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Soils in some areas of the MacKenzie River Delta region
nt. l+3 c . 2 BLDS
SOILS IN SOI.{E ARBAS OF TITE }IACKENZIE RIVER DELTA REGTON
b y J . A . P i h l a l n e n , I t . J . E . B r o w n a n d G . I l . J o h n s t o n
O t t a w a
O c t o b e r 1956
A N A L V Z E D
T e c h n l c a l p a p e r N o . [f o f t h e D l v t s i o n o f B u l l d l n g R e s e a r c h?555638
PRllI,-ACE
D u r i n g the summer of r95i, the permafrost Research
s t a f f of the DlvlsLon of Bultdlng Research canrled out an
e x t e n s i v e l n v e s t i g a t t o n , o f
s o l l c o n d l t l o n s a t A k l a v l k , N . w . T .
I r r r t
p r o g r a m was carnled out jotntry wlth the Department of
N o r t h e r n Affefus and Natlonal-Resounces, ln conjunctlon wlth
t h e e o n s t r u c t l o n of a }O-room schoor and an B-aiartment
t e a c h e r a g e .
T h e lnve'stigatlons revealed that tfre soll_s at
Akravlk a:re sllts
and flne sands havlng an extremely hlgh ice
c o n t e n t that makes constnuctlon costLy.
r n v l e w of- an
p l l l c l p a t e d
l a r g e _Govennment constructlon prognam at Aklavlk,
thls lnforrnatlgl
formed part of tl- basls ior-consldenlng
the
n e l o c a t l o n of the town.
A t t h e n e q u e s t of the Department of Northern Affalns.
p e r s o n n e l fnom the Permafnost Reieanch statlon, togethen wlth
o t h e n lnterested fedenal department.sr forrned r'"rri"y
t e e m to
g a t h e r fletd lnformatlon dui.tng r95['on the pos-iurrity
o f
l - o e a t l n g ,a more sultable townslte tri ttre Mac-kenzle Rlven Delta.
M r . c.L. Menrlll,
D e p a r t m e n t of Northenn Affalns and Natlonar
R e s o u n c e s , w a s l e a d e r o f t h e team.
All lnformatlon
eoLrected dunlng the survey has been
reponted to the Department of Northern .A,ffalns and-Natlonal
R e s o u n c e s Ln unpublisrrea neponts of the Dlvlston of Bulrding
R e s e a n c h . rn vlew of the gz'owlng lnterest 1n the Mackenzle
Rlver Derta reglon, it was-thougfit advlsable to summar!.ze thls
lnformatl.on.
fhJ" report prese[ts the flrst
"o*piGdion
or
s o l 1 s data fon the Mackenzle Rlven Delta reglon.' cJmments and
a d d l t l o n a l lnformatlon will be welcomed by Erre olvlslon.
O t t a w a ,
I" THE MACKENZIE RIVER DELTA REGION . . . .
S C O P E O F R E P O R T . . . . TOPOGRAPIIY Ai{D VEGETATION
a a
a a a a a a SOILS AND PERMAFROST
G r a l n S l z e D l s t r l b u t l o n . . . . f c e C o n t e n t s U n l t t l / e l g h t s . . . . . . . P l a s t l c S o l l s l n t h e D e l t a . . . . 0 r g a n l c C o n t e n t s . . . . . L o c a l R e l l e f o . . . o . . B e d r o c k O u t c r o p s . . . . . . o Dralnage . . . . G r o u n d S u r f a c e F e a t u r e s . . . . V e g e t a t l o n . . . . S n o w C o v e r . o . . . . . S o l l s D a t a . o . . . . . . ? .(
h
l+
26
7
7
::::::6
. . . r . . 9. . . 9
. . . 1 0
. . . 1 0
. . . 1 0
. . . 1 0
. . . 1 I
. . . .
1 1
. . . 1 1
. 1 4
. I h
. l h
, L 5
, T 6
. 1 6
. L 7
rTT. WESTERN
EDGE OF MACKENZIE
RI\TER DELTA
. a a . aR l c h a r d s o n M o u n t a L n s . . . . . L o w - L y l n g R l c h a r d s o n Mountaln Anea A l l u v l a l F a n s . o . . . . V e g e t a t i o n . o . . . . B r u s h C o v e r e d F a n s . . . . F o r e s t e d F a n s . . . . . . Topography o . . . . o. . . . . S o l l s a n d P e r m a f r o s t . . . . G r a l n S i z e s . . I c e S e g r e g a t l o n . o o . . . . B l a c k M o u n t a l n . . . . . .
WEST CHANNET
AREA
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
I V .
EAST SITE FOUR
a a a a a a a a a T o p o g r a p h y . . . . V e g e t a t l o n . . . o S o l l s D a t a . . ? o . . . . G r a i n S l z e . . . . f c e C o n t e n t s . . . . P 1 a s t l c l t y . . . . E A S T S I T E T I I R E E . . . . T o p o g r a p h y . . . . V e g e t a t l o n . . . . S o 1 1 s D a t a . . . . G r a l n S l z e D l s t r l b u t l o n . . I c e C o n t e n t s . . . . . . P l a s t l c l t y . . . . T H E C A R I B O U H I L L S . . . . . . T o p o g r a p h y . . . . V e g e t a t l o n . . . . S o i 1 s . . . . KITTIGAZUTT . . . . Topography and Vegetatlon . . S o l l s a n d P o r m a f n o s t . . . . . CONCLUSTON P a q e" 1 8
. 1 8
. 1 9
. . .
1 9
. . . . r g
. . 2 0
. . 2 0
. . 2 I
. . 2 r
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a e a . a . a a o a a a a a a a . a r t a a . a a a o a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a o a a a a a a a a2 t
2T
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 3
2 3
23
2 3
23
2l+
25
2 5
2 5
V .
J . A . P l h l a l n e n , R . J . E . B n o w n a n d G . H . J o h n s t o n
r. THE ISACKENZIE RIVBR pELTA REGION
I , l o r e t h a n 100 mlles before tt emptles lnto the
B e a u f o r t s e a , the Mackenzre Rrver dlvidel i n t o a s e r l e s o f
c h a n n e l s t h a t f l o w t h n o u g h 1 t s d e l t a ( F l g . l ) . u n l l k e a
l v n l c a t d e l t a w h l c h f a n s out from its so'i:rce, thls one ls
19tg and narrow, approxlmately roo m1Ies lonfi and !o miles
w l d e . r t s s h a p e l s c o n t r o l l e a b y t r r e a d J a c e i t u p r i n d and.
c u r v e s f r o m t h e south to the northwest. 0 n t h e i v e s t , t h e
s t e e p f a u l t s c a r p - o f t l € R l c h a r d s o n } i o u n t a l n s r l s e s a b r u p t l y
a n d c o n f l n e s t h e d e l t a p I a l n . T h e s e m o u n t a l n s e x t e n d to- thir
northwest and are predomlnantly sand.stone and shale of the
c r e t a c e o g g _ gge. T h e e a s t s l d , e - o f the del-ta ls eonirnea-iiy trre
c a r l b o u H 1 1 1 s , m o r a i n l c h l I 1 s , a n d e x t e n s l v e e x p o s u r e s o f ' P a l a e o z o l c l l m e s t o n e s , s a n d . s t o n e s , a n d s h a l e .
-A t t h e s o u t h e r n extremlty o f t h e d e l t a , n e a r p o l n t
s e p a r a t l o n , t h e M a c k e n z l e R l v e r i t t v t a e s l n t o t h r e e m a J o r
c h a n n e l s . T h e m a l n o r Mlddle channel flows througLr- ihe
m l d d l - e o f t h e d e l t a , a n d t h e p e e l c h a n n e l bnanchel from the
M l d d l e c h a n n e l and frows down the west slde. A p p r o x i n a t e l y
h - a I f - w a y t o the coast, the peel channel becomes^irre west
c h a n n e l " T h e t o w n o f A k r a v l k is situated on a sharp bend in
t h e P e e l c h a n n e l , 3 mlles. upstream from the ueginnr';g of the
W e s t C h a n n e l " T h e E a s t C h a n n e l branches from the Mlddle Channel
a n d f l o w s d o w n the east slde of the delta.
T h e s e p r l n c i p l e c h a n n e l s a r e lnterconnected b y m a n y
meanderl-ng smaller channels, forrnlnq numerous islands and
t h o u s a n d s o f lakes. T h e b a a k s a r e for, uurii o i - a i i u v r a r
m a t e r l a l a n d f o r e s t e d w i t h s p r u c e ana wilIow. N o r t h w a r d f r o m A k l a v l k , t h o b a n k s d l r n l n l s h ln helght, f o r e s t g r o w t h d e c r e a s e s a n d f i n a l l y d l s a p p e a r s . r t t h a t t h e MackenzLe Rlven i v e p u r l t y o f i t s w a t e r , a n d t t l e s e d l m e n t f o r 1 t s s l z e , i t s a p i d l y a s t h a t o f i t s g r e a t . T h e l a r g e l a } < e s wlthin a s s e d l m e n t a t l o n b a s l n s b u t
2
-a l s o s e r v e t o r e g u l -a t e t h e f l o w o f t h e s t r e -a m . I t s v o l u m e , t h e r e f o r e , d o e s n o t s h o w m u c h s e a s o n a l v a n l a t l o n . R o u g h m e a s u r e m e n t s b y M c C o n n e l l p l a c e the dlscharge at a medlum
s t a g e o f w a t e n a t a b o u t 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 c u b l c f e e t p e r s e c o n d . C o n t l n u e d w e a t h e r d a t a f o r t h e r e g l o n h a v e b e e n c o n f l n e d t o o b s e r v a t l o n s a t A k 1 a v l k , a n d s h o w a m e s n a n n u a l a i n t e m p e r a t u r e o f I 5 o F . w l t h a July meal of l6oV. T h e
mean annual ralnfall 1s l+ lnches and the mean annual-
snow-f a I l l s a p p r o x l m a t e l y I f e e t ( F l g . 2 ) . I T . D E L T A I C S O I L S SCOPE OF RNPORT T h e r e l a t i v e l y l n c o m p l e t e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e s o l l s l n t h e d e l t a r e g l o n o f t h e M a c k e n z l e R l v e r n e c e s s l t a t e s t h e r e p o n t l n g o f d a t a b a s e d o n a g e o g r a p h l c a l r a t h e r t h a n a p l y s l c a l d l v l s i o n o f t h e r e g l o n . A l t h o u g h a b r o a d d l v l s l o n o f - t h e r e g l o n l n t o t w o p h y s i c a l u n l t s , 1 . e . , t h e d e l t a p r o p e r a n d t h e a d J o l n l n g u p l a n d , 1 s p o s s l b l e , f u r t h e r s u b d l v l s l o n -m u s t a w a l t -m o r e d e t a l l e d s o l l s l n f o r m a t l o n . S o l l s a n d s o l 1 c o n d i t l o n s & r e d e s c r l b e d f i r s t . M o s t o f t h i s d u r l n g f g f i , b u t d a t a o b t a l n e d l n t y p l c a l o f t h e d e l t a p r o p e r l n f o r m a t l o n w a s c o l l e c t e d s u c c e e d l n g y e a r s a l s o a r e l n c I u d e d . S o l l s l n f o r m a t l o n a l s o l n c l u c t e c t . S o L l s l n f o r m a t l o n a l s o 1 s g i v e n o n a r e a s l n v e s t l g a t e d o n t h e w e s t e r n e d g e o f t h e d e r t a along the Husky channel and f a r t h e r n o r t h . 0 n t h e e a g t e r n e d g e o f t h e d e l t a , d e t a l l e d e x p l o n a t o n y s o l l s u r v e y s f o r t h e A k l a v l k R e l o c a t l o n P r o j e e t r " r e r e c a r r l e d -o u t a t t w -o p -o t e n t l a l t o w n s i t e a r e a s a p p r o x l m a t e r y l $ n l r e s e a s t o f A k l a v l k . N o t e s o n s o l l s a t K l t t l g a z u l t a n d l n t h e C a r l b o u - q 1 1 1 q , a r e a l s o l n c 1 u d e d . W h e n e v e r l t m a y p r o v e h e l p -f u I , s o l l l n f o r m a t l o n l s a u g m e n t e d b y t y p l c a l a e r i a l p h o t o - -g r a p h s , b o r e h o l e 1o-gs, and -ground. photo-graphs.
TOPOGRAPITY AIID VEGEf,ATION (3)
T h e M a c k e n z l e R l v e r D e l t a ls characterLzed by a flat p l a i n r w l t h m a n y m e a n d e r l n g channels and numerous lai<es. B a n k
e r o s i o n 1 s s e v e r e so that undermlned trees are a frequent slght a l o n g t h e c k r a n n e l s . r n s p l t e o f a g r a d u a l d l m l n u t l o n i n t h e -s L z e o f -s p r u c e t r e e -s f r o m -south to north, t h e t l m b e r l l n e l s
a b r u p t a t a b o u t 6 8 " [Srnorth latitude ( 2 ) , I a c h y e a r d u r l n g b r e a k - u p t h e } t i a e k e n z l e R i v e r r l s e s l n f l o o d ; e x c 6 s s w a t e n o v e r f l o w s f r o m t h e c h a n n e l s lnto the deltalc l a k e s c a u s l n g f a v o u r a b l e c o n d l t l o n s f o r m a r s h v e g e t a t l o n . _ Y a n y _ s t r e t c h e s o f b a l s a m p o p l a r b o r d e n the waterways. P o p l a r s l n t h l s c l l m a t e a r e m o r e s t u n t e d t h a n s p r u c e , and -p a -p e r b l r c h 1 s v l r t u a l l y a b s e n t . o t h e r p l a n t s r - s u c h a s s e d g e s , I o w a n d h t g h w l l l o w s , a n d a l d e r s f o r m a d e f i n i t e z o n a t l o n o i t h e l n n e r b a n k s o f t h e e h a n n e l meanders. T h e s e a r : e r e f l e c t e d l n a l n p h o t o g n a p h s b y g n e y coloun tone changes.
SOTLS AI{D PERMAFROST
D u r i n g f 9 5 3 , 1 6 b o n e h o l e s ( a v e r a g o d,epth Z$ feet were d ' r 1 l 1 e d a t t h e p r o p o s e d sltes of some lareie tutfatngs l n A k l a v l k . A l t h o u g h _ o n 1 y t h l s one locatlon l n t h e a e t t a w a s tniestlgated, t h e r e s u l t s o f s a m p l l n g a n d t e s t l n g a p p r o x l m a t e l y J O O s o i l s a m p l e s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e . d a t a a r e r e p r e s e n t a t l v e o f t h e d . e l t a .
s o t r gt Ak!1vlk, t o a d e p t h o t 35 feet, ls predomlnantly a s e r l e s o f s t r a t l f l e d f l n e s a n d s , s i 1 t s , a n d o r g a n i c m a t e r l a l .
T h e a b s e n c e o f - c o a r s e r p a r t l c l e s w a s r o m a r k a b l e ; - n o t e v e n a p e b b l e w a s e n c o u n t e r e d ln the 16 drllled h o 1 e s . O r g a n l c m a t e r l a l r a i r g e d f r o m b l a c k , h a l r l l n e s t r e a k s t o s t n a t a 2 t e e i thlek end was
c o r n p o s e d o f a . h e t e r o g e n e o u s mixture of decomposed. and partly d e c o m p o s e d m a t t e r , P l a s t l c s o t l s l r e r e s c a r c l and, wheir fouird, y - e r e u s u a l l y a s s o c l a t e d w l t h o r g a n l c d e p o s l t s . f 6 e s e g n e g a t i 6 n i n t h e s e f l n e - g r a l n e d s o l l s c o n s l s t e d m a 1 n 1 y o f h o r l z o n t a l i 6 e
l e n s e s ( l n t h l c k n e s s f r o m h a l n l l n e t o 3I+ Lncn), although small, r s n d o m v e r t l c a l - l c e f o r m a t l o n s w e r e a l s o o b s e r v e d .
G r a l n S l z e D l s t r l b u t l o g
T h e g r a l n s l z e d l s t r l b u t l o n s f o r 95 sanrples tested fall b e t w e e n n a r r o w 1lmlts, a n d a l m o s t a l l g r a l n slz-es are belor tfre N o . 5 0 s l e v e s L z e . T t r e l l m l t s o f g r a t f r s l z e d l s t r l b u t l o n ,
r e p r e s e n t a t l v e s a m p l e s , a n d t h e f n e q u e n c y wlth whlch they-occur a r e s h o w n l n F l g . l . s o i l s t n t h e s i l t s l z e o e c u r m o s t o f t e n a n d t h e a b s e n c e of coarse on medlum sand partlcles l s n o t a b l e .
-4-I c e C o n t e n t s
G e n e r a l l - y , t h e f o r m o f l c e 1 n t h e d e l t a s o i l s o b s e r v e d w a s o f t w o t ; 4 p e s :
-( 1 , ) lce whlch bonded indlvldual p a r t l c l e s b u t w a s n o t a l w a y s d l s c e r n l b l e t o t h e u n a l d e d e y e ; a n d ( 2 ) i c e w h l c h s e g r e g a t e d o n f o r m e d l a y e n s , I e n s e s , a n d d l k e s , f r o m h a l r l i n e t o 3/l+ Incn in thlckness. T h e l c e c o n t e n t s ( p e r c e n t o f l c e t o d r y s o l l , o n a y g l g h t _ b a s l s ) p l o t t e d a t s a m p l e d e p t h s a r e s h o w n i n F 1 9 . [. T h e s e d a t a w e r e a n a l y s e d by statlstlcal m e t h o d s a n d L t : w a s f o u n d t h a t f o r t h e f l r s t 1 0 f e e t , l c e c o n t e n t v a r l e s r l n e a r l y w l t h depth, or
Y = 1 7 2 . 1 1 - l - 2 . 3 5 x
w h e r e Y ls the molsture content Ln per cent at x, the depth of
t h e sampre from the ground surface, ln feet.
T h e c o n r e r b t l o n
r a t l o for this regresslon ls low however, and should be used only
as an approxlmatlon.
r e a t e r than 10 feet are
e n c e n t ( F l g . h ) . T h l s d e p t h
a r l y t h a w and nefreeze, but could
p e r a t u r e effects ane no longen
o n s l n t h e s o l l .
U n l t W e l e h t s
T h e m a s s and dry unlt wetghts of some typlcal delta solls
are shown ln Tab1e 1"
T h e r e s u l t s ,
a v e r a g l n l g Z La/tt3 and, 52 Lb/t# for the
m a s s and dny unlt welghts respectively,
s r e r e l a t l v e l y
1 o w . For
e x a m p l e , typleal unlt welght values f.or^thawed, roose unlform
s a n d 1n the 4atural state are 118 1b/ttJ ln the saturated state
a p d 9o Lb/fP ln the dry state,
0 n 1 y one sempre (mr5-rz,
T a b l e
1 ) fpproqches these vaLues. The Iow-unlt weiltrt values are
g x p l g l n e d b y t h e e x p a n s l o n due to freezLng of water, the hlgh
t " g e o n t e n t s , and the presence of bulky but rlghtweight orginlc
m a t e r l a l "
S a m p l e
number S o 1 1 d e s c r l p t l o n
Molstune
eontent
;rDry unlt
wel.gL{
%
rb /tt)
ii-Mass unlt w e t g h [rb /ft )
ABLS-L2
A B 1 - 7
ABr-23
ABL-22
AB6-2
A B l - 9
A B 3 - 3
A 8 6 - 6
AB3-B-at
S a n d y s l l t S l l t w l t h t n a c e o f f l n e sand and some clayS l 1 t w l t h o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l S l ] t a n d s t r a t l f l e d organlc rnaterlal O r g a n l c m a t e r l a l w l t h s i l t S l l t w i t h c l a y a n d o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l S l I t a n d s t r a t l f l e d o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l S l I t w l t h s o m e f,lne sand S t l t y s a n d w l t h o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l
5t+
6t
6 2
6 9
l+r
B 7
B 7
1 1 7
r5o
76
5g
5'+
53
5t
4t
l+l
41
3 9
1 1 6
9 6
B B
9 0
9 B
7 3
BB
B 7
BB
A v e r a g e5z
9 2
i i The mass unlt welght ls the welght
i n lts natural stato; the ary uitt
p e r u n l t o f o r l g l n a l volume.
p e n u n l t v o l u m e o f a s o i l w e l g h t l s t h e t f d r l e d t t weight
P l a s t l c S o l 1 s l n t h e D e l t a
P l a s t l c s o l I s w e r e s c a r c e at Aklavlk; t h e o n e s n o t e d . ln T a b l e 2 w e r e all that were encountered. A v e r e g e v a l u e s f o n the l l q u l d a n d p l a s t l c l i m l t s w e r e 3 8 . o a n < i 2 8 . h p E "
" " " i ; t r r " p l a s t l c l t y l n d e x a v e r a g e d p . 6 p e r c e n t . A l - 1 i r a t u r a l m o l s t u r e
( L c e ) c o n t e n t s a r e l n e x c e s s o f _ t h e rlquld limtt, t.e., although t h e s o l r ' ' h a s a solld f orm when rrozenl'it i s t r a n s f o r m e d l n t o a r r l l q u l d r r or rrslu*ytr if the contalned water melts.
- 6
TABLE 2
Attorbeng Llmlts of Sorne
Aklavlk So11s
S ample number
m o l s t u r e
c o n t e n t
/, L l q u 1 d 1 l m i tF
P 1 a s t l c
1 l m t t
%
P l a s t l c l t y
l n d e x
/'AB1-5
!'B3-5
ABh-23
AB5-10
r.36-5
a8'6-7
486-20
LBrz-26
AB16-21
3 9 . 8
3 7 . 3
3 7 . 9
3 9 . 0
39.1+
3 8 . B
13t
3 3 . 2
6 2 . 5
L 2 3 , L
4 8 . 6
l+5.
B
9 1 . 1 +
6 6 . 6
5 5 . 0
5 5 . 8
h B . 1
2 8 . 9
2 6 . 9
3 2 . 4
2 9 . r
2 6 . 9
2 9 . 2
2 9 . 7
2 7 . 5
2 5 . 6
1 0 . 9
1 0 . h
> . Y
9 . 9
L 2 . 5
9 , 6
1 0 . 7
o 27 . 6
Average3 B . o
28 .l+
9 . 6
O r g a n l c C o n t e n t sP r e s e n t m e t h o d s o f r e p o n t r n g organl.c contents ln solls a - r ' e b a s e d o n a w e l g h t b a s l s , l . e . , f f r e o r g a n l c c o n t e n t l s d . e f l n e d
a s a r a t l o o f _the welght of combustlble matenlal to the welght
o f l n c o m b u s t l b l e m a t e r l a l e x p r e s s e d a s a p e r c e n t a g e . S l n e e - - t h e d l f f e r e n c e 1 n r e l a t l v e w e l g h t s o f o n g a n l c - m a t e r l a f a n d m l n e n a l p a r t l c l e s 1 s 1-""9", organlc contents expressed as percentages
a r e l o w . F u r t h e r m o 1 g , signlflcant v l s u - a I d l f f e r e n c e s l n o i g a n l c c o n t e n t s a r e n o t r e f l e c t e d p r o p o r t l o n a t e l y l n t h e n e s u l t s o f o r g a n l c c o n t e n t test. T h u s t h e o n g a n l e c o n t e n t of a sample
descrlbed as a rrmlxture of frakey ana stnlngy d.ark-brorn'to
b l a c k o r g a n l c m a t e n l a l , w e l l b o n d e d w l t h tce-Uut wtth no vlslble l c e s e g r e g a t l o n _ c o n t e . l n l n g s g a l ] p o c k e t s o f s l I t r t w a s 19.flffTent A ? o t h e r s a m p l e d e s c r l b e d as rrsllt, o n e f o o t f r o m g r o u n d sur:'face, w i t h n o o r g a n l c materlal d i s e e r n l b l e v l s u a 1 1 y ' f h a d - a n organLc c o n t e n t o f U . l 1 p e n c e n t .
I I I .
W I I S T E R N
= E D G E
O F MACKENZIE
R T V E R
D E L T A ,
s o l l lnvestlgatl''ons along the western edge of the
M a c k e n z l e RLver Derta regi-on were conducted ln tio general
areas duntng 1951+:
( 1 )
0 n the alIuvlal
f a n s of the Rlchandson
M o u n t a l n s approxlmately 12 ml1es southwest
of Aklavlk and paralIel
to the llusky Channel
( F l e . 5); and
( 1 1 ) Appnoxlmately 2! mlles nonth of Aklavlk
l m m e d l a t e l y adJacent to the West Channel area
where the Rlehardson Mountalnr.benchlands
l n t e r c e p t t h e c h a n n e l ( F l e . 9).
HUSIff CHANNET AREA
The Husky channel area 1s approximately 12 mtles
south-west of Aklavik and 2 mlles south-west of- trre Juncti6n of ifre ffusry--ana
P e e l channels.
A c c e s s to the reglo.l ls '5y the Husky channell
a p p r o x l m a t e l y 300 feet wlde (Flg; 5).
A c a m p was establlshed 1n thls area to cdbny out slte
l*y:,"tlpatlons
ln an attempt to locate a townslte aira arnsi"ip
i l ' r g ' . 5 ) . U s l n g a l r p h o t o g r a p h s t h e a r e a w a s s u b d l v l d e d lnto'
t h n e e dlstlnct
l a n d f o n m s :
- t h A
R l c h a r d s o n Mountrt"";-
t h e
a l l u v l a l
f a n s of the Rlchardson Mountalns;
a n d the delta of the
M a c k e n z l e Rlver. (Flg. 6). The boundarles of these landfonms
w e r e located Ln the fteld and soil samprlng was canriea out at
s e l e c t e d or representatl-ve portlons of eaci tandform. The
M a c k e n z l e Rlver Delta landform was not sampled ln thls area
b e c a u s e of lts slmllanlty to the Aklavlk area whlch was sampled
d u r l n g the pnevlous year.
F i e l d noconnaLssance conflrmed that the al1uvtal fans of
t h e Rlchardson Mountalns were slmllar to those farther south,
so that relleble _predlctlons of any f glr could be rnad.e on the
f l n d l n g s of the fans Lnvestlgated.-,Thus the area actually
c o v e n e d was about B mlles long bV l* mlles wlde.
R i c h a r d s o n Mountalns
T h e R l c h a n d s o n Mountaln l t s u p p l l e d t h e m a t e n l a l for the the Rlchardson Mountalns have a
l a n d f o r m 1 s o f l_nterest because a l l u v l q l f a n s . f n t h l s a r e a , n o r t h - s o u t h t n e n d a n d l l e Z to
B
-3 m l 1 e s w e s t o f t h e T " l t v c h a n n e r w h o s e course ls generally p a r a l l e l t o t h e m o u n t a t n s ( F l g . Tl . The mountains rlse e p p r o x l m a t e l y 2 r 0 0 0 f e e t a b o v e the delta although Black M o u n t a l n , 10 mtles south of the lnvestlgated. ao6a,
" i " " * o v e r 2 , 8 0 0 f o e t .
T h e m o u n t a l n s are comprtsed malnly of sandstone, shale, a n d c o n g l o m e r a t e , i n e l t h e r a w e a k l y o r
" l " o . t g i y
- c e m e n t e a
s t a t e . g e p q r ! ln the eroslonal process s a n d f o l l " a t l o n s l n t h e e x p o s e d
e l e v a t l o n o f I 0 O O f e e t , a b u n d a n t
lecSrpods and brachlopods wer6
c o n g l o m e r a t e .
O n e n e f e r e n c e only can be made to soll condltlons s l n c e t h e o b s e r v a t l o n s w e r e m a d e ln wlnter. s o 1 1 s l u m p s u l " r , e noted. a t a n e l e v a t l o n o f B o o f e e t on a north-facrn[:"iht" w e s t o f the c a m p . T h e almost vertical s I l p f a c e s w e r e sfaced-about 10 feet a p a r t a n d r a n g e d ln helght from 2 to 5 feet. T h e s o l I w a s a l l g h t b r o w n sl1t wlth frlable f r m u d s t o n e s f r f n t f r e - t o p - Z
f e e t w l t h
streeks and flakes of organlc materlal ihroughout iire face of the
e x p o s u r e .
Low-Lylng Rlchardson Mountaln Area
An area. wlrlch appears superflclally sfmlrar to the
R l c h a n d s o n Mountalns bui-whleh ti lower .ln"elevatlon b e g i n s
SppTgrflmatery 2 mlIes north of the carnp. rt has been found
t o d l f f e n d l s t l n e t l y f b o m t h e alluvlal'f a n s a n d . . th e d e l t a l c d e p o s l t s . T h l s l a n d f o r m has been calred tho row-ryrng Rlchandson Mountaln area.
TopoAnaphy and Vegetation
T h e a r e a , a s e n l e s o f f l a t b e n c h o r r p l a t e a u - l l k e r t p r o J e c t l o n s o f t h e m o u n t a l n s , was covered wltir rrosi mound.s
averaging 2 feet ln dlameter a'd B inches_ln helghi.
nJg-;iatlon c o n s l s t e d o f s p h a g n u m and relndeen moss, Labradoi tea, wlnten-green, and knee-hlgh brush.
S o l l s a n d f e e S e g n e g a t l o n
A dnlll hole (geeO) was advanced to a
1 O f e e t a b o v e t h e 1 a k e s , t h e s o l l f o r a d e p t h o f 1 2 f e e t 1 s a s l l t c l a y o f l n t e r r y n e d l a t e c o m p r e s s l b l l l t y . D e c o m p o s e d o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l a n d r o o t s o f h a l r l l n e t h l c k n e s s o c c u r l n t h e s l 1 t - c 1 a y f r o m t h e s u r f a c e t o a d e p t h o f 7 f e e t . f c e s e g r e g a t l o n 1 n t h e f l r s t J f e e t c o n s l s t s o f l e n s e s v a r y l n g l n t h i c k n e s s f r o m h a l r l l n e t o 3/rc lneh, a v e r a g l n g L / I 6 i n c h . F r o m / t o 1 2 f e e t l c e s e g r e g a t l o n l s p r e d o m l n a n t l y c o m p o s e d o f l a r g e l n d l v l d u a l h o r l z o n t a l l e n s e s u p t o 3/l+ lnch thick F r o m 1 2 t o L T f e e t t h e s o l l l s a s l 1 t c l a y o f l n t e r m e d l a t e c o m p r e s s i b l l l t y w l t h a n g u l e r a n d s u b r o u n d e d f r i a b l e r h u d s t o n e s f f up to 1 lnch ln dlameten. A t t h e L 7 f o o t d e p t h , a r e d d l s h - b r o w n s l l t y c l a y ( r e s e m b l l n g a g l a c 1 a 1 t 1 1 1 ) w i t h u n s o r t e d a n g u l a r a n d . s u b r o u n d o d s t o n e s w a s e n c o u n t e r e d . A l t h o u g h t h e m a t e r l a l w a s d e s c n l b e d l n t h e f i e l d a s t t u n f r o z e n r f b e c a u s e o f n o a p p a r e n t l c e , l t m a y h a v e b e e n b e l o w 3 2 6 F . I t w a s p o s s l b l e t o b n e a k t h e c o r e b y h a n d a l t h o u g h t h e m a t e r l a l w a s c o m p a c t a n d d e n s e . T h e h o l e w a s a b a n d o n e d a t t h e Z ? - t o o t d e p t h b e c a u s e d n l l l p e n e t r a t l o n w a s v e r y s l o w a n d h a r d o n e q u l p m e n t . A 1 l u v i a l F a n s
The a1luvla1 fans ln the Husky Channel area forrn a
n o r t h - s o u t h b a n d , 1 t o I ml1es wlde at the base of the l i l c h a r d s o n M o u n t a l - n s . T h e d e p o s l t l o n o f f a n m a t e r l a l 1 s
conflned malnly to the sprln6g when melt water fr"om the
R l c h a r d s o n M o u n t a l n s r e a c h e s t h e a l m o s t level grade of the f a n " T h e c h a n g l n g c o u r s e s o f t h e c r e e k s a r e r e f l e c t e d . b y t h e v e g e t a t l o n a n d g e n t l e s l o p e o f t h e f a n s . I l e a v y w l I l o w t h i c k e t s s t a n d s l d e b y s i d e w i t h o p e n g r a s s y a r e a s , d e p e n d l n g o n t h e p a s t h l s t o n y o f t h e c r e e k s . f n g e n e r a l , t h e f l n s t
l m p r e s s l o n o f t h e a 1 l u v t a 1 f a n s 1 s t h a t o f a gently tllted p 1 a 1 n w l t h r a n d o m streaks and blotches of low vegetatlon a n d
s c r u b b y b r u s h " V e g e t a t l o n T h e a I l u v l a l c a n b e s u b d l v l d e d l n t o t w o d l s t i n c t t y p e s o n t h e b a s l s o f v e g e t a t l o n . F o r c o n v e n l _ e n c e t h e s e t w o t y p e s o f f a n s w 1 1 1 b e r e f e r r e d t o a s : ( a ) b r u s h c o v e r e d f a n s ; a n d ( b ) f o r e s t e d f a n s .
- l C ( a ) B r u s h C o v e r e d F a n s : V e g e t a t l o n o n . a b r u s h c o v e r e d f a n c o n s f f i a l d e r t h l c k e t s ( m a x l m u m 15 feet hlgh), o p e n g r a s s m e a d o w s , g r a s s t u s s o c k s , s p h a g n u m m o s s w l t h p a t c h e s o f r e l n d e e r m o s s f r e q u e n t l y c o v e r l n g f r o s t m o u n d s 1 f o o t h i g h . T h e v e g e t a t l o n s e e m s t o t r a c e t h e p a s t m o v e m e n t s o f t h e s u p p o r t l n g c r e e k s a n d t h l s g l v e s t h e f a n a r t b r a l d e d t f a p p e a n a n c e w h e n v l e w e d f n o m t h e a l n o r o n a e r l a l p h o t o g r a p h s . ( b ) F o r e s t e d F a n s : V e g e t a t l o n o n t h e f o r e s t e d f a n s l s e s s e n t l a l l y s l m l l a r t o t h a t o n t h e p r e v l o u s l y d e s e r l b e d b r u s h c o v e r e d f a n , w i t h t h e a d d l t l o n o f s p r u c e t r e e s w h l c h r e a c h a m a x L m u m h e t g h t o f 2 5 f e e t . T h e r r c o n c e n t r a t l o n r f a n d a v e r a g e o v e r - a 1 l h e l g h t o f v e g e t a t l o n e x c e e d s t h a t o n t h e b r u s h o o v e n e d f a n a n d h . e n c e t h e b r a l d e d e f f e c t f r o m t h e a l r L s m o r e p t ' o n o u n c e d ( F t g s " B a n d t ) . Topognaphy T h e a 1 I u v l a l f a n s o c c u p y a p o s l t l o n b e t w e e n t h e R l c h , a r d s o n M o u n t a l n s a n d t h e 1 o w - l y l n g d e l t a p l a l n . A e r i a l 1 y , t h e y a p p e a r a s a s l l g h t l y t l l t e d p l a l n . T h e m e r g l n g o f t h e f a n l n t o t h e d e l t a l c d e p o s l t s 1 s l m p e r c e p t l b l e a r d g e n e r a l l y o n l y d l s c e r n i b l e b y v e g e t a t l o n c h a n g e s . T w o d l s t l n c t g r a d e s w e r e o b s e r v e d o n t h e f a n s l n v e s t l g a t e d ( F l g . 1 0 ) . T h e f l r s t l s a r e l - a t l v e l y s t e e p g r a d e whlch extends downward from the base of the mountains for a d l s t a n q e o f o n e - t h l r d t o o n e - h a l f t h e l e n g t h o f t h e f a n . T h l s g r a d e w a s 1 . 9 p e r c e n t o n t h e c a m p s l t e f a n a n d 6 . 1 p e r c e n t o n t h e f o r e s t e d f & n " T h e s e c o n d g r a d e t o t h e d e l t a l c d e p o s l t s l s l o n g e r a n d l o w e r , 1 . 3 p e n c e n t o f l t o n t h e e a m p s l t e f a n a n d 2 , j p e r c e n t o n t h e f o n e s t e d f a n . T h e g r o u n d r e l l e f 1 s c h a r a c t e r l z e d b y t h e f o l l o w l n g p h o n o m e n a : p o l y g o n s in 1oca1 depressLons sunrounded by
p e r l p h e r a l m o u n d s u p t o 5 feet hlgh; p o l y g o n a l l y o r l e n t e d e r a c k s w i t h d e p t h s m e a s u r e d l n l n c h e s e n c l o s l n g a r e a s 30 feet ln dlameter;
c r e e k l e v e e s u p t o 5 feet hlgh; a n d f r o s t m o u n d s u p t o $ feet l n d l a m e t e r a n d 1 f o o t h l g h .
So11s and Peg4g[rgg!
A s e x p e c t e d , t h e o f t h e w e a t h e r e d p o r t l o n t h e y h a v e b e e n d e r l v e d . s o l l s o f t h e f a n g s h o w c h a r a c t e r l s t l c s o f t h e R l c h a r d s o n T 4 o u n t a l n s f n o m w h L c h T h u s , t h e c a m p s l t e b r u s h c o v e n e d f a n
d e n t v e d f r o m t h e a d J a c e n t m o u n t a i n m a t e r i a l o f f r l a b l e s h a l e a n d s a n d s t o n e , i s c o m p o s e d p r e d o m l n a n t l y o f , a 1 1 g h t - b r o w n , s 1 l t - s l z e d s o l l w t t h v a r y l n g a m o u n t s o f o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l , t h l n r a y e r s ( 1 i n e h t o 1 f o o t t h l c k ) o f f r l a b l e ' t m u d s t o n e s t t , and s o m e m o r e r e s l s t a n t s a n d s t o n e p e b b l e s . T h i s p o i n t 1 s m o r e s t r i k l n E l y s h o w n b y t h e f o n e s t e d a l l u v l a l f a n l n v e s t l g a t e d w h l c h ' b u l l t u p b y g u 1 I 1 e s c o n t a l n l n g t h l c k b e d s o f a ' r e d d l s h c o n q l o m e r a t e , h a s a s u r f a c e l a y e r o f - r e d d i s h s o i l . G r a l n S l z e s : M o r e t h a n g r a l n s i z e d l s t r i b u t l o n s a n d s l - z e ( 0 . 0 6 r n n , ) . d l a m e t e r w e r e n o t e d L n t o f l n e s a n d s i z e s w h e n h a l f t h e t h l r t y s a m p l e s t e s t e d f o r h a c l p a r t l c l e s s m a l l e r t h a n t h e m e d i u m A l t h o u g h p e b b l e s u p t o I l n c h 1 n t h e f l e l d , t h e s e b r o k e d o w n i n t o c o a r s e s o a k e d i n w a t e r . G r a i n s l z e d l s t r l b u t l o n l i n r i t s o r f t e n v e l o p e s t t a r e s h o w n i n F i g . 1 1 . s a m p l e s f r o m t h e t o e o f the brish covered. f a n a r e a l l s m a l l e r t h a n f l n e s a n d ( 0 . 2 r m n . ) , G r a l n s l z e
d l s t r i b u t l o n l I m i t s f o r s a m p l e s f r o m the top of thls fan show larger partiele slzes gradlng d.own from approximately the
c o a r s e s a n d s l z e ( I e s s t h a n 2 . 0 m m . ) . S a m p l e s f r o m l h e m l d d l e o f t h e f o r e s t e d f a n ( w 1 t h a h i g h e r surface grad.e) show a graln s l z e d i s t r i b u t l o n e n v e l o p e s l m i l a r t o t h e t d p o f t h e b r u s f r c o v e r e d f a n e x c e p t that more slIt a n d c l a y - s i z e d p a r t l c l e s a n e p r e s e n t , n 1 n t h e a 1 l u v l a l f a n w a s o r l e n s e s r a n g l n g i n t h l c k n e s s l n e h . T h e o v e n - a l I a v e r a s e s a m p l e s t o a d e p t h o f 3 8 f e e t t h a s t a n d a r d d e v l a t l o n o f e c o n t e n t s f o r the varLous d r l l I h o l e l o c a t l o n s d l d n o t d l f f e r s l g n i f l c a n t l y f o r a c o n f i d e n c e l e v e l o f g ? p e r c e n t . T h l s i s d u e t o - t h e l a r g e s c a t t e r l n g o r r a n g e o f t h e m o l s t u r e c o n t e n t s . Black lt{ountain
T h e s e c t l o n o f the Rlchardson DiountaLns west of tle l - I u q k y C h a n n e l i s d l v l d e d b y 1 o c a 1 l n h a b l t a n t s i n t o t w o s e c t l o n s i l e d l 4 o u n t a i n and Black liountaln. T h e R e d l , 4 o u n t a l n area,
c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y r e d d i s h s h a l e a n d s a n d s t o n e c o n g l o m e r a i e s , e x t e n d s f r o m north of the bnush covered alluvi.al"fans t o a b o u t 2 m l l e s s o u t i r o f t h e f o r e s t e d a l l u v l a 1 fans. T h e m o s t p r o m l n e n t landmark of the Black lvrountaln area ls a hlgh p"o*orrior! rlslng
- 1 2 o v e r 2 r 8 0 0 f e e t a b o v e t h e d e 1 t a . B e t w e e n B l a c k M o u n t a l n a n d t h e d e l t a l s t h e c o n t l n u a t l o n o f t h e s e r l e s ' o f c o a l e s c l n g a l l u v l a 1 f a n s e x t e n d l n g e a s t w a r d t o t h e H u s k y C h a n n e l . . T h e f a c e o f B l a c k M o u n t a l n l n d l c a t e s t h a t l t c o n s l s t s o f h o r l z o n t a l s t r a t a o f b u f f - a n d d a r k e r - c o l o u r e d s a n d s t o n e a n d s h a l e . T h e c a p n o c k o f t h e m o u n t a l n 1 s r e s l s t a n t s a n d -s t o n e b e l o w w h l c h a r e l o n g -s t e e p t a l u -s -s l o p e -s . T h e t o p o f t h l s m o u n t a l n a r e a l s s m o o t h a n d a l m o s t u n d l s s e c t e d . T h e r e l s a g r a d u a l d e c r e a s e 1 n e l e v a t l o n t o t h e w e s t w h e r e t h e l a n d b e c o m e s s l l g h t l y u n d u l a t l n g . T h e s o l l c o v e r f o r m e d . 1 n s i t u o n t h e t o p o f t h e m o u n t a i n l s o n l y a f e w l n c h e s t h l c k o v e r b e d r o c k . I t c o n s l s t s o f a m l x t u r e o f f i n e s w l t h m a n y a n g u l a r a n d s u b a n g u l a r s t o n e s o f s a n d s t o n e , s h a l e a n d g r a n i t e . T h e v e g e t a t l o n i s g r a s s a f e w l n c h e s h l g h , a n d m o s s . T h e r e l s e n o u g h f o r a g e t o s u p p o r t a f l o c k o f D a h l m o u n t a l n s h e e p . T h e e x p o s e d r o c k o n t h e s t e e p f a e e o f B l a c k M o u n t a l n l s f r a c t u r e d b y f r o s t a c t l o n . F u r t h e r d o w n o n t h e e o l 1 u v l a l s l o p e s a r e e v L d e n c e s o f e a r t h s l l d e s a n d r l p p l e - I l k e s o l l 1 o b e s . I n t h e s t r e a r n b e d s a t t h e b a s e o f t h e m o u n t a l - n a r e a n g u l a r s h a l e a n d s a n d s t o n e b o u l d e r s s e v e r a l f e e t i n d i a m e t e r . 0 n t h e a l l u v l a l f a n s b e l o w B l a c k M o u n t a l n l s a n a r e a o f k n o b b y h l l 1 s a b o u t 6 0 f e e t h l g h c o v e r l n g a b o u t 1 s q u a r e m l l e . T h e y s u p p o r t s p f u c e t r e e s u p t o l p O f e e t h i g h , g e n e r a l l y l a r g e r t h a n t h o s e o n t h e f o r e s t e d f a n s t o t h e n o r t h . O t h e r t r e e s l n e l u d e w l I I o w , p o p l a r , a n d a l d e r . T h e g r o u n d v e g e t a t l o n c o n s l s t s o f a t h l c k c o v e r o f g r e e n s p h a g n u m m o s s a n d l o w - l y l n g b r o a d - l e a f e d p l a n t s . 0 n t h e s l d e o f o n e o f t h e k n o b b y h l l l s , a 1 a n d s l l d e o e c u r r e d e x p o s l n g s o m e m a s s l v e g r o u n d l c e u n d e r o v e r h a n g l n g v e g e t a t l o n . T h e l c e f o r m s s e v e r a l p a r a 1 1 e 1 b a n d s a b o u t 1 f o o t t h l c k l y l n g a l m o s t h o r l z o n t a 1 l y . T h e s o l l l s a s l l t a n d c l a y m l x t u r e w l t h r a n d o m p e b b l e s , a n d a l a r g e a n g u l a r b o u l d e r 2 f e e t l n d l a m e t e r w a s o b s e r v e d ( F l g , 7 2 ) .
Among the knobby hlI1s ls a network of stream channels
w h e r e w a t e r l s e l t h e r f l o w l n g o r p o n d e d l n l o c a l f l a t a r e a s . T h e t o p f e w l n c h e s o f t h e s i l t y s o l l a r e t h a w e d ; b e l o w t h l s t h e g r o u n d 1 s f r o z e n . T h e s t r e a m s a r e l o a d e d w l t h f l n e - g r a l n e d
s e d l m e n t s . T h e v e g e t a t l o n l n t h e s e 1 o w a r e a s i s c o a r s e g r a s s u p t o 2 f e e t h i g h .
f n t h e a r e a o f k n o b b y h l l l s a r e s e v e r a l r f p l n g o - l l k e r r s t r u c t u r e s o f w h l c h t n r e e w e r e e x a m l n e d ( F l g . 1 3 ) . O n e l s p a r t o f a s p r u c e c o v e r e d k n o b b y h 1 1 1 , a n d r e s e m b l e s a p l n g o c o n s l s t l n g o f f r l a b l e s t r a t l f l e d g r e y s 1 l t a n d f l n e s a n d . T h e w e s t s l d e l s a b o u t 2 0 f e e t h l g h , t h e e a s t s l d e a b o u t 6 0 f e e t h i g h , a n d t h e s l d e s h a v e a s l o p e o f 3 0 d e g r e e s . T h e c r a t e r c o n t a l n s a c l r c u l a r l a k e l . r 0 f e e t l n d l a m e t e r a n d 2 0 f e e t a b o v e t h e l e v e 1 o f t h e a l l u v l a l f a n . T h e v e g e t a t l v e c o v e r c o n s l s t s p r l m a r l l y o f c o a r s e g r a s s 2 f e e t h l g h , a n d a f e w s t u n t e d s p r u e e g r o w l n g o n t h e s l d e s o f t h e h t l l a n d . o n t h e l t p o f t h e c r a t e r . A s e c o n d s t r u c t u r e o f s l 1 t w a s e x a m l n e d a t t h e b a s e o f B l a c k M o u n t a l n . I t l s s a u c e r - s h a p e d a b o u t I f e e t h l g h a t t h e r l m a n d g r a d u a l l y s l o p l n g l n t o t h e c e n t r e f r o m a l l s l d e s . f t s d l m e n s i o n s s r e a p p r o x l m a t e l y ! 0 f e e t ( n o r t h - s o u t h ) b V 35 f e e t ( e a s t - w e s t ) . T h e r e l s a c l r c u l a r c r a c k a l o n g t h e r l m a b o u t 2 f e e t w l d e b y I f o o t d e e p . T n t h e c e n t r e l s a c l r c u l a r l a k e a b o u t 2 5 f e e t i n d . l a m e t e r . T h e r e a r e t w o r u n - o f f t r n e n c h e s a t t h e s o u t h e n d a n d a s m a 1 1 s t r e a m b e d l e a d s l n f r o m t h e n o r t h . T h e t h l r d s t r u c t u r e r e s e m b l e s t h e o n e j u s t d e s c r l b e d . T h e r e l s a r l d q e a r o u n d t h e o u t s i d e a b o u t 1 0 0 f e e t l n d l a m e t e r , v a r y l n g l n h e i g h t f r o m I feet on the ea.st side to 12 feet on t h e w e s t . T h e s o l 1 l s s i l t w l t h a n g u l a r s t o n e s o f s n n d s t o n e a n d s h a l e u p t o 6 l n c h e s 1 n d l a m e t e r . T h e v e g e t a t i o n c o n s t s t s o f s c a t t e n e d , s t u n t e d s p r u c e 6 f e e t h l g h , a n d c o a r s e g r a s s 2 f e e t h l g h . l r i a t e r f r o r n t h e l a k e l n t h e c e n t r e o v e r f L o w s l n t o a l o w p a r t o f t h e r l d g e t o t h e e a s t . I t i s c o l o u r e d a b r i g h t r u s t y - r e d b y a l g a e . T h e o r l e i n o f t h e a r e a o f k n o b b y h l l 1 s a t t h e t o p o f t h e a l l u v i a 1 f a n s b e l o w B I a c k M o u n t a l n 1 s u n c e r t a i n . O n e t h e o r y s u g g e s t s t h a t l t m a y b e t h e r e s u l t o f s o 1 1 s l l d e s f r o m t h e s t e e p f a c e o f t h e m o u n t a l n
WEST CHANNEL AREA
T h e W e s t C h a n n e l a r e a l s s l t u a t e d a p p r o x l m a t e l y 2 4 . 5 a l r m l l e s ( 2 8 . 2 c h a n n e l m l l e s ) n o r t h o f A k l - a v l k l r n m e d l l t e l y a d j a c e n t t o t h e W e s t C h a n n e l a r e a w h e r e t h e R l c h a r d s o n M o u n t a l n b e n c h l a n d s l n t e r c e p t t h e c h a n n e l . T h e a r e a i n v e s t l g a t e d w a s a p p r o x l m a t e l y I m 1 1 e s l o n g b o r d e r l n g t h e c h a n n e l , b t 1 $ r n t l e s w l d e l n l a n d t o t h e w e s t o f t h e channel (F19, 15). T o t h e n o r t h
a n d s o u t h , l t 1 s s e p a r a t e d f r o m the channel by deposlts of the M a c k e n z l e D e l t a .
- I l r L o c a l R e l i e f T h e b e n c h l a n d s b o r d e r l n g t h e W e s t C h a n n e l , r i s e : , i n a f a l r l y s t e e p b a n k v a r y l n g l n h e l g h t f r o m 1 0 t o l r o f e e t . T o t h e w e s t t h e r e l s a s l l g h t b u t c o n t l n u a l r i s e 1 n e l e v a t l o n w l t h l n w h l c h t h e l o c a l r e l i e f 1 s u n d u l a t l n g t o r o I l l n g w l t h s c a t t e r e d l o w - 1 y l n g f l a t d e p r e s s l o n s , s w a l e s , a n d r o u n d e d k n o l I s ( F l g . f 5 ) . A n e t w o r k o f s h a l l o w V - s h a p e d g u l l i e s c u t s t h r o u g h t h l s c o u n t r y . A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e m l n o r l o c a l d l f f e r e n c e s l n r e 1 l e f , d r a ! - n a g e , v e g e t a t l o n , a n d o t h e r f e a t u r e s , t h e b e n c h -l a n d a r e a -l - s g e n e r a -l -l y h o m o g e n e o u s a n d w l l r b e c o n s l d e r e d a s s u c h l n t h l s d l g c u s s l o n . B e d r o c k O u t e r o p s T h e u n d e r l y l n g b e d r o c k l s e x p o s o d ln a few scatter:ed o u t c r o p s a p p r o x l m a t e l y 2 m l l e s 1 n 1 a n d f r o m t h e i , { e s t c h a n n e l a n d d o e s n o t a f f e c t d l r e c t l y t h e n a t u r e o f t h e s l t e ( F l g . 1 l + ) .
O n e o f t h e o u t c r o p s forms a serles of subdued ridges exf,end,lng
? w a y f r o m , a n d p e r p e n d l c u l a r t o , t h e s l d e s o f t h e g u 1 1 y .
-A n o t h e r l s a l o e a I l z e d o u t c r o p , a f e w s q u a r e y a r d s - l n a r e a , o n t h e s l d e o f a h 1 1 1 .
T h e r o c k l s g r e y s a n d s t o n e . r t i s n o t w e l l c e m e n t e d
a s l n d l v i d u a l g r a l n s c a n be scraped off easlIy. T h e s u r f a c e
r o c k h a s b e e n f r a c t u r e . d lnto large rectangulai u t o c t < s a n d
s m a l l e r f r _ a g m e n t s b y f r o s t a c t i o n . N o r o c t < o u t c r o p s w e r e seen
an;n^rhere along the shore of the west channel in th-e vlclnlty of
t h e l n v e s t l g a t e d a r e a .
Dralnage
The area dralns to the west channer through a roughly
p a r a 1 I e I s e r l e s o f s h a l l o w v - s h a p e d g u l l l e s ( F l g . 1 L ) . w [ . e r L
t h e s l t e a r e e b o r d e r s the channel, t6er.e are three maln gullles
that enter the channel approxlmately j.la of a mlre apart.
B e t w e e n t h e s e are several much smaller gul1les.
-T h e m a j o r g u I I l e s v a r y l n d e p t h f r o m 2 0 to 5o feet, and
b e c o m e s h a l l o w e r toward the hbadwaters pf the streams eutting
t h e m . T h e s t r e a m s f l o w at approxlmately l _ o m i l e s p e r h o u r l
t h e w a t e r l s c l e a r , l n d l c a t l h g a l a c k o i s u s p e n d e d s o l 1 m a t e r l a l .
r t l s p r o b a b l e t h a t they dlmlnlsh 1n slze or even dry up later
ln the summer when the snow has dlsappeared from ttre-hlgher land
t o t h e w e s t . T h e p r e s e n c e o f w l l r o w - a n a a l d e r t h l c k e t s - l n t h e
r a l 1 s h a l l o w , I a k e s ln the area, d s l n d l a m e t e r ; t h e y d r a l n C h a n n e l . G e n e r a l l y , t h e l a k e s n s w h o s e s u r f a c e s are covered e s e l a k e s l s c o l o u r e d w i t h l r o n s a l t s a n d o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l . G r o u n d S u r f a c e F e a t u r e s ( a ) S h o r e D e p o s l t s
T h o r e l s a t h l n layer of gravel lytng along the shore o f t h e w e s t c h a n n e l w h e r e t t r r o w s a d J a c e n t to the-slte area, ! _ h a t a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n w a s h e d o u t i r o m t h e b a n k , u o o " l t . T h e n o u n d e d and subrounded stones are of sedlmentarv and
l g n e o u s o r l g i n a n d r a n g e u p to approximately 6 l n c h 6 s 1 n d l a m e t e r . ( b ) P o l y s o n s
P-olygons and polygonal cracks are prevalent throughout t h e s l t e b e c o m l n g mor-e numerous lnland from the West Chaniel. f n m o s t c a s e s - t h e y a r e a s s o c L a t e d w l t h t h e p o o r l y - d r a l n e d a r e a s a r o u n d t h e lakes and head.waters of the streams.
-a n d r -a l s e d c e n t r e p o l y g o n s ) f e e t . T h e l n t e r s t l c e s v a r y > n I f e e t a n d a r e f l l l e d w l t L l s e d c e n t - r e p o l y g o n s are partlally I where there are polygonal cracki r a t h e r t h a n w e l l d e f l n e d polygons, they ane deflneb uy-shallow m o s s - f l - l l e d t r e n c h e s
( c ) F r o s t M o u n d . s a n d F r o s t Bolls
A p a r t f r o m the areas of - p o l y g o r _ s a n d p o l y g o n a l c n a c k s , m o s t o f t h e s l t e a r e a 1 s c o v e r e d - w f i f i frost *b""h3, - f r o s t b o l l s
a n d g r a s s t u s s o c k s . T h e m o u n d s vary 1n dlameter fnon approxl-p a l g l y 2 _ t o 1 4 f e e t and rlse approxlinately 1 foot above the b o t t o m o f t h e l n t e r s t l c e s .
( d ) S o 1 1 S l u m p l n e
_ M a n y o f t h e s l o p e s e x h l b l t a ? e a s o f s o 1 l slumprng. T h e s o s l . u m p s aT" elpgcrb1ly p r o n o u n c e d . on the stopes ir trru
- 1 5
fndlvidual slumps are generalS-y 2 to 3 feet ln helglrt and ere
e s p e c l a l l y p r o m l n e n t o n t h e s l o p e s f a c l n g n b r t h . - The slumps a r e c o v e r e d w l t h a g : r o u n d v e g e t e t l o n o f g r e s s a n d m o s s . V e g e t a t l o n T b e m a l n f e a t u r e o f t h e v e g e t a t l o n l n t h l s a r e a l s t h e c o m p a r a t l v e l a c k o f t n e e g r o w t h . T r e e g r o w t h l s c o n f l n e d t o s h e l t e r e d g u 1 1 1 e s a n d 1 s d e n s e s t o n t h e s o u t h - f a c l n g s l o p e s a n d a l o n g t h e w a t e r c o u r s e s . T h e t r e e s a r e w l I l o w a n d a l d e r n e a c h l n g a m a x l m u m h e l g t r t o f a p p r o x l m a t e l y B f e e t . I n t e r s p e r s e d
wlth thls thlcket $nowth ls ground blnch to a helght of about
3 f e e t . I n t h e d e e p e r g u l I l e s , 2 t o 3 m l l e s l n l a n d r 9 P € p a r a 1 I e I l l n e s o f t h l s m l x e d t r e e g r o w t h e x t e n d l n g f r o m t h e t o p s o f t h e g u l I l e s d . o w n - s l o p e t o s t r e a m b e d s c o n t a l n l n g w 1 l l o w a n d a l d e r t h l c k e t . A s t h e g u 1 l l e s b e c o m e s h a l l o w e n t o w a r d t h e h e a d w a t e r s o f t h e s t r e a m s , t h e t r e e s b e c o m e m o r e s t u n t e d .
The ground vegetatlon throughout the area ls generally
u n l f o r m , t y p l c a l o f t h e A r c t l c t u n d r a . I t c o n s l s t s o f c l o s e l y -s p a c e d g r a -s -s t u -s -s o c k -s , r e i n d e e n a n d s p h a g n u m m o s s . O t h e n p l a n t s l n c l u d e L a b r a d o r t e a a n d s o m e f l o w e r l n g a n d b e r r y p l a n t s . T h e n e a r e a r e a s o f g r o u n d b l r c h , d w a r f a l d e r , d d w l 1 l o w , a t t a l n i n g h e l g h t s o f 2 t o 3 f e e t . S n o w C o v e r T h e s n o w c o v e r o f t h l s s l t e a r e a r e a c h e s a m a x l m u m d e p t h o f 3 to l+ feet and ls characterlstlc o f t h e M a c k e n z l e D e l t a a n d a d J a c e n t u p l a n d r e g l o n s . T h e a r e a e x t e n d . s l n a n o r t h -s o u t h d l r e c t l o n a n d 1 s d e v o l d o f a n y t r e e g r o w t h e x c e p t l n t h e s h e l t e r e d g u I l l e s " T h e s n o w c o v e r l s m o d l f l e d t h e r e f o n e , b y t h e p r e v a l l l n g w l n d , w h l c h s w e e p s a c r o s s t h l s a r e a f r o m t h e n o r t h . G e n e r a l l y , t h e h l g h e r a r e a s b e t w e e n t h e g u 1 1 l e s a r e c o v e r e d w l t h s n o w t o a d e p t h o f 1 t o 2 f e e t , , t h e s u r f a c e o f w h l c h i s p a c k e d a n d g l a z e d b y t h e w l n d . I l e a v y d r l f t s o f s n o w a c c u m u l a t e l n t h e g u l l l e s e s p e c l a l l y o n t h e s o u t h - f a c l n g ( 1 . e . n o r t h ) s l o p e s , w h l c h a r e o r l e n t e d l n a p e r p e n d l c u l a r d l r e c t l o n t o t h e p r e v a l l l n g w l n d " S o m e s e c t l o n s o f t h e g u 1 I 1 e s a r e c o m p l e t e l y f l I I e d w i t h s n o w . T h e s n o w c o v e r o n t h e g r o u n d b e t w e e n t h e g u l l l e s u s u a l l y l s m e l t e d b y t h e t h l n d w e e k l n J u n e b u t t h e h e a v y d r l f t s o n t h e n o r t h s l o p e s o f t h e g u 1 1 l e s r e m a l n u n t l l l a t e J u l y .
S o l l s D a t a
A c c e s s l b l l l t y o f t h e s l t e a n d d l s t a n c e t o a s o u r c e o f w a s h w a t e r d . l c t a t e d t h e l o c a t l o n o f t h e e x p l o r a t o r y b o r e h o l e s o n t h l s W e s t C h a n n e l s l t e . S l n c e t h e a r e a c l o s e s t t o t h e c h a n n e l c o n s l s t s o f l o w h l l l s s l o p l n g g e n t l y u p w a r d s f r o m t h e c h a n n e ] a n d d l s s e c t e d b y s e v e r a r shallow v-shaped gu11les, tt a p p e a r e d t h a t d r l 1 l h o l e s p l a c e d l n a 1 o w s p o t a n d on top of a r l d g e w o u l d l n d l c a t e , g e n e r a l l y , t h e s o l l c o n d l t l o n s o f t h e w h o l e a r e a .
Both a low and a hlgh spot were adJacent to the carnp-s l t e l o c a t e d l n t h e carnp-s o u t h e r n t h l r d o f t h e p r o p o carnp-s e d carnp-s L t e a r e a a n d n e x t t o t h e c h a n n e l . T h e l o c a t l o n o f t h e t w o e x p l o r a t o r y b o r e h o l e s , A B 2 B a n d 4 8 2 9 , l s s h o w n i n F l g . 1 4 .
C o r e r e c o v e r y a v e r a g e d about 50 per cent ln AB2B and a b o u t 33 per cent ln AB29. whenever stones are struck whlle d r l 1 1 l n g , p o o r c o r e r e c o v e r y m a y b e e x p e c t e d . B o r e h o l e A B 2 B w a s d r l l l e d , l n t h e 1 o w a r e a , t o a t q t g l { e p t h o t 3 2 f e e t , F n o m t h e g r o u n d s u r f a c e t o a depth 9 f 1 0 f e e t , t h e s o l l l s a b l a c k i s h - b r o w n o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l , f l b q o u s l n s t r u c t u r e w i t h u n d e c o m p o s e d r n a t e i l a l a n d t w l q s u p ! o * l n c h l n d l a m e t e r . f c e s e g r e g a t l o n , w h e n d l s c e r n f b l e , i " i n t h e f o r r n o f f l n e 1 c e lenses paral1e1 to the ground surface a n d a v e r a g l n g l e s s t h a n I / 3 2 lnbfr ln thlckness.
