface Profile 4 - (5.5.2.) Acid B rown Wooded, sandy loam (30-119-9 W.4) L-H 2 6.8 15.49 0.443 36 Bmf 1 8 6.4 0.89 0.047 19 Bmf 2 7 6.2 0.47 0.039 12 BCk 7 6.8 5.83 Ck at 24 inches 7.6 10.30

below surface

36 51 13 35 56 9 43 37 20 46 33 21 39 43 18

97 3 0 98 2 1 91 9 1

74 21 5 74 21 5 89 6 5 93 3 4

41 47 12 49 43 8 59 35 6 60 33 7

Table VIII. Total cation exchange capacity by determination and by summation, exchangeable cations, and percentage base saturation for some representative soil profiles

Total exchange capaci ty Base Thickness, Deter. Sum. m.e./lOO gms. sat.,

Horizon in inches m.e./lOO gms. m.e./lOO gms. Ca Mg K Na H %

Profile 1 - (3.2.2.) Dark Grey Wooded, loam (29-65-13 W.4) L-H 3 Ah 3 53.2 71.5 Ae 6 7.4 10.1 BA 3 14.6 17.8 Bt 14 14.6 18.3 C at 29 inches 13.3 16.9

below surface g Profile 2 - (9.4.2.) Podzol, sand (27-108-l W.4)

L-H 1 14.0 11.8

Ae 5 0.5 1.2 Bf 14 0.5 0.9 C at 20 inches 0.1 0.3

below surface Profile 3 - (9.6.2.) M inimal Podzol, sand (18-l 18-10 W.4) L 1 Aq 1 6.5 7.4 Bf 4 5.5 7.0 BC 9 4.8 6.9 Ck at 15 inches

below surface Profile 4 - (5.5.2.)Acid Brown Wooded, sandy loam (30-119-9 W.4) L-H 2 Bmf 1 8 11.0 12.0 Bmf 2 7 7.7 10.4 BCk 7’ 5.7 18.2

Ck at 24 inches 3.3 below surface

61.5 6.5 0.8 8.2 0.8 0.2

14.0 2.8 0.2 13.5 3.6 0.4 11.6 3.6 0.2

3.5 0.5 0.2 0.2

4.0 5.3 5.8

9.0 7.5

17.0

0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.7 0.9 0.7

1.5 1.9 1.1

0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.1 0.1 0.1

1.0 0.2 0.1

0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2

0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0

0.0 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 0.0

2.3 98 0.8 90 0.8 96 0.8 96 1.3 92

7.6 36 0.7 42 0.5 45 0.1 67

2.6 65 0.6 92 0.2 97

0.5 0.8

96 92

100

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

References Cited

Carrigy, M.A., (1959): Geology of the McMurray Formation; Res. Coun. Alberta Memoir 1, 130 pages.

Day, J.H., and Leahey, A., (1957): Reconnaissance soi1 survey of the Slave River Lowland in the Northwest Territories of Canada; Experi- mental Farm Service, Canada Dept. of Agriculture, 44 pages.

Godfrey, J.O., (1958): A erial photographie interpretation of Precambrian structures north of Lake Athabasca; Res. Coun. Alberta Bull. 1, 19 pages.

Government of Canada (1956): CI imatic summaries; Meteor. Division, Dept. Transport, Toronto, Vol. III, 94 pages.

(1959): CI’, t’ rma IC summaries; Experimental Farm, Res, Br., Fort Vermilion, Alberta (pers, Comm.).

(1960): Meteorological observations in Canada; Meteor. Division, Dept . Transport, Toronto.

Lindsay, J.O., Pawluk, S., and Odynsky, W., (1961): Exploratory soil survey of Alberta map sheets 84-P, 84-l, and 84-H; Res. Coun. Alberta Prel im. Soi I Survey Rept. 62-1, 55 pages.

Moss, E.H., (1953): Marsh and b og vegetation in northwestern Alberta; Canada J. Bot., Vol. 31, p. 448-470.

