CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Cummings, D.I.; Russell, H.A.J.; and Sharpe, D.R.
Date : 2008.
Title : Sedimentology of aggregate pits along the Crysler - Finch esker, a prolific aquifer in the South Nation River watershed, eastern Ontario.
Publication : Geological Survey of Canada, Open File
Issue : 2008.
Page(s) : 44 p.
Abstract
Eskers are shoestring-shaped ridges of sand and gravel deposited, at least in part, in streams that flowed beneath former glaciers. They are commonly the most prolific aquifers in glaciated basins; for example, they supply drinking water to Canadian towns such as Regina, Toronto and Fredericton. This is also the case in the South Nation River watershed, a muddy, low-lying expanse of agricultural land in Eastern Ontario between Ottawa and Montreal, where the towns of Vars, Limoges, Winchester, Embrun, Chesterville, Crysler and Finch extract water from esker aquifers. Little is known of the size, shape and internal composition of the eskers because they are buried in most places by Champlain Sea mud. This complicates esker-aquifer development, management and protection. As such, the Geological Survey of Canada, in conjunction with the South Nation Conservation Authority, is studying the esker aquifers using seismic and core data. Additional insight into the likely composition of the esker aquifers can be gained at a very low cost by studying the eskers where exposed in aggregate pits. This report details the sedimentology of pits along the Crysler–Finch esker, the source of water for the Crysler and (possibly) Finch municipal drinking water systems. Based on new and archival data from aggregate pits, the Crysler–Finch esker appears to be geologically similar to other eskers in the Champlain Sea basin: it consists of a gravely central ridge with a broad sandy carapace; overlies till and/or bedrock; and is covered, at least in part, by Champlain Sea mud. If these observations are representative of the esker where buried—a working hypothesis that needs to be tested against forthcoming core and seismic data—the Crysler–Finch esker aquifer may be expected to be highly transmissive (gravely central ridge), have a good capacity to store water (sandy carapace), and be relatively protected from contamination (mud cover).
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology