Peat Deposits of 

Southeastern New York

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1317-B

Peat Deposits of 

Southeastern New York

By CORNELIA C. CAMERON

STUDIES I N PEAT

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1317-B

The use of physical characteristics 

of peat and geologic settings of the 

deposits as guides to peat resources

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1970
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

William T. Pecora, Director

Library of Congress catalog-card No. 71-608545

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing: Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 25 cents (Paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract.................................................................................................................... Bl

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1

General nature and use of peat.............................................................. 1

Scope of report and acknowledgments................ .................................... 3

Composition and physical properties of peat.. ................................................ 3

Water-holding capacity ............................................................................... 6

Organic and ash content. .................................................................. 6

Formulas for obtaining moisture, organic, and ash content.. ... 7

Fiber content .... ................................... ...................................................... 7

Moisture content ........................................................................................... 8

Acidity ................................................. ..... ........................................... 8

Commercial classifications of peat.................................................................. 8

Formation and accumulation of peat deposits ............ ....... .. ................. 12

Conditions required for the accumulation of peat................................... 12

Climatic environment ............................................................................ 12

Topographic environment and vegetation cover.............................. 12

History and stratigraphy of peat deposits..... ......................................... 13

Rate of deposition .......................................................................................... 16

Geology of southeastern New York deposits..... ............................................. 17

Regional geology and physiography ................................................... 17

Classification of peat deposits..................................................................... 18

Resources .... .. ................................................................................................. 19

Relation of quantity and quality of peat to geologic setting. ......... 28

Peat mining ............ .............................................................................................. 29

Suggestions for peat exploration......... ..... .......... ...................................... 30

Outlook for the area ............ .. ..... .......................................................... 31

References . . ................................................................................... 31

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

FIGURE 1. Physiographic setting and area of study in southeastern New

York . ................................... ............. .......................................... B2

2. Index map of study area in southeastern New York, showing 

7%-minute quadrangles and locations of peat deposits and 

peat mines ......................... ... .............. ......... .............. . 4

3. Chart showing relation of fiber size to organic content in samples from 66 deposits in southeastern New York ........ ..... 11

4. Chart showing relation of fiber size to water-holding capacity

in samples from 66 deposits in southeastern New York....... 11

ill
IV CONTENTS

Page

FIGURE 5. Diagrammatic sketches showing stages in the development of

peat ...... .............................. ............--.....-- .......--..-.--..--..-....- B15

6. Percentage of peat deposits according to class of basin of

accumulation . .. .... ... . ... ........................................... .... 19

7. Chart showing relation between area of deposit and average

thickness of peat in 66 deposits in southeastern New York.... 20

8. Tonnage of commercial quality peat according to class of basin

of accumulation . ... .... .. .. . ..... ... ....................... 29

TABLES

Page

TABLE 1. Estimated resources of peat in southeastern New York summarized by county . ........... ... .. ............ .................................... B19

2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of sampled

intervals .................. ..... ................ ........................................... 20

3. Extent, thickness, and quality of representative samples of peat

deposits in southeastern New York ....... ........................... ..... 27

4. Quality of peat in southeastern New York, summarized by

county .. .... ... ............... ....... ......................................... .............. 28
STUDIES IN PEAT

PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN 

NEW YORK

By CORNELIA C. CAMERON

ABSTRACT

Peat resources of 66 undeveloped deposits investigated in southeastern New 

York are estimated at 11,500,000 short tons of air-dried peat, mostly of good 

quality reed-sedge type. Most of the deposits in the upland areas are 10-100 

acres in extent, average 5-15 feet in thickness, and contain 10,000-100,000 

tons each on an air-dried basis. Deposits in the lowlands, although less numerous, are as much as 1,250 acres in area and as much as 25 feet in average 

thickness; a few contain more than 2 million tons of air-dried peat.

The principal factors that determine the commercial value of peat are 

water-holding capacity, organic and ash content, fiber content, and acidity. 

Water-holding capacity of peat in the deposits that were investigated tends 

to increase as the percentage of fiber greater than 0.15 mm in length 

increases. Fiber content and percentage of organic material is inversely proportional to the degree of diagenesis that the peat has undergone. The relation of fiber size to water-holding capacity may be demonstrated by analysis 

and is the basis for an American Society for Testing and Materials Committee classification for peat used for nonfuel purposes.

The quality of peat seems to be controlled primarily by the geologic setting of the basin of peat deposition. Analyses show that characteristics such 

as ash content are related to the shape of the basin of accumulation and to 

the distribution of unconsolidated material and to the rocks that compose 

the depression walls. A fivefold classification of depressions that contain peat 

deposits, originally applied to the highlands of northeastern Pennsylvania, 

was found to hold for highland and lowland deposits in southeastern New 

York. An understanding of the geologic factors relating to the fivefold 

classification is useful in prospecting for peat deposits in the region.

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL NATURE AND USE OF PEAT

Peat is a light- to dark-brown or black residuum formed by the 

partial decay and disintegration of plants that grow in marshes 

and swamps or in similar wet places. It may be (1) fibrous, matted 

material composed of mosses, ferns, grasses, rushes, reeds, sedges, 

and woody material from trees and shrubs, (2) finely divided 

plant debris so decomposed that its biological identity is lost, or

Bl
B2 STUDIES IN PEAT

(3) nonfibrous, plastic, colloidal, and macerated material deposited at the bottom of lakes or other bodies of water. Peat has 

been burned as a low-rank fuel throughout historic time, but only 

recently has it been widely used for a soil conditioner and horticultural material. In 1966 for nonfuel use, 144 peat mines in 28 States 

produced more than 600,000 short tons of air-dried peat. An additional 293,843 tons was imported chiefly from Canada (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1967).

In view of the growing demand for peat along the Atlantic seaboard, an investigation of peat resources was extended from northeastern Pennsylvania (Cameron, 1968, 1970) into the adjoining 

southeastern part of New York State from lat 41° to 41°45' N. The 

area investigated includes Orange, Putnam, and Rockland Counties and parts of Ulster, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

ADIRONDACK 2 

DOME 5

:v

^INTERIOR LOWLAND

NEW YORK

fcATSKILL) P.' Z MASS

APPALACHIAN PLATEAUS

| PENNSYLVANIA

IANHATTAN PRONG 

TRIAisiC TROUGH

WEST VIRGINIA

FIGURE 1. Physiographic setting and area of study in southeastern New York 

(modified from Meyerhoff, 1963, fig. 1).
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B3

Physiographically, the area extends from the Appalachian Plateaus to the New England Upland (fig. 1) across the Shawangunk 

Mountains, the southern end of the Hudson-Champlain trench, the 

Hudson highlands, and the Taconic Mountains. The southeastern 

corner covers part of the Triassic trough and the Manhattan 

prong. Culturally, the area includes part of the New York metropolitan district in Westchester County, farming communities 

chiefly in the lowlands, and forested rugged uplands mostly suitable for recreation. Peat occurs in numerous swamps and marshes 

scattered over the area (fig. 2).

SCOPE OF REPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The purpose of this report is to provide information for use in 

the exploitation of peat deposits in southeastern New York and 

similar deposits elsewhere. Seventy-four undeveloped but representative peat deposits were investigated by traverses across 

swamps and marshes and by auger holes put down by hand. Auger 

holes were put down with a Davis sampler and by Hiller and 

MacAlley peat borers at frequent intervals along the traverses to 

collect samples of peat and to determine the stratigraphy and 

thickness of the deposits and the configuration of the depressions 

in which they lie. The amount of peat in each deposit was estimated from auger-hole data and from the surface area measured 

on topographic maps. In calculating tonnages, 1 acre-foot of peat 

in place was considered equivalent to 200 tons of air-dried peat. 

Samples from 66 of the 74 deposits were analyzed under the supervision of Irving May in the laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey for moisture, ash, organic content, water-holding capacity, 

fiber size (exceeding 0.15 mm), and acidity.

The help of Eugene T. Sheridan, U.S. Bureau of Mines, is gratefully acknowledged. Committee reports and suggestions by members of the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) 

Committee D-29 on peats, mosses, humus, and related products 

were much appreciated in interpreting sample test data. Methods 

used in collecting and testing samples were devised or suggested 

by Rouse S. Farnham, Department of Soil Science, University 

of Minnesota; Robert E. Lucas, Department of Soil Science, 

Michigan State University; and Virginia Thorpe, Michigan Testing 

Laboratory.