Odynsky, W., Wynnyk, A., and Newton, J.O., (1956): Soil survey of the Grande Prairie and Sturgeon Lake sheets; Res. Coun. Alberta Rept. 74, 111 pages.

Si&s, H., (1961): Surface patterns in boreal peatlands; Endeavour, Vol, XX, No. 80, p. 217-224.

Wyatt, F.A., Doughty, J.L., and Younge, O.R., (1930): Preliminary soil survey of the Fort Vermilion district; Res. Coun. Alberta (unpublished).

Wyatt, F.A., Newton, J. D., Bowser, W.E., and Odynsky, W., (1944): Soi l survey of Wainwright and Vermi lion sheets; Univ. of Alberta, Col 1. of Agriculture Bull. 42, 122 pages.

56

APPEN DIX

SURFICIA L GEOLOGY

bY

L. A. Bayrock

Map Sheets 74E, L, and M

Bedrock

The bedrock of the area is variable, ranging from granites and gneisses to unconsolidated shales and sandstones. The granites and gneisses of the Canadian Shield outcrop east of the Slave River and north of Lake Athabasca and also in a small area in map sheet 74E in townships 100 to 101, ranges 3 to 5,west of the 4th Meridian. Athabasca Sandstone overlying the granites covers a large area south of Lake Athabasca and east of the Athabasca River in map sheets 74E and 74L. The extent of the Athabasca Formation has been outlined by Blake (1956) and Fahrig (1961). The Canadian Shield granites are also overlain by Devonian Iimestone, dolomite, and gypsum, outcrops of which may be found along the Peace, Slave and Athabasca Rivers. The extent and character of these formations are detailed by Govett (1961) and C arrigy (1959). In the remainder of the area, mainly map sheets 74E and small parts of 74L and M, Devonian strata are overlain by unconsolidated sandstones and shales of Cretaceous age. These sediments form the Muskeg and Birch Mountains and underlie the adjacent lowlands. It is believed that variable thicknesses of Tertiary gravels in places protected the underlying soft bedrock from preglacial erosion and thus produced the Muskeg and the Birch Mountains.

In preglacial times the land surface of the area was nearly level, except for the Birch and Muskeg Mountains,which formed large erosion remnanis in the shape of table mountains.

Surficial Deposits

Surficial deposits overlying the bedrock of the area cari be divided into two main groups: (a) those composed mainly of Sand, and (b) those composed mainly of silt and clay. The general distribution of the deposits is shown in figure 4.

The sand deposits are made up mainly of medium - to fine-grained Sand. TOn the basis of variations in texture and genesis, the sand deposits are classified into five main groups: outwash Sand, lacustrine Sand, deltaic Sand, alluvial sand, and aeolian Sand.

Outwash Sand covers large areas of map sheets 73E and L. It is usually medium-grained sand with minor amounts of gravel. Small pebbles are found commonly in it. The topography of the outwash sand is gently rolling to rolling,

57

NORTHWEST ‘TERRITORIES

LEGEND

RECENT

m) : New delta: clay.silt,and Sand

II::‘. Old delta: mainly sand

PLEISTOCENE

l!zDi Glocio-lacustrinecloyandsilt.m~norsond.ove~ly~ngtill

m Glacio-locustrinesond:puretocloyeysondoverlying till

lc\v 0utwosh:mainlysandwithoccasionol pebbles.minorgravel

I : TIII clay.sllt.ond sand wthminor grave1

PRECAMBRIAN

lzzl Conodlon Shbeld rocks:granite,gneiss ondmetasediments

Scale in Mlles 10 0 10 20 30 40 50

Figure4,Surficial deposits of MapSheets 74 E, L, and M

58

and the landforms are of ice-contact and stagnant-ice type, comprising moulin kames, crevasse fillings and occasional eskers. In general the outwash sand may be classified as having kame-moraine topography. Frontal outwash plains are very rare, but small pitted outwash plains were observed in a few places.