B e t w e e n 1 0 a n d 1 9 f e e t below the surface the soil ls a l1ght brown sl1t wlth many angular and some rounded stones u p t o 1 i n c h i n d l a m e t e r . s o m e l a y e r s o f l l g h t b r o w n m e d l u m -s i z , e d -s a n d , a n d f l n e -s a n d w l t h p e b b l e -s u p t d 1 f t l n c h i n d i a m e t e r h r e r e n o t e d . r c e s e g r e g a t l o n c o n s l s t s o f i r r e g u l a r l y o r i e n t e d i c e l e n s e s r a n g i n g l n t h l c k n e s s f r o m r , / 3 2 l n c f i t o 3 / B i n c h a l t h o u g h d i s c e r n i S t e i c e s e g r e g a t l o n w a s n o t n o t e d l n t h e s a n d s .
B e t w e e n 1 9 a n d 31 feet below the surface the so1l 1 s a b r o w n l s h - g r e y s l I t c l a y o f 1 o w c o m p r e s s l b l l l t y w i t h a n g u l a r a n d s u b a n g u l a r stones up to 1 lnch in dlameter. T h e l a s t f o o t , b o t w e e n 3 l m d 3 e f e e t b e l o w t h e s u r f a c e 1 " _ r g r e { s a n d y s t l t w l t h m a n y s u b a n g u l a r stones up to 3/u l n c h 1 n d l a m e t e r . T h e s l o w r a t e o f d r i l r p e n e t r a t i o n r r e r e s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e m a t e r l a l l s r e l a t l v e l y c o m p a c t a n d d e n s e .
- 1 8
B o r e h o l e A B 2 9 w a s d r l I l e d o n t o p o f a k n o l l . F n o m t h e g r o u n d s u r f a c e t o 4 feet below the surfeice the solI ls a r l o r g a n l c m a t e r l a l s 1 m l I a r t o d r l 1 l h o l e A B 2 B .
B e t w e e n I and 12 feet below the surface the soll ls a b r o w n l s h - g r e y s l l t e I d . y o f l o w c o m p r e s s l b l l l t y w l t h r a n d o m s p e c k s o f b r o w n d l s c o l o r a t l o n , s o m e h a t r l l k e r o o t s , a n d s o m e p e b b r e s u p t o 2 l n c h e s t n d l a m e t e r . r c e s e g r e g a t l o n c o n s l s t s o f h o r ' l z o n t a I 1 c e l e n s e s a v e r a g i n g l / B l n c h - t h l c k . B e t w e e n 1 2 a n d 2 2 f e e t , t h e s o l . l l s a g r e y . s a n d . y s1lt wlth marsr granlte a n d s a n d s t o n e s t o n e s l/1 lnch [o i/z ini:rr in dlameter.- f c e l e g l e g _ a ! l o n c o n s l s t s o f h o r l z o n t a l 1 c e l e n s e s a v e r a g l n g r / t 6 l n c h t h l c k .
rV. EASTffiN DGE OF MACKM.TZIE RIVER DELTA
S o 1 1 l n v e s t l g a t l o n s w e r e c a r r l e d o u t a t v a r l _ o u s l o c a t l o n s a l o n g t h e e a s t e r n f r l n g e o f t h e M a c k e n z l e R l v e r
D e l t a . E x p l o r a t o r y s o l ] s u r v e y s w e r e c a r r r - e d . o u t d u n l n g r95l+ a t t w o l o c a t l o n s e a s t o f A k l a v l k , E a s t r h r e e a n d E a s t F o u r . N o t e s o n s o i l c o n d l t l o n s a r e l n c l u d e d f o r K l t t l g a z u l t a n d t h e C a r l b o u H 1 1 1 s , w h l c h are sltuated on the East cfiannel north of E a s t F o u r .
EAST SITE FOUR
E a s t S l t e F o u r l s a p p r o x l m a t e t y J 6 a l r m l l e s ( 5 7 . 6 c h a n n e r m l l - e s ) n o r t h e a s t o f t h e p r e s e n t t o w n o f Aklavlk. T h e l l e a l n v e s t l g a t e d r u n s a p p r o x l - m a t e l y l*L ml1es along the East C h a n n e l a n d e x t e n d s l n l a n d f o r a b o u t o n o m l l e ( f f [ . 1 8 ) . Topography. T h e n o r t h e r n p o r t l o n o f t h e s l t e l s g e n e r a l l y f l a t w t t h t e m a c e - l l k e u n d u l a t t o n s r l s l n g t o a g u I I y a t t r r e e a i t ( F t g . ] - T ) T h e s o u t h e r n p o r t l o n i s a s e r 1 6 s o f r 6 u n d 6 a r r r r r s and knolls w l t h a g e n e r a l r l s e t o t h e n o r t h e a s t . A s t r l k l n g s u r f a c e f e a t u r e o f a l m o s t t h e e n t l r e a r e a ls the hummocky- ground. Many hummocks are as large as I feet l n d l a m e t e r w l t h separatlng t r e n c h e s z t o 3 feet deep. some h a v e f r o s t c r a c k s s e v e r a l l n c h e s w l d e whlIe otklers are bare of v e g e t a t l o n a n d e x p o s e b r o w n c l a y e y - s i l t w l t h s o m e f l n e s a n d . I . { o s t o f t h e h u m m o c k s have a vegetatlve c o v e r .
V e g e t a t l o n S c a t t e r e d b l r c h u p t o 30 feet hlgh predomlnate on t h e n o n t h e r n p o r t l o n o f E a s t F o u r . T h e l o n g s l o p e w l t h a t e r r a c e - I l k e u n d u l a t l o n r l s l n g t o t h e g u 1 l y a t t h e e a s t l s c o v e r e d p r e d o m i n a n t l y w l t h b l r c h . S c a t t e r e d s p r u c e u p t o 30 f e e t h l g h b e c o m e m o r e s p a r s e u p t h e s l o p e . M o s t o f t h e g r o u n d l s c o v e r e d w l t h d e n s e w l l l o w , a l d e r , a n d g r o u n d b l r c h . M a n y d e a d a n d b u r n e d . t r e e s r i l o s t l y s p r u c e , w e r e o b s e r v e d . T h e g r o u n d c o v e r c o n s l s t s o f h u m m o c k s a n d g r a s s y t u f t s . T h e v e g e t a t l o n o n t h e b e t t e r d r a l n e d a r e a s l n t h e s o u t h e r n p o r t l o n o f s c a t t e r e d k n o l l s a n d s w a l e s l s b l r c h r u p t o 2 0 f e e t h l g h , w l t h s c a t t e r e d s p r u c e . T h e u n d e r g r o w t h l s d e n s e g r o u n d b l r c h
and the ground surface ls hurrnocky.
S o 1 l s D a t a
T h e l o c a t l o n s ' o f e x p l o n a t o n y b o r e h o l e s w e r e d l c t a t e d l a r g e l y b y t h e a v a l I a b l l l t y o f w a s h w a t e r a n d a c c e s s l b l l l t y . F o r t u n a t e l y , r e p r e s e n t a t l v e a r e a s l n t h e n o n t h a n d s o u t h
pontlons of the area lrere close to the East Channel and back
packlng of sampllng and drll1lng equipment oven hunrnocky
terraln and through dense undergrowth was kept to a mlnlmum,
Exploratory borehole AB2l+ on the northern portlon of
t h e E a s t F o u r a r e a w a s a d v a n c e d t o a d e p t h o f 3 2 f e e t ( F t g . 1 5 ) . T o a d e p t h o f 1 1 f e e t , t h e s o l l l s a d a r k g r e y c l a y o f l n t e n
-medlate compresslblllty wlth many small- stones and random
p a t c h e s o f u n d e c o m p o s e d organlc materlal. B e t w e e n 1 1 a n d J0 f e e t t h e s o i l l s a 1 l g h t g r e y c l a y o f l n t e r m e d l a t e c o m p r e s s i b l l l t y . B e t w e e n l0 and 32 feet the 11ght grey clay ls compacted and denee w l t h n o d . l s c e r n l b l e l c e s e g r e g a t l o n .
Exploratory borehole AB25 on the southern pontlon of
E a s t F o u : r a r e a w a s a d v a n c e d t o a d e p t h o f 3 7 f e e t ( F t g . 1 6 ) . T h e s o l l 1 s a g r e y l s . h c l a y e y - s l l t o f l o w e o m p r e s s l b l l l t y w l t h s o m e s t o n e s u p t o * tnch ln dlameter. A t a d e p t h o f 1 8 t o 2 0 f e e t t h e r e a p p e a r s t o b e m o r e stones up to 1 lnch ln d l a m e t e n .
A b a n k o f e x p o s e d s o l l w a s observed on the strore of L a k e 3 ( F l g . 1 6 ) . S o 1 1 s a m p l e s w e r e o b t a l n e d f r o m a t r e n c h
a l o n g t h e f a c e o f t h e e x p o s u r e . T h e e x p o s u r e l s l n a s o l l s l u m p l n g a r e a t h a t o c c u r s l n m a n y p l a c e s a l o n g the eastern f r l n g e o f t h e 1 a k e . T h e t r e n c h a t t h l s l o c a t l o n r e v e a r e d t h e