Thanks for especially due David E. Schieck who served as field 

assistant.

COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PEAT

The properties and composition of peat vary considerably in 

different deposits and in different parts of the same deposit
EXPLANATION

. O 10 AX 

Peat deposit Peat mine

Number or letter accompanying 

symbol is keyed to following table

N -^~^

\

10

1 1

1 ~X-'\ J PORT 

| JERVIS 

^NORTH

fx:

1 '

OTISVILLE

B

_____ X-

~ UNION-

^S^VILLE

X % N

"^T 

v ELLEN-

\VILLE

WURTS- _s

BORO/

/

i ^

0 R A

MIDDLETOWN

o26

PINE

ISLAND

^

\

I

NAPANOCH

r PINE

BUSH

130

. N G

GOSHEN

WARWICK

GREENWOOD

» LAKE

0 10 MILES

i i i 1 i

02

LSTE

03

GARDINER

"--*-. \

WALDEN

27o

E

MAYBROOK

MONROE

o66

O67

SLOATS- . 

C BURG/ 

? /

s/ROC

^\

°5

R 5

CLINTON

DALE

OT4\ 

015

NEWBURG

2Sb/pL

CORN- 3

WALL O2

^n 

~^ 

32

POPOLOPE

LAKE 

j

/

/068

THIELLS 

69O

KLAND

S» N

^^^^

FIGURE 2. Index map of study area in southeastern New York, showi

of peat deposits and peat mines
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B5

II

II

PH PH "3 ^

S 

3 3

.S M N<n M

S <-< T3 

cd SH "a!

f ! 

I.S «« 3 3

O O m m \

.S Si * p i d "2 - « *J«s gg

h * -S rt -a 10 " «

It .3 <u «s '3«

W tu hfl

OH °T3 s §!

: !«

wg

M 3

a o

,°PH

O

2 h

Rou oftnter of

McKeags M 

Armonk.

05

H 5 £o 05 a

21 §^Q-S

> l

SH PH

i

sl i !

S? 1i- H° Q g -a

£ <U P c

£

i> "8

<H

. o "^

O S .

PH °-g

|ss£

O d

<c t- co os d i-i IN

IN IN IN IN M M to

15 I S j* 15 « |<a | §s To ^

O££W>S>S£HWH

.JJ «PH M ss "' " &

o o

s «SH O

§2 y °

Sol Ss

SKI'0 (U S

S c 3 £

^ d .-S a

< iJ H

mile north northeast i 

O Q

jj > 

13 a

11D 5

" 3

fi H 2CO

^'

_o

?

a c

S b « S

»H

 SH 

 S °

a * § 3 s 1 £ 4,

!* to OJ <H 5) O rj 

S « S

S 10 S

'O at

<u ti "-1

0 P ,4

jSU fi

S1 ° .S o

^H bfl

W C

ll

Ohioville enE 

of iles south 

5i g

* ^

^, -rfi

£ °.

K rH

1*

-g g>

_1-l

us 0

°M .

^ .5 ^

Poughkeeps fof heast crosand railro: et 

o *> v

^gi3

a CM

H

.2'S

. o 

fcfc

~ SH

a o

> ~

tfi S "

S|

3^

£ 0

PH C 

SH (U o a 

« s

" rt

&S «-i 5 =>

§"?

M 0

'a *i h m

-=1 

S !

^!§d fi

T3

&|

ack Swamp, between Wi icrossing to 

S 13 B

a "S. 1*

" S-I "^H

S JJ

H M

"fi

cd 

a

(U

£

SH

O

-M

8 fi

_i; 

S

cd

«H

O

1O

d

m

5? fi fi

S

U

g

*H

O

-M

a

V

<u

S 

cd

CH

O

10

d

g « C^ £

£ +J h

s. . tfi 'O o3 

I> oi O V D_i

IS ^ PH PS ^5 cd ,. _ « ,;

cd^^ fi . C S|

"3 o S^i3 d «j§

 §«g^KS -S|

II5^| J| 

^^°|ll^ t^l|2°ir, iin^i^i -fio-J3^,t.43rt-^bo v *J X-*j "t^o +JO-M..-I S 5iw s S c Stf ^ffl

." O * O »T M O^1 O HH

PH ^ ^ ^ g ^

S g

h l> § 5 

7 a

OPH

td KM a; _W

"S-S

SfM

.S-S §a 

o

SH MO'O

-gg

C6 S"O

X fd

-w O

SPn O ^"

S5

d

ISX

E

of East !vest 

^

 s

3

O

M

O 

PH

>> (U "3

^

>

SH

O

mile northa

iwamp.

U2 SH

0 £

M

t- U

d «

E "S

(U O

fi PH

5H

o bo

0 S

!|o

B S ^

SH & 3

o m ° 

1*1 J

151 -MSH (U "5

O j- IN

» H rt

o g

05 O

d rt

<j «

O i-l IN to 

 H i-l ININININCgiN
B6 STUDIES IN PEAT

because of different types of vegetation from which peat was 

derived and from varying conditions under which it accumulated 

and has been preserved. The commercial characteristics and 

properties of peat vary widely, and the Cooperative Extension 

Service at Michigan State University (Lucas and others, 1966) 

has published a guide for users. The principal factors that 

determine the commercial value are water-holding capacity, 

organic content, fiber content, and acidity.

WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY

One of the most important properties of peat as a soil conditioner and horticultural material is its ability to reabsorb 

water after initial drying, like a sponge. Water-holding capacity, 

which is measured in percentage by weight, depends upon botanical character, the degree of decomposition, and the degree of 

drying to which peat has been subjected. Moss peat will hold 

water equal to 15-30 times its own dry weight; a good grade of 

reed-sedge peat will hold water equal to 10-20 times its own dry 

weight; humus which is highly decomposed peat will hold considerably less water. Peat tends to reabsorb less water when 

oven dried than when it is dried in the open air.

Water-holding capacity is determined in the laboratory on 

samples of peat that have been kept from drying after collection 

in the field. Twenty to fifty grams of peat is immersed in water 

at room temperature for 18-24 hours in a tarred-covered container having a wire-screen bottom. The sample is then heated in 

an oven at 105 °C to constant weight, cooled in a desiccator, and 

weighed. The ratio of absorbed water to the oven-dry weight is 

computed from the difference in weight of the sample before and 

after drying.

Water-holding capacity in a representative sample from each 

of the 66 New York deposits sampled ranged from 352 to 2,488 

percent. Only 12 samples had a water-holding capacity of less 

than 1,000 percent.

ORGANIC AND ASH CONTENT

Regulations established by the Federal Trade Commission in 

1950 define peat as any partially decomposed vegetable matter 

which is accumulated under water or in a water saturated environment through decomposition of mosses, sedges, reeds, tule, 

trees, or other plants. It is unlawful to label a product "peat" 

unless 75 percent of the material, by dry weight, is composed of 

peat as defined and the remainder is composed of normally 

associated soil materials. In practice, the organic content is 

equal to the loss in weight when dry peat is heated at 550°C
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B7

and the solids remaining constitute the ash.

The organic content in samples representative of about half of 

the New York depostis studied is at least 90 percent. Only 

samples from 13 deposits contained less than 75 percent organic 

material.

FORMULAS FOR OBTAINING MOISTURE, ORGANIC, 

AND ASH CONTENT

In this investigation, moisture, ash, and organic content were 

determined in successive steps on the same sample. Samples 

were carried to the laboratory in water-tigh* containers to 

prevent water loss and were dried in the laboratory at 105° C for 

16 hours. The percentage of moisture content equals

weight of sample as received - weight of dried sample 1 .. 

weight of sample as received

The dried sample was then heated at 550 °C until completely 

ashed. The percentage of ash equals 

weight of ash

weight of dried sample 

Organic content of the sample was then calculated, in percentage

as follows :

weight of dried sample - weight of ash 1ft~ 

weight of dried sample

FIBER CONTENT

Fiber content refers to the proportion of stem, leaf, or other 

plant fragments that make up peat. Because peat with a high 

percentage of fibers more than 0.15 millimeters in length also 

tends to have high water-holding capacity and because fiber 

content correlates well with weight per unit volume (a basis for 

the sale of peat), a tentative classification based on fiber content 

has been formulated by the ASTM D-29 Subcommittee I, Classification (R. S. Farnham, written commun., 1967).