Generally the till of any area is composed of up to 80 per cent local bedrock. In this respect the outwash sand presents a problem in that some of it could be the normal till of the area. Athabasca Sandstone is the main bedrock type south of Lake Athabasca, and thus any till present in that area should theoreticaliy be composed predominantly of Sand, Whether or not the outwash sand with pebbles is actually till could not be determined in the field because of the absence of good exposures.

Lacustrine sand is approximately of the same composition as the outwash Sand, except for the absence of pebbles and the presence of a greater percentage of silt and clay. Lacustrine sand has a level to gently rolling topography and is found as a westward extension of the outwash Sand. It occurs mainly in the area of map sheet 73E,’ small patches of it are also present in the other two map-areas. In general, the Iacustrine sand overlies till, but because of the lack of outcrops it could not be determined whether this relationship holds throughout the area.

Deltaic sands of the area are of postglacial origin. There are two major deltas present: an old delta and a new delta. The old delta is the delta of the Athabasca and Peace Rive,rs,which covers a large area of map sheets 74E, L, and M. It contains two main areas of deltaic sands: one extends from the mouth of the Muskeg River and not-thwards to Lake Athabasca. On the west it is bounded by the Birch Mountains and on the east by outwash sand and lacustrine Sand. In the notih these old-delta deposits are in contact with the new-delta deposit. The second area of old-delta sands lies west of the Slave River and north of Lake Claire.

In mechanical composition the old-delta deposits are similar to ouiwash sand deposi ts, except in that they contain Athabasca oil sand pebbles, occasional pieces of wood and some pebbles derived from the south. Very good topset, foreset and bottomset bedding is exposed in this deposit along the Athabasca River south of the Muskeg River. From Iithology and bedding it is evident that the sediments were brought in from the south, at least in the southern portion of the delta. No good sections were observed west of the Slave River.

The old-delta deposits lie up to 100 feet above the Athabasca and Slave River water levels, signifying a marked change in the base level of the Athabasca River, perhaps due to a lowering of the water level of Lake Athabasca.

Recent alluvial sands are present along the water courses of the Slave River and the Athabasca Rivers. They are small in extent and usually contain pockets and areas of grave1 and silt.

59

Aeolian sand overlies most of the outwash, lacustrine and old-delta sands. AII of the Sand dunes are of the semi-arid type, comprising U-shaped dunes, blowouts, migrating dunes and longitudinal dunes. Fish-hook dunes are well developed on the old-delta sands. Most of the Sand dunes at present are stabilized by vegetation except for occasional blowouts and two very large migrating Sand dunes east of the Athabasca River in map sheet 74L. The stabilized Sand dunes show an effective wind direction from the southeast, whereas the new active blowout and the migrating Sand dunes are maintained by winds from west-northwest. A drastic change in climate is also indicated by the deflation basins of the old, stabilized Sand dunes which are now filled by muskeg or water. It may be stated that the old, stabilized Sand dunes were formed in a drier climate thon the present, when the water table was much lower thon at present. The effective wind direction of that time was much different to that of today.

Clay and silt-rich sediments in the area form the following: till, glacio- Iacustrine, new-delta, and bottomland or recent lacustrine deposits. The till is found on the surface on the Muskeg Mountains and the Birch Mountains. Also it is present under glacio-lacustrine deposits in the Athabasca River valley. In mechanical composition the till is made up of about equal proportions of clay, silt and Sand, with about 5 per cent of the total being gravel. Where til I is exposed on the surface it has usually hummocky dead-ice moraine topography.

Glacio-lacustrine deposits of predominantly silt and clay composition mantle the lowland west of the Athabasca River. The topography of the area is level to gently rol ling . No beaches have been found associated with these lake deposits.

The new delta of the Peace River and the Athabasca River is made of varying quantities of clay, silt and Sand. It is positioned about from 50 to 100 feet lower thon the old delta of the Athabasca River. The materials of this delta were not examined in detail because most of the surface was covered by water.

Recent deposits of silt, clay, and organic materials fil1 most of the closed depressions of the area. Muskeg development is considerable.

Grave1 deposits of the area form only a small fraction of the total. They are either isolated occurrences of glacio-fluvial origin or fillings of former stream courses. Such former courses of the Athabasca River are present at higher elevations in the southwest corner of map sheet 74E.

The Canadian Shield, north of Lake Athabasca, is essentially bore of surficial deposits and rock outcrops form as much as 95 per cent of the surface in many places.

Glacial and Recent History

No evidence of multiple glaciation was observed in the area. During the Wisconsin glacial period the Keewatin tenter continental glacier advanced over

60

the area from the east-northeast and northeast, as judged by the flutings and drumlins produced on soft bedrock in the Birch and Muskeg Mountains and by the striae on graniti c rocks north of Lake Athabasca. The glacier during the Wisconsin maximum was probably of the order of one mile in thickness, as it not only covered all the hills in the area but it also overran the Swan Hills in central Alberta which are over 4,000 feet high. The glacier covered the area earlier than 31,000 years ago, as it covered Smoky Lake district in central Alberta (McCallum and Dyck, 1960) prior to that time.

The retreat of the glacier was probably expressed firstly by a general Iowering of the ice surface and the exposure of the large erosion remnants - the Birch and Muskeg Mountains - as nunataks above the ice surface. Continued Iowering of the glacier surface finally produced stagnant-ice conditions in the area north and east of the Muskeg Mountains, and large ice-marginal lakes to the west of them. The lake levels were constantly being lowered as new and lower outlets for the melt- waters became available. The rapid Iowering of the levels of the ice-marginal lakes accounts for the fact that there are hardly any beaches associated with them. Ice- marginal lake regions in the proximity of the glacier received coarser sediments than did the distal parts; consequently, west of the Athabasca River the glacio-Iacustrine deposits are composed mainly of silt and clay, and east of the river, closer to the ice, sand was deposited.

After the ultimate retreat of the ice from the area the water level of Lake Athabasca was much higher than it is at present, and a high-level delta was deposited from the Athabasca River. Probably at this time the delta west of the SI ave River devel oped . The old delta of the Athabasca River apparently received relatively rapid sedimentation from fast-flowing water, as sand of medium to coarse grain-size is its main constituent.

Next the water level of Lake Athabasca dropped and the new delta was deposited at a lower elevation from the Peace and Athabasca Rivers. The new delta is being deposited from relatively slower-flowing waters and its composition differs from that of the old delta, large quantities of silt and clay being present in these more recent deposi ts .

After the establishment of the new delta the climate became warmer and drier, as indicated by the presence of numerous sand dunes, now stabilized by vegetation. The effective wind direction for the formation of these dunes was from the southeast. A general deterioration of the climate followed, with stabilization of the dunes by vegetation. Also, the effective wind direction changed and at present i t is from the west-northwest . The filling up of the closed depressions with silt, clay, muck and organic material took place during this time.

Map Sheet 73-L (north half)

The bedrock of the area is composed of slightly consolidated to unconsolidated bentonitic shales and sandstones of Late Cretaceous age.

61

Most of the map area is underlain by till of clay loam to loam composition. The topography on the till is from gently rolling to rolling, and the deposits may be classified as intermediate to hummocky dead-ice moraine,

Glacial outwash mantles a large part of the eastern half of the area. It consists mainly of medium-grained sand with minor amounts of pebbles. The outwash may attain considerable thickness, as it effectively obscures any topography of the underlying til I ,

A large glacial spillway, extending in a north-south direction, is positioned in the tenter of the area; its floor is of outwash Sand.

Aeolian activity was of very minor importance in the area, as no large Sand-dune fields are present.

The glacial and recent history of the area cannot be reconstructed because of meagre field data and lack of information from adjacent districts which as yet have not been mapped.