The amount of fiber exceeding 0.15 mm in length has been 

measured for each of the 66 deposits sampled in southeastern 

New York (table 3). The peat samples were oven dried and 

screened, and the fiber content was calculated by the following 

formula:

weight of fibers (>0.15) .,-. , ,. , , 

 . . , , 1-^-7 - X 100 = percentage of content more total dry weight than 0 15 mm in length

The deposits were grouped by fiber content as follows : 

Type I, more than 66%-percent fiber content greater than

0.15 mm in length. 

Type II, 33%-662/fj percent fiber content greater than

0.15 mm in length.
B8 STUDIES IN PEAT

Type III, less than SS1/^ percent fiber content greater than

0.15 mm in length.

In general, sphagnum moss peat appears to be characterized 

by long fibers of type I. Most reed-sedge peat falls in type II, and 

much humus in type III. The peat deposits in southeastern New 

York are predominantly reed-sedge of type II fiber content.

MOISTURE CONTENT

The water content of peat in the deposit cannot be measured 

accurately but is very important in the mining and processing of 

peat. Moisture content in samples from 66 deposits in southeastern New York ranged from 74.6 to 95.0 percent. Samples from 

47 of the deposits contained 90.0-95.0 percent water, and with 

one exception the remainder contained more than 80 percent. The 

water that constitutes a large part of the undisturbed peat 

moves through the deposit very slowly. Both drainage of deposits by ditching to permit excavation and the drying of the 

peat before stockpiling for sale are slow.

ACIDITY

Natural peat ranges in pH from 3.2 to 7.5. Very acid peats 

have a pH of 3.2-4.2, acid peats have pH 4.2-5.0, and peats with 

pH between 5.0 and 7.0 are regarded as low in acidity. Those 

with pH above 7.0 are alkaline. Peat having a pH of less than 5.0 

is classed as calcium deficient, and that having a pH above 5.0 is 

classed as calcium sufficient.

Most of the New York deposits tested have pH values of 5-6 

and are calcium sufficient.

COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF PEAT

Because peat is formed from many kinds of plant material 

under a wide range of conditions, different varieties are suitable 

for various uses. Many different modes of classification have, 

therefore, been proposed. The chief classifications are based on 

the following factors: (1) physical or chemical characteristics 

such as texture, organic and mineral composition, water content, 

and fuel value, (2) the soillike nature of peat and the vegetation 

that grows upon it, (3) origin, mainly by the type of vegetation 

represented, (4) the environment of formation, and (5) uses such 

as for fuel, as a source of chemical and other manufactured 

products, and as a soil conditioner. Use as a soil conditioner and 

horticultural material prompted the U.S. Bureau of Mines to 

devise specifications governing the purchase of peat by the 

Federal Government. The need for a more specific classification
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B9

has been recognized by the peat industry, and the ASTM Committee on Peat consequently has proposed a classification.

For statistical purposes, the U.S. Bureau of Mines classifies 

peat into three general types: moss peat, reed-sedge peat, and 

peat humus. That classification is used in this report. Most peat 

produced in the United States and most of the unexploited deposits in southeastern New York are either reed-sedge or humus 

type. Peat of any type may contain a considerable amount of 

woody material.

Moss peat is formed principally from sphagnum, hypnum, and 

other mosses. Sphagnum moss peat is light tan to brown, light 

in weight, porous, high in water-holding capacity, of high acidity, 

and low in nitrogen content. "Top moss" is the living part of 

sphagnum and should not be confused with moss peat which has 

aged and partially decomposed. Hypnum moss peat is darker 

brown, of low acidity, and physically similar to reed-sedge peat.

Reed-sedge peat is formed principally from reeds, sedges, 

marsh grasses, cattails, and associated plants. Fibrous, partially 

decomposed peat is brown to reddish brown but more decomposed peats are darker. The water-holding capacity and the 

nitrogen content are of medium range.

Peat humus is peat mostly derived from reed-sedge or hypnum 

moss peat so decomposed that the original plant remains are not 

identifiable. It is dark brown to black, has low moisture-retention 

capacity, and a medium to high nitrogen content.

In addition to these three major types of peat, other materials 

high in organic matter should be mentioned. Sedimentary peat is 

derived from algae, plankton, pond weeds, and similar plant 

species. It occurs in the bottom of lakes and ponds and in the 

lower levels of most peat deposits. Such peat usually contains 

considerable mineral impurities and in this report is referred to 

as peaty clay or clayey peat, depending upon the organic content. It is too finely divided for most soil improvement purposes, 

shrinks and swells greatly with varying moisture content, and 

some has a sheetlike structure and hardens upon drying. Muck is 

highly weathered peat that has been modified greatly by soil 

micro-organisms and is usually granular in structure. It has low 

moisture-retention capacity and is poorly suited for soilimprovement purposes.

Purchase of peat by the Federal Government is subject to 

specifications developed by the Federal Supply Service of the 

General Services Administration. Federal Specification Q-P166e, dated May 10, 1961, which covers four general types of peat 

for agricultural use, includes the following specifications:
BIO STUDIES IN PEAT

Sphagnum

moss Other Humus Reed-sedge 

peat moss peat peat peat

Moisture content as normally marketed,

percentage by weight ...__...___....___.____.... 35-45 L 55 x 55 x 50

Ash content, percentage by weight, maximum ..................................... ........ 10 20 20 15

Acidity 2 .......................................................... 3.2-4.5 3.2-7.0 4.0-7.5 4.0-7.5

Water-holding capacity at 1 gravity on 

oven-dry basis, percentage by weight, 

minimum . ..... .... ........ ....... .. ... 800 400 200 400

1 Maximum.

2 The approximate pH shall be specified by the purchaser.

The ASTM Committee D-29 has defined and classified peat 

and peat moss (R. S. Farnham, written commun., 1968). The 

term "peat" may be used only with respect to organic matter of 

geological origin, except lignite or other coal. Peat arises mainly 

from dead plant remains through the agency of water in the 

absence of air; occurs in a bog, swampland, or marsh; and has 

an ash content not exceeding 25 percent on a dry-weight basis. 

The classification, given below, is based on five major types 

according to kind of plant material and fiber content.

Fiber is defined as plant material retained on a No. 100 

(ASTM) sieve, that is, 0.15 mm or larger, and consisting of 

stems, leaves, or fragments of bog plants but no wood particles 

larger than 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) in the greatest dimensions and 

excluding inorganic fragments such as shells, stones, sand, and 

gravel. Percentages of fiber are based on oven-dry weight, at 

105 °C and not on volume.

Sphagnum moss peat (peat moss). The oven-dried peat shall 

contain a minimum of 66% percent sphagnum moss fiber of the 

total content by weight. These fibers shall be stems and leaves of 

sphagnum in which the fibrous and cellular structure is 

recognizable.

Hypnum moss peat. The oven-dried peat shall contain a 

minimum of 33%-percent fiber content by weight of which 

hypnum moss fibers shall compose more than 50 percent. These 

fibers shall be stems and leaves of various hypnum mosses in 

which the fibrous and cellular structure is recognizable.

Reed-sedge peat. The oven-dried peat shall contain a minimum of 33%-percent fiber by weight of which reed-sedge and 

other nonmoss fibers shall compose more than 50 percent.

Peat humus. The oven-dried peat shall contain less than 33%- 

percent fiber by weight.

Other peat. All forms of peat not herein classified.

In terms of the ASTM Committee classification the selected 

peat deposits in southeastern New York are classed as follows:
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK Bll

1UU

90

i PERCEN" 

8

- 75

1 70 1- 

I

| 60

3 

CC 

O

50

0

1 1 1

_

_

Fiber type III

i i i

i i i

. ;:.! *': -. - "

 * * * * * 

 .

 

 « * *

 

Fiber type II

i i i

i i

-.

_

-

_

_

-

Fiber type 1 

i i

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

PERCENTAGE OF FIBER LONGER THAN 0.15 MILLIMETERS

90

FIGURE 3. Chart showing relation of fiber size to organic content in samples 

from 66 deposits in southeastern New York.

2400

2200

I-

^ 2000

£ 1800 

- 1600

O 1400

< 

Q.

g 1200

O

Z 1000

O 800

QL

600

400

200 Fiber type III Fiber type II

I I____i

Fiber type I

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

PERCENTAGE OF FIBER LONGER THAN 0.15 MILLIMETERS

90

FIGURE 4. Chart showing relation of fiber size to water-holding capacity in 

samples from 66 deposits in southeastern New York.
B12 STUDIES IN PEAT

52 deposits are reed-sedge peat; two deposits are peat humus; 

one is sphagnum moss peat; 10 deposits are other peat; and one 

deposit is not classified as peat. Relation of fiber content to 

quality factors is shown in figures 3 and 4. Most of the deposits 

with organic content greater than 75 percent have 33*4-66% 

percent of fiber greater than 0.15 mm. As the percentage of fiber 

greater than 0.15 mm increases, water-holding capacity increases.

FORMATION AND ACCUMULATION OF PEAT DEPOSITS 

CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF PEAT

Peat formation requires the coincidence of several physical and 

biological factors: a climate and soil that favor growth of 

plants; a physical setting that favors accumulation of plant 

debris; and a geologic setting in which peat, once formed, may 

be preserved.

CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENT

Peat forms in many climates. Temperature is not a limiting 

factor; just as plants grow from the Arctics to the Tropics, 

peat deposits also form. The peat bogs of northern latitudes 

have long been studied and exploited, but the great peat deposits of Florida (Davis, 1946) are not as well known. High 

temperature is important in stimulating plant growth, but it 

also increases the rate of decay. Moisture is the most critical 

climatic factor in promoting plant growth and inhibiting decay, 

and thus largely controls the formation of peat. The anaerobic 

conditions in the lower parts of nearly stagnant ponds, swamps, 

and marshes provide maximum opportunity for preservation 

(Waksman, 1942, and Waksman and Stevens, 1929, 1932). In cool 

areas of high rainfall and humidity and consequent low evaporation, deposits of sphagnum moss may accumulate and form peat 

on flat or sloping land as along the coast of Maine; under these 

conditions some peat deposits have been built up more than 20 

feet above the surrounding area.

The climate of southeastern New York is humid continental 

and characterized by long cold winters and short warm summers. 

Average summer temperatures of 70°-80°F. and precipitation 

totaling about 60 inches and rather evenly distributed throughout the year permit peat to form today in some places chiefly in 

the highlands. Most of the peat in the area of study was formed 

during the cooler and more favorable climatic conditions following the melting of the last glacial ice.

TOPOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT AND VEGETATION COVER

Three general types of peat deposits can be recognized: (1) the
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B13

filled basin, (2) built-up or so-called climbing deposits on flat or 

gentle slopes, and (3) a composite type consisting of built-up 

deposits underlain by peat of the filled-basin type. The first and 

third types are represented in the area of study. Here the deposits are in closed depressions on the surface of bedrock or on 

glacial drift, at elevations ranging from near sea level in the 

Hudson River gorge to more than 1,000 feet above sea level on 

the adjacent uplands. Most deposits of peat formed in waterfilled depressions left after glacial retreat. The numerous depressions at various elevations were filled and became marshes, 

and some changed into swamps; some again became ponds; 

others were drained completely.

Peat deposits in southeastern New York are chiefly in swamps 

and are covered dominantly by maple-ash forest type; elm, black 

and white birch, black gum, and white pine are other common 

trees. Shrubs and low trees include willow, alder, poison sumac, 

and high-bush blueberry. Rhododendron is common only in the 

Shawangunk Mountains; skunk cabbage and cinnamon, royal, 

and oak leaf ferns are abundant on hummocks that characterize 

the swamp floor. Swamps with an oak forest in general have 

little if any peat, apparently because of unfavorable soil and 

drainage conditions.

A few marshes with tall grasses contain peat chiefly in the 

Hudson River gorge and in uplands where forest has been cleared 

or killed by flooding.

The largest deposit, No. 26 in the Pine Island quadrangle in 

Orange County (fig. 2), is mostly planted to truck gardens.

HISTORY AND STRATIGRAPHY OF PEAT DEPOSITS

Most of the marshes and swamps that contain peat consist, 

from bottom upward, of glacial drift or bedrock overlain by 

gray clay, thin layers or streaks of organic clay, peaty clay, 

clayey peat, and reed-sedge peat that may contain logs and 

stumps or sphagnum moss in its upper part. An uppermost layer 

of decomposed peat or muck may cover all or part of the surface 

of the deposit.

The sequence of peat formation begins when clay is washed in 

from the sides of a water-filled depression and accumulates on 

the bottom (fig. 5A). When floating simple organisms such as 

diatoms and algae die, they mix with clay particles to form the 

organic clay that appears in thin layers or as streaks within the 

basal part of the peaty clay layer. As plants increase in abundance and variety in the pond, peaty clay gives way to clayey or 

algal peat in the bottom, and reed-sedge peat begins to accumu-
B14 STUDIES IN PEAT

 Water table

Clayey or algal peat

Peaty clay

Clayey or algal peat

Water table 

Clayey or algal peat
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B15

FIGURE 5. Diagrammatic sketches showing stages in the development of peat 

(not drawn to scale). A, Pond stage. B, marsh stage. C, forest stage. D, 

return to pond stage. E, stage of lowered water table.

late at the shallow margins where reeds and other grasses, 

sedges, water lilies, and other semiaquatic plants are able to take 

root.

Waksman (1942) describes the peaty material deposited below 

the surface of the pond as the remains of a variety of plants such
B16 STUDIES IN PEAT

as pond weed, water plantain, and water lily mixed with sediment 

brought in by streams. It varies from coarsely macerated to 

finely divided material. This gray, green, brown, and black 

material may be intermingled with the roots of sedges and reeds. 

Deep-water peaty material may be mixed with or underlain by 

white or gray marl, a form of calcium carbonate deposited in 

large part by a few species of algae. The plants absorb calcium 

from the water and deposit it in the form of an encompassing 

scale. When the plants die, this calcium carbonate scale accumulates as marl. Sedges and sphagnum moss may grow out from 

the rim of the pond as a mat on the surface of the water. As this 

mat builds up, pieces break off and sink to the floor of the pond. 

This process eventually converts the pond into a marsh (fig. 5B). 

The water table rises toward the center of the marsh where the 

accumulation of peat is greater than near the edges.

Formation of soil above the water table at the marsh edge 

permits the advance of the forest and the development of a 

swamp (fig. 5C). A layer of peat with logs and stumps accumulates over the layer of reed-sedge peat formed during the marsh 

stage. As the forest floor rises above the water table and changes 

in soil character occur, a predominantly needle-leaf forest is 

replaced by one that is mostly broad leaved.

A new cycle of peat deposition may be started at either the 

marsh or forest stage by flooding which kills the surface vegetation (fig. 5D). Flooding is caused by such phenomena as construction of a dam by beaver, man, or landslide, as well as natural or 

artificial drainage change. Lowering of the water table by drainage initiates destruction of the peat by causing an inflow of 

oxygen which permits aerobic micro-organisms to flourish (fig. 

5E). These biologic agents promote rapid decomposition of peat, 

but are unable to grow or are limited in growth in the zone of 

ground-water saturation. Drying and rewetting peat greatly 

accelerates decomposition.

RATE OF DEPOSITION

The rate at which peat accumulates probably varies greatly 

from bog to bog. Davis (1946) computed the rate of deposition 

of sawgrass peat in the Everglades of Florida at 1 foot per 225 

years, based on the work of Miller (1918) on plant growth and 

inorganic composition. This rate was almost equaled in a bog in
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B17

Quebec, Canada, as shown by the radiocarbon studies of Potzger 

and Courtemanche (1954). Mitchell (1965), however, calculated 

the rate of accumulation at Littleton Bog in Ireland at 1 foot per 

480 years, by using radiocarbon dates. An average but not 

constant rate of 1 foot per 1,400 or 1,500 years according to 

radiocarbon dates was computed for peat accumulation in Bear 

Meadows Bog in central Pennsylvania by Westerfeld (1961). No 

radiocarbon dates are available in the area of this report, but 

average accumulation in nearby Sussex County, K.J., was probably 1 foot per 500-1,200 years (Minard, 1959).

GEOLOGY OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK DEPOSITS 

REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

The Hudson highlands, dominating the area of study, rise 

abruptly from lowlands on the north and south (fig. 1). They 

are a northeast-trending upland chiefly of granite, gneiss, and 

schist of Precambrian age. The highlands extend from New 

Jersey into the complex New England Upland which includes the 

Taconic Mountains and the Manhattan prong (New York State 

Museum and Science Service, Geological Survey, 1962). Most 

elevations in the Hudson highlands range from 500 to 1,300 feet 

above sea level. This conspicuous topographic feature is marked 

by ridges and valleys trending northeast parallel to the bedrock 

structure and is cut by the Hudson River.