References Cited

Blake, D. A. W. (1956): G eo o ical notes on the region south of Lake Athabasca I g and Black Lake, Saskatchewan and Alberta; Geol . Sut-v. Can. Paper 55-33, 12 pages.

Carrigy, M. A. (1959): Geology of the McMurray Formation; Res. Coun. Alberta Mem. 1, 130 pages.

Fahrig, W. F. (1961): Th e geology of the Athabasca Formation; Geol, Sut-v. Can. Bull. 68, 41 pages.

Govett, G. J. S. (1961): 0 ccurrence and stratigraphy of some gypsum and anhydrite deposits in Alberta; Res. Coun . Alberta, Bull. 7, 62 pages.

McCallum, K. J. and Dyck, W. (1960): U niversity of Saskatchewan radiocarbon dates II; Am. Jour. Sci. Radiocarbon Suppl, No. 2, p. 76.

62

PRELIMINARY SOIL SURVEY AND RATIN-G MAP OF THE

ALBERTA SHEET 74-E

SO,, mformation by Alberta Rerearch Counc,l of Alberta. ktehcapter Project - 1962

LEGEND

Bore mop rupplied by Technccol Diviswn, Oepartment of Landr and Forertr,

Prwmce of Alberta.

Level and Undulating Topography Gently Rolling Topogrophy. H -::=

Pasture ond Woodlond El Rolling Topogrophy. Hilly Topography ‘1: ::” Rough Broken Land . . ..I

63

PRELIMINARY SOIL SURVEY AND RATING MAP OF THE ALBERTA SHEET 74-L

So~t information by Alberta Sa,1 Survey, Rerearch Councit of Alberta. Hoticopter Project - 1962

Preporrd by Rerearch Counr,l of Alberta. Edmonton - 1962, Bore mop iupptwd by Technical Diwion.

Oepartment of Landr ond Forertr. Provmce of Atbrrfa

LEGEND

Level ond Unduloting Topography Gently Rolling Topography .,

Pasture and Woodlond El Rolling Topography

B

Hilly Topography.

Rough Broken Land f%j

Nntmnnl Park Boundory -.Y=

64

PRELIMINARY SOIL SURVEY AND RATING MAP OF THE ALBERTA SHEET 74-M

60

TP.1

Tp.l2!

Tp.12~

Tp.12;

Tp.122

Tp.12 I 30’

Tp.120

Tp. Il9

TP. Il8

Tp.117

Tp.115’ 59”oo 1

112’ “R.12 R.I I R.10 30’R .9 R.8 R.7 t I l’00’R~6 R.5 R.4 “’ R.3 R.2 R.I ”

126

p.125

p.124

‘p.l 23

:p.122

TP.12 l 80’

TP.120

TP.1 19

Tp.lI8

TP.1 17

Tp.116

Tp.115 59’00’

>CV

inlormatmn by Alberta So~l Survey. earch Counc,l of Alberta. scapter Pmject - 1962

Prepared by Rerearch Counul of Albert.,, Edmonton - 196 Base map rupplied by Technical D~is;<

Deportment of Landr and Forer Prwnce of Alber

LEGEND

Level and Undulatmg Topogrophy. 0 Gently Rolling Topogrophy ..,

Pasture and Woodland... 0 Rolling Topography Hilly Topography : Rough Broken Land .,m National Park Boundory ?!!??.:?!Z

65

PRELIMINARY SOIL SURVEY AND RATING MAP ALBERTA SHEET 73-L INORTH HALFI

R.13 R.I.2 R.I I “’ R.IO R.9 R. 6 R.6 R.5 R.43” R.3 R.2 R.I

LEGEND

Posture ond Woodland 0 Level ond Undulatmg Topography

Doubtful Arable Land. ..n Gently Rolling Topography . ..m Rollmg Topography

Potentm Arable Land. - Hilly Topography. Rough Broken Land.

66

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