The lowlands comprising the southern extension of the Hudson-Champlain trench have been developed by erosion of soft 

Ordovician shales between the folded harder rocks that form the 

ridges of the Shawangunks, the Hudson highlands, and the 

Taconic Mountains. The Triassic trough south of the Hudson 

highlands is developed in sandstone and shale and is bordered on 

the north by the Triassic border fault and the Palisades.

The Taconic Mountains trend north; schists form the hills, and 

limestone strata underlie the valleys. The topographic grain is 

much less prominent on the granite and metamorphic rocks in 

the Manhattan prong.

Glacial drift covers most of the area. At least six moraines, 

each caused by a temporary ice stand during the retreat of the 

glacier on the lowlands, caused ponds and lakes to form between 

the bedrock highlands and moraine features or between the 

moraines. Swamps and marshes, many containing peat deposits,
B18 STUDIES IN PEAT

mark sites of former lakes and ponds that formed during 

deglaciation.

CLASSIFICATION OF PEAT DEPOSITS

A fivefold classification of basins of peat accumulation, developed during the study of deposits in the highlands of northeastern Pennsylvania (Cameron, 1970), was found to apply to 

both the uplands and the lowlands of southeastern New York. 

The kinds of basins are as follows:

Al. Bedrock trough closed at both ends by unconsolidated 

material.

2. Bedrock trough with unconsolidated material closing both 

ends and partly mantling the trough.

3. Depression in bedrock closed by unconsolidated material.

Bl. Depression in unconsolidated material closed by bedrock.

2. Depression completely within unconsolidated material.

The peat deposits (fig. 2) fall into the following groups: 

Lowland:

Al. Deposits 16-20.

2. Deposits 6, 7, 10, 23, 24, 58.

3. Deposits 4, 5, 13.

Bl. Deposit 71.

2. Deposits 2, 3, 14, 15, 26-28, 69, 70. 

Upland:

Al. Deposits 22, 25, 29, 33, 40, 51, 52, 54, 55, 64-66, 68.

2. Deposits 8,12, 21, 32, 43, 45, 60, 62, 67.

3. Deposits 9, 11, 30, 31, 34-39, 42, 46-50, 57, 59, 74.

Bl. Deposits 1, 38, 41, 44, 53, 56, 61, 63, 72, 73.

The 50 deposits in the upland group are in the Shawangunk 

Mountains, Hudson highlands, Manhattan prong, and Taconic 

Mountains. The topographic grain of these areas roughly parallels the direction of glacial movement from the north and 

northeast. The 24 deposits in the lowland group are in plains 

areas within the lower extension of the Hudson-Champlain 

trench, the Triassic trough, and a broad valley within the Taconic 

Mountains which contain deposits 10, 23, 24, and 58 in Dover 

Plains, Pawling, and Brewster quadrangles.

Figure 6 shows the proportion of deposits of commercial 

quality. Peat deposits of types of Al and A3 are more apt to have
PEAT DEPOSITS OP SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B19

higher organic content, higher water-holding capacity, and a 

higher proportion of long fibers than the others. Deposits of type 

A2 are higher in organic content than those of type Bl.

C 0

 °2 ATP=

o| A3|=

0 o B2^=

0

1

1 1 ' ==l 1

1 ==J 1

=J 1 1 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40

1 I I ii i i i I

Percentage of 24 deposits ' Percentage of 50 deposits 

LOWLANDS UPLANDS

FIGURE 6. Percentage of peat deposits according to class of basin of accumulation. Percentage of deposits in each class is shown by length of bar; 

hatched part indicates percentage of deposits of commercial quality.

RESOURCES

The resources of peat in deposits that were sampled in southeastern New York are estimated at about 11,500,000 short tons. 

This estimate is for air-dried peat on a basis of 200 tons of peat 

per acre-foot. Deposits that were not sampled probably contain 

about 1,500,000 tons (table 1).

TABLE 1. Estimated resources of peat in southeastern New York summarized

by county

_______________[Estimates given in short tons on an air-dried basis]_______________

Nonsampled 

County___________________________Sampled deposits____________deposits

Dutchess ____________________ 550,000 200,000

Orange ___________________ 5,700,000 650,000

Putnam ___________________ 4,000,000 150,000

Rockland _____________ ___. 300,000 100,000

Ulster _____________________ 230,000 160,000

Westchester ____ ___ _ -._ 720,000 240,000

Total ...._.._..__.................._.....__._11,500,000 1,500,000

Size of the peat deposits range from 1 to 1,245 acres, with 

most exceeding more than 2 acres. Thickness of peat in the 

deposits ranges from 1 to 25 feet (fig. 7). A description of the 

peat in sampled deposits is shown in table 2, and size, thickness, 

and quality of the peat is given in table 3. The samples were 

chosen to represent the quality of most of the peat in the 

deposit. Quality of peat is summarized by county in table 4.
B20 STUDIES IN PEAT

1200

600

400

200

 iL

10 15 

AVERAGE THICKNESS, IN FEET

20 25

FIGURE 7. Chart showing relation between area of deposit and average thickness in 66 deposits in southeastern New York.

TABLE 2. Test-hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of sampled

intervals

[Analytical data for samples are given in table 3]

LOCEility

Test hole data

Depth of 

Geologic section sample

(in fig. 2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description (feet)

1 .

2 ....

8

.... Center of southern 

half of swamp.

... Center of swamp...

....400 ft east of

center of west 

margin of swamp.

0-1 

1-12

12-16 

16+ 

0-0.5

0-0.33 

0.33-1.5 

1.5-2 

2+

Peaty muck. 7-9 

Reed-sedge peat, wood. 

Peaty clay. 

Blue-gray clay.

Muck over gray 

sandy silt.

.33 

Moss peat. 

Black soil. 

Tan clay over gray clay. 

Sand and gravel.

4..........400 ft west of

powerline and 

Swarte Kill 

intersection. Water over sandy silt. 5-6
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B21

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Locality

Test hole data

Geologic section

(in fig. 2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description

B

6

7. . . 

8

9

10

11

13

14

15

16

17

.... 300 ft east of west

edge of swamp and 

500 ft south of 

outlet stream.

... Center of swamp,

1,500 ft northeast 

of outlet.

. Center of swamp . ..........

... 1,100 ft northeast of

outlet and 200 ft 

west of east edge.

..600 ft west of center

of east edge. 

... 900 ft west of point

on west bank of river 

0.55 of a mile northwest of highway 

bridge in Wingdale. 

..... 1,300 ft northeast of

outlet and 300 ft 

west of east edge.

... Center of swamp. ....... ..

... 200 ft north of center

of south edge. 

... .Center of swamp west

of point on east edge 

1 mi northwest of 

Leptondale.

on edge of swamp 

0.77 mile south of 

Leptondale.

. .Center of swamp.. .........

....... .. ....do. ....... ...

0-1 Water. 

1-9 Reed-sedge peat, wood. 

9-13 Clayey peat. 

13-17 Peaty clay. 

17-18.5 Light-blue-gray clay. 

0-1 Muck. 

1-9 Reed-sedge peat. 

9-13 Clayey peat. 

13-14 Peaty clay. 

14+ light-blue-gray clay. 

0-1 Muck. 

1-2 Disintegrated peat. 

2+ Silt. 

0-1 Muck. 

1-7 Reed-sedge peat. 

7-8 Peaty clay. 

8-10 Light-blue-gray clay, 

sandy. 

10+ Silt. 

0-12 Reed-sedge peat. 

12-15 Clayey peat. 

15-16 Peaty clay. 

16-17.5+ Soft light-blue-gray 

clay. 

0-0.17 Muck. 

0.17-0.33 Light-gray soapy clay. 

0.33 + Light-gray sandy silt.

0-1 Muck. 

1-2 Peaty muck. 

2-5 Reed-sedge peat, wood. 

5-15 Reed-sedge peat. 

15-18 Light-blue-gray clay. 

18+ Gravel. 

0-2 Muck.

2+ Sandy silt. 

0-1 Muck. 

1-13 Reed-sedge peat. 

13-15 Clayey peat. 

15+ Light-blue-gray clay. 

0-3 Muck. 

3-5 Peat, slightly clayey. 

5-7 Peaty clay. 

7+ Light-blue-gray clay. 

0-3 Muck and peaty muck. 

3-7 Reed-sedge peat. 

7-9 Clayey peat. 

9-13 Clay and silt. 

13+ Light-blue-gray clay. 

0-1 Muck.

1-8 Reed-sedge peat. 

8-12 Clayey peat. 

12+ Light-blue-gray clay. 

0-1 Muck.

1-9 Reed-sedge peat. 

9-18 Peaty clay. 

18+ Gray silty clay.

Depth of 

sample

(feet)

5-6 

9

5 

7-9

5-9

4-6 

4-5 

5-6

5 

5
B22 STUDIES IN PEAT

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Test hole data

Locality Geologic section

(in fig. 2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description

18

19

20

21 .

22

23

24 .

25

26

200 ft west of east

edge of swamp at

point 1,500 ft northwest of interchange.

...200 ft northwest of

southeast edge of

swamp at point 2,600

ft east of Taconic

State Parkway.

Center of swamp 1,500

ft south of Highway

52 at swamp outlet

stream crossing.

....Center of swamp 300 ft

south of Highway 55.

200 ft southwest of

northeast end within

the 810-ft contour

line.

1,800 ft west of point

on west side of State

Highway 22, 800 ft

north of culvert.

.Along Cotton River,

1,000 ft north of

Pine Island.

Center of swamp,

1,800 ft northeast

of outlet.

. 1.8 mile southwest of

Durlandville and 0.85

mile southeast of

Wallkill River.

0-0.5

0.5-1.5

1.5-3

3-8

8-12

12+

0-0.5

0.5-2.5

2.5-6

6-7

7 +

0-2

2-4

4-6

6-9.5

9.5 +

0-2

2+

0-15

15-16

16 +

0-0.5

0.5-2.5

2.5-6.5

6.5-7.58

7.58-8

8+

0-1

1-3

3-20

20+

0-18.5

18.5-19.5

19.5-21

21 +

0-10.5

10.5-12

12+

Water

Muck.

Slightly disintegrated

peat.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Very sandy silty clay.

Water.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Dark-gray sand

and gravel.

Muck.

Slightly disintegrated

peat.

Reed-sedge peat, twigs.

Clayey peat.

Gray silt.

Muck.

Silt.

Reed-sedge peat.

Light-gray clay.

Sand and gravel.

Water.

Muck.

Humus, some wood.

Peaty clay.

Light-blue-gray clay.

Sand and gravel.

Water.

Silt.

Reed-sedge peat, wood.

Silty peaty muck.

Moss peat.

Peaty clay.

Light-blue-gray clay.

Silty sandy clay.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay, silty.

Depth of 

sample 

(feet)

5

5

5

6

4

8-9.5

11-13

5-6

27 ..0.65 mile southwest of

Buchanan Hill and 500 

ft. west of east edge of 

swamp.

28 .....200ft. west of east edge 

of swamp at a point 

0.45 of a mile southsouthwest of 

Vails Gate.

0-1 Peaty muck. 7-9

1-13 Reed-sedge peat, wood.

13-13.75 Peaty clay.

13.75+Light-blue-gray clay.

0-0.33 Water. 6-7

0.33-13 Reed-sedge peat.

13-16.5 Clayey peat.

16.5+ Peaty clay.
PEAT DEPOSITS OP SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B23

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Locality

Test hole data

Geologic section

(in fig. 2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description

29

30

31

32

33

34 ..

35

36 ..

37

38

39

Center of marsh

do .

do . .

do . .. . .. ... ... .

do .. . ... .. ... ... .........

do ............... .........

.... South center of swamp ...

... Center of marsh, 150 ft.

south of road crossing.

.... Center of swamp ........ ..

West edge of Cat Pond,

200 ft north of outlet.

South end of area shown

as lake on topographic

map.

0-0.25

0.25-1

1-3

3-6.75

6.75-7.33

7.33+

0-11

11-12

12-15

15-21.5

21.5 +

0-5

5-6

6-13

13-14

14-18

18 +

0-1

1 +

0-13

13-17

17-45

45-50

50-54.5

54.5 +

0-0.5

0.5-2

2-8.5

8.5-12.5

12.5-16.66

16.66+

0-2

2-5

5-12

13-17

17-22

22+

0-5

5-9

9-24

24-35

35-36

0-0.33

0.33-0.66

0.66-2

2+

0-15

15-18

18-25

25+

0-1

1-7

7-12

12+

Water

Muck and disintegrated

peat.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay, black

streaks.

Reed-sedge peat, wood.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay.

Sand and gravel.

Muck.

Peaty muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay.

Sandy silty clay.

Gray silt.

Sandy silt, gravel.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay, leaves of

trees and shrubs.

Black organic clay.

Gray clay, black streaks.

Sand and gravel.

Water.

Peaty muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Gray clay.

Peaty muck.

Moss peat, wood.

Reed-sedge and

moss peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Greenish gray clay.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat, clay.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Clay and gravel.

Water.

Muck.

Moss peat.

Silty peaty clay.

Moss peat, wood.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Sand and gravel.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Greenish-gray clay.

Depth of 

sample 

(feet)

2-3

5-6

7-9

3-6

6-7

4-5

15.33-

17.33

1-1.5

7-9

5
B24 STUDIES IN PEAT

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Locality

(in fig.

40 ..

41.. . .

42 ..

43 ...

Test hole data

Geologic section

2) Hole location Thickness (in feet)

. 200 ft south east of

parkway embankment

and 3,500 ft northeast

of ski slope.

..720 ft east of point on

west center edge.

Center of swamp

.1,400 ft west of Taconic

State Parkway and

3,300 ft north of east

end of Berger Pond.

0-3

3-11

11-13.5

13.5+

0-5

5-11

11-13

13-21

21 +

0-1

1-7

7 +

0-5

5-17

17-27

27-33

33-40.17

Description

Muck and peaty muck.

Reed-sedge, wood.

Clayey peat.

Sand, angular; rock

fragments.

Peaty muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Sand over rock.

Peaty muck.

Woody peat.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Depth of 

sample 

(feet)

6

6-7

5

9

40.17+ Blue-gray clay.

44 ...

45 ....

46 .

47

48 .

49 .

50

51

. Along stream 600 ft

north of mouth.

.. 200 ft from west edge

2,500 ft north of

county line.

West edge of pond

Center of swamp .. .

. Center edge of pond . .

..Center of lake margin....

... . .. do ... . ....

100 ft southwest of center of northeast edge.

0-2

2-5

5-15

15-21

21-27

27 +

0-2

2-11

11-14

14 +

0-2

2-14.5

14.5-17

17-23

23 +

0-1

1-6

6-7

7 +

0-2

2-19

19-21

21 +

0-2

2-16

16-23

23-26.5

26.5

0-1

2-19

19-23

23-28

28-37

0-2

2-3

3-7

7-9

9-19

19 +

Water.

Peaty muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Gray organic clay.

Sand and silt.

Peaty muck.

Moss peat.

Blue-gray clay.

Sand.

Water and muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Clay, black and gray.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Rock.

Water and muck.

Reed sedge peat, wood.

Clayey peat.

Blue-gray sand.

Water.

Reed sedge.

Clayey peat.

Light-blue-gray clay.

Sand and gravel.

Water.

Reed-sedge peat, wood.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay.

Muck.

Peaty muck.

Humus.

Clayey peat.

Clay and silt.

Sand.

7-9

4-5

6-7

4-5

5-5.5

9

5-6.5

5-6
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B25

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Test hole data

Locality Geologic section

(in fig. 2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description

52

53

54

55

56 .

57

58

58A

59

60 ..

61

.100 ft southeast of

center of northwest

edge.

Near center of swamp

Center of swamp

500 ft west of center

of east edge.

.Center of north edge

of pond.

. Center of marsh .

500 ft east of south

tip of Pine Island.

. 700 ft northwest of

north end of ponded

part of East Branch

Coton River north

of Route 22.

.. Center of north margin

. 200 ft northeast of

point on river, 450 ft

upstream from north

end of ponded part.

100 ft west of point on

east margin.

0-1

1-15

15-18

18 +

0-1

1-14.5

14.5-21

21-24

24+

0-2

2-9

9-12

12-15

15+

0-1

1-12

12-24

24-25

25+

0-17

17+

0-6

6-10

10-15.5

15.5-18

18-20

0-1

1-6

6-9

9-21

21-25

25-31

31 +

0-0.66

0.66-1.5

1.5-27

27-32

32-45

45-53.5

0-9

9-26.5

0-1

1-9

9-13

13-17.5

17.5-

0-0.5

0.5-15

15+

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Dark organic clay.

Sand.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Peaty clay.

Slightly organic

gray clay.

Gravel.

Muck.

Sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Peaty clay.

Blue-gray clay.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Blue-gray clay.

Sand.

Reed-sedge peat.

Reed-sedge peat,

slightly clayed.

Peaty muck.

Muck and reed-sedge

peat interlayered.

Reed-sedge peat slightly

clayey.

Dark-greenish-brown

peaty clay.

Blue-black organic clay.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat, wood.

Clayey peat.

Reed sedge peat.

Clayey peat.

Clayey silt.

Sandy silt.

Depth of 

sample 

(feet)

7-9

7-9

5

5

3-6.5

12-13.5

5

Water. 5.33-7

Muck.

Slightly weathered reedsedge peat, wood.

Reed-sedge peat.

Clayey peat, catfish

fossil at 30 feet.

Peaty clay.

Moss peat.

Peaty clay.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat.

Reed-sedge peat, very

slightly clayey.

Peaty clay.

Gray sand.

Muck.

Reed-sedge peat. 

Silty light-blue-gray

clay.

0-7

7-9

7-9
B26 STUDIES IN PEAT

TABLE 2. Test hole locations, geologic sections, and depths of 

sampled intervals Continued

Locality

(in fig.

62 ...

63

64

65 .

66. .

67 .

68 .

69

70 .

71

72 .. ..

73...

74

Test hole data

Geologic section

2) Hole location Thickness (in feet) Description

. 400 ft east of a point on

west margin 1,400 ft

north of outlet.

200 ft northwest of point

on east margin of

south arm of swamp

500 ft northeast

of road.

At edge of lake . ...

At edge of lake . . .....

0.85 of a mile southwest

of crest of mountain at

edge of stream.

.Center of marsh on

northeast side of road.

Center of swamp, 200 ft

northeast of Route 210.

. Center of swamp, south

of Route 202.

.Center of swamp, 500 ft

west of Route 9W.

.East center . .... ........

Near outlet of Gilmore

Pond; 200 ft downstream from artificial

dam on south side of

stream

.100 ft south of north

edge of swamp and

north of main stream.

100 ft east of west edge

of swamp at point

1,000 ft north of

Banksville Road and

Route 22.

0-1 Muck.

1-16 Reed sedge peat.

16-22 Clayey peat.

22-26 Peaty clay.

26-30 Light-blue-gray clay.

30+ Gray sandy silt.

0-3 Muck.

3-8 Moss peat.

8-10 Peaty clay.

10-12 Silty clay.

12+ Sandy silt.

0-5 Water.

5-13 Reed-sedge peat.

13+ Reed-sedge peat

slightly clayey.

0-4 Muck.

4-19 Reed-sedge peat.

19-22 Peaty clay.

22+ Light-gray clay.

0-3 Peaty muck.

3-10 Reed-sedge peat, wood.

10+ Clayey peat.

0-3 Muck and peaty muck.

3-7 Reed-sedge peat.

7-9 Clayey peat.

9+ Peaty clay.

0-0.25 Moss.

0.25-4.5 Red brown humus.

4.5-5.5 Red brown moss peat.

5.5+ Rock.

0-1.5 Muck.

1.5+ Sand, gravel, boulders.

0-2 Muck.

2-7 Reed-sedge peat, wood.

7-9 Peaty clay.

9+ Pink sandy clay, sand.

0-4.5 Silt and clay niterlayed with muck.

4.5-9.5 Reed-sedge peat mixed

with silt clay.

9.5-21 Peaty clay.

21-30+ Tan clay.

0-1.5 Muck.

1.5-4.83 Reed sedge peat, wood.

4.83-5.75 Peaty clay.

5.75+ Sand and gravel.

0-1.5 Muck.

1.5-4 Reed-sedge peat.

4-4.5+ Gray silt.

0-1 Muck.

1-3 Peaty muck.

3-14 Reed-sedge peat, wood.

14-17 Reed-sedge peat,

slightly clayey.

17-25+ Peaty clay.

Depth of 

sample 

(feet)

6-7

6

6-7

5-6

6-7

4-5

4.5-5.5

4-5

6-7

1.5-4.17

3-4

8.5-9.5
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B27

TABLE 3. Extent, thickness, and quality of representative samples of peat 

deposits in southeastern New York

[See table 2 for location of representative samples. Analyses by C. L. Burton, 

P. J. Aruscavage, and Leung Mei, U.S. Geol. Survey]

Deposit 

County (fig. 2)

Dutchess . __ 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

16

17

18

19

20

22

23

Orange 13

14

15

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

66

67

Putnam 24

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58 

58A

59

60

Surface Quality of representative sample

area Average 

of peat thickness of Organic 

deposit peat content 

(acres) (feet) (percent)

50

185

15

35

150

15

40

90

20

40

140

90

20

60

80

395

500

120

1,245

300

60

10

15

12

40

6

5

7

45

40

60

57

1

20

15

125

35

30

160

70

150

20

20

40

30

18

35

30

130

45

20

22

} 610

18

250

5

1

5

8

0

10

0

4

5

5

5

4

15

4

9

3

5

10

9

6

10

6

9

10

0

15

6

10

5

5

4

25

2

12

5

8

4

5

15

10

15

12

8

15

15

5

10

8

4

12

25

10

20

5

5

88

73

96

86

92

96

88

95

52

93

88

93

73

90

94

90

82

94

90

93

92

94

91

95

73

70

85

76

67

94

79

90

97

93

93

88

86

95

88

70

95

85

86

95

65

94

61

73

/ 89 

* 88

96

73

PH

5.6

6.5

6.0

5.8

5J3

5.3

6.0

6.4

5.8

5.5

5.8

5.5

5.3

6.0

6.5

6.3

6.0

5.6

4.8

5.7

5.4

5~.6~

5.3

5.6

6.0

5.2

3.9

6.3

5.3

5.8

5.6

6.2

4.9

6.7

5.9

5.7

5.5

5.8

5.9

5.8

5.2

6.0

5.8

6.3

5.7

6.0

5.8

5.1

5.9 

5.2

4.5

6.0

Water- Percentage 

holding of fiber 

capacity longer than 

(percent) 0.15 mm

1,006

1,332

1,470

1,024

1,211

2,269

1,412

1,668

866

1,305

902

1,306

746

1,360

2,198

1,368

1,065

2,063

1,386

913

1,364

2,400

1,100

1,307

1,286

741

1,077

352

967

1,392

1,251

1,768

1,778

2,166

1,489

1,541

1,417

1,180

1,517

1,190

1,714

436

1,676

1,459

1,123

1,726

1,212

1,529

947 

714

2,488

907

49

49

53

40

49

53

51

50

42

48

32

50

39

49

51

52

44

81

61

38

46

62

55

48

42

49

60

25

47

65

45

52

46

53

58

65

57

52

64

34

67

26

56

57

50

40

25

38

52

44

66

50
B28 STUDIES IN PEAT

TABLE 3. Extent, thickness, and quality of representative samples of peat 

deposits in southeastern New York Continued

County

Rockland-... .....

Ulster-.... ......

Westchester -

Deposit 

(fig. 2)

61

68

69

70

71

1

2

3

4

5

62

63

64

65

72

73

74

Surface 

area Average 

of peat thickness of 

deposit peat 

(acres) (feet)

120

55

150

70

200

55

85

80

330

85

105

120

30

20

80

20

30

10

3

0

5

5

6

0

0.5

0

9

14

6

9

15

4

3

15

Quality of representative sample

Organic 

content 

(percent)

91

96

89

89

95

94

95

97

94

59

82

93

82

93

pH

6.1

5.9

6.6

5.5

5.5

£9

£2

6.3

5.6

5.6

5.7

3.0

4,9

6.1

Water- Percentage 

holding of fiber 

capacity longer than 

(percent) 0.15 mm

2,417

1,856

1,070

1,078

1,731

1,907

1,595

1,877

1,616

994

1,285

1,040

1,319

1,670

62

50

60

36

47

84

62

50

56

32

36

68

44

49

The analyses indicate that of 11,500,000 short tons of airdried peat, more than 10 million tons have an organic content 

exceeding 75 percent; most is fiber type II (fig. 3).

TABLE 4. Quality of peat in southeastern New York, summarized by county

County

Dutchess .... 

Orange ........

Putnam ........

Rockland

Ulster ..__....

Westchester

Organic content 

(percent)

........ 52-96 

........ 70-95

._.._ 61-96

........ 89-96

........ 94-95

........ 59-97

pH

5.3-6.4 

5.2-6.5

3.9-6.3

5.5-6.6

3.9-6.2

3.0-6.3

Water-holding 

capacity 

(percent)

866-2,269 

741-2,400

352-2,488

1,070-1,856

1,595-1,907

994-1,877

Percentage 

of fiber 

longer than 

0.15 mm

32-53 

39-81

30-67

36-60

62-84

32-68

RELATION OF QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF PEAT 

TO GEOLOGIC SETTING

The deposits in southeastern New York are estimated to contain 

about 10,300,000 short tons of air-dried peat having more than 75 

percent organic material. Of this amount, about 3,650,000 tons are 

in the upland group, and 6,650,000 tons are in the lowland group 

where deposits tend to be fewer as shown in table 2. The greatest 

tonnage in the upland group is in class A deposits (fig. 8). Class 

Bl contains only 750,000 tons, and class B2 contains none at all. 

This pattern is similar to that in northeastern Pennsylvania 

(Cameron, 1970).

The ash content in both upland and lowland deposits tends to be 

highest in classes A2 and B2 which are characterized by a dominance of unconsolidated material in both the A and B groups.
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B29

3,600,000

3,200,000

2,800,000

2,400,000

2,000,000

1,600,000

1.206,000

800,000

400,000

Al A2 A3 Bl B2

Class of basin of accumulation 

LOWLANDS

Al A2 A3 Bl B2

Class of basin of accumulation

UPLANDS

FIGURE 8. Tonnage of commercial quality peat according to class of 

basin of accumulation.

PEAT MINING

The United States produced 611,085 short tons of air-dried peat 

in 1966 at 144 plants, and sold 605,858 tons at an average price of 

$10.73 per ton, for a total of $6,501,281. New York reported five
B30 STUDIES IN PEAT

operations with total reserves at active operations of 942,000 short 

tons of air-dried peat (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1967). Three of these 

peat mines are in the area studied two are in Orange County 

(fig. 2, mines B and C) and one is in Westchester County (mine 

D). Since 1966, a mine in Dutchess County (mine A) near Wingdale opened operations. All four mines handle reed-sedge peat and 

humus peat and sell in bulk; peat is also packaged at mine C in 

Orange County.

Compared with other mineral commodities, the investment cost 

for peat mining is low. A typical operation requires about $90,000 

for excavating and hauling equipment and $20,000 for buildings.

Mining usually consists of (1) clearing the bog of timber and 

brush and removing tree roots and logs buried in the upper few 

feet, (2) draining the bog, usually by digging drainage ditches 

rather than by pumps, (3) loosening the surface of the peat with 

disk and harrows to aid in drying the peat, (4) hauling the dried 

peat to the nearby plant, and there (5) sieving the peat to remove wood, shredding it, and bagging it or storing it in bulk for 

sale.

Various mining methods may be adopted for deposits difficult to 

drain.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PEAT EXPLORATION

In exploring for peat having low ash content in southeastern 

New York, the search should be for deposits with a minimum of 

introduced silt and clay, for those that are not badly decomposed, 

and for those large enough to be minable.

Peat deposits having low ash content tend to be in a swamp or 

marsh (1) not crossed by silt-laden streams subject to overflow, 

(2) without indications of stream piracy showing that such a siltladen stream had been present, and (3) in a drainage basin with 

effective drainage area not more than 10 times the size of the 

swamp or marsh.

Peat deposits with low ash content and low rate of decomposition 

also tend to be in swamps or marshes in which the water table has 

fluctuated little. Such swamps and marshes may be recognized by: 

(1) absence of outlet streams, (2) outlet streams flowing over bedrock that is not easily eroded, (3) outlet streams with very low 

gradients for a distance of several hundred feet after leaving the 

swamp or marsh, and (4) a pond that is within the swamp or 

marsh, is especially near the outlet, and cannot be easily drained.

Quality and quantity of the peat are affected by the size of the 

deposits. Deposits in swamps and marshes less than an acre or
PEAT DEPOSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK B31

two in size normally have a high ash content. Such deposits also 

are too small to mine commercially.

Human activities may adversely affect peat deposits and 

decrease their value; for example, long delay in exploitation following draining of the deposits accelerates oxidation; creation of 

dams for industrial, agricultural, or recreational use may cause 

silting by backwater; and burning over a swamp to raise blueberries, or to drive out game animals during the season of lowest 

water table.

The most favorable localities for peat deposits in the lowlands 

are in basins classed as A2 and B2 (p. B18). In the uplands, basins 

classed under the Al and A3 categories are more apt to provide 

favorable localities for peat deposits.

OUTLOOK FOR THE AREA

Southeastern New York is readily accessible to major metropolitan areas along the Atlantic seaboard, in which there is a good 

market for peat products. The deposits generally are in easily 

drained localities in contrast with deposits near or at sea level in 

coastal areas, where drainage is a severe problem. The relatively 

small size of the deposits in the uplands and the linear shape of 

those in the lowlands together with the fact that most of them are 

underlain by firm bedrock or glacial till facilitate mine excavation 

and hauling. These factors, plus the number of available peat deposits of which 66 are estimated to contain an aggregate of more 

than 10 million short tons of peat, mostly of a quality adequate to 

meet Federal trade regulations, give an optimistic outlook for increased peat production. On the other hand, relatively small peat 

producers in southeastern New York must sell their product in 

competition with larger out-of-State producers. All domestice producers must compete with imported peat, which in 1966 totaled 

293,843 short tons valued at $11,615,000 (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 

1967).

REFERENCES

Cameron, C. C., 1968, Peat in U.S. Geol. Survey and U.S. Bur. Mines, Mineral 

resources of the Appalachian Region: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 580, 

p. 136-145.

 1970, Peat in northeastern Pennsylvania: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 

1317-A, 90 p.

Davis, J. H., Jr., 1946, The peat deposits of Florida, their occurrence, development and uses: Florida Geol. Survey Bull. 30, 247 p.
B32 STUDIES IN PEAT

Lucas, R. E., Rieke, P. E., and Farnham, R. S., 1966, Peats for soil improvement and soil mixes: Michigan State Univ. Coop. Ext. Service, Ext. Bull. 

516, Farm Sci. Ser., p. 1-11.

Meyerhoff, H. A., 1963, New York's role in the Mesozoic and Tertiary evolution of the northern Appalachians in New York State Geological Association, 35th Annual Meeting, Binghamton, N.Y., May 3-4, 1963, 

Guidebook, Geology of south-central New York: [Binghamton, N.Y.] New 

York State Geological Association, p. 1-17.

Miller, C. F., 1918, Inorganic composition of peat and of the plant from which 

it was formed: Jour. Agr. Research, v. 13, p. 605-609.

Minard, J. P., 1959, Recent saprolite: Science, v. 129, no. 3357, p. 1206-1209.

Mitchell, G. F., 1965, Littleton bog, Tipperary, an Irish vegetational record: 

Geol. Soc. America Spec. Paper 84, p. 1-16.

New York State Museum and Science Service, Geological Survey, 1962, Geologic map of New York, 1961: New York State Mus. and Sci. Service, 

Geol. Survey, Map and Chart Ser. 5, 5 map sheets, scale 1:250,000, and 

text.

Potzger, J. E., and Courtemanche, Albert, 1954, A radiocarbon date of peat 

from James Bay in Quebec: Science, v. 119, no. 3104, p. 908-909.

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1967, Peat, in U.S. Bur. Mines Minerals Yearbook 

1966: Washington, B.C., U.S. Govt. Printing Office, v. 1-2, p. 823-831.

Waksman, S. A., 1942, The peats of New Jersey and their utilization: New 

Jersey Dept. Conserv. and Devel., Geol. ser. Bull. 55, pt. A, 155 p.

Waksman, S. A., and Stevens, K. R., 1929, 1932, Contribution to the chemical 

composition of peat, V The role of microorganisms in peat function 

and decomposition: Soil Science, v. 28, p. 315-340, v. 32, p. 95-113.

Westerfeld, W. F., 1961, An annotated list of vascular plants of Centre and 

Huntington Counties, Pennsylvania: Castanea, v. 26, p. 1-80.

 &U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I97O O 398 611