Groundwater flow and the metal content of peat

Variations in the concentrations of metals in three peat profiles from the Lost River Peatland, Minnesota are related to the degree of groundwater discharge into the peat, rather than the metal content of the peat when it was originally deposited. Elevated concentrations of metals in the peat profile, particularly from a spring-fen, identify where the greatest volume of groundwater discharge occurs in the peatland. In each profile, the metal content of the peat corroborates previous hydrologic and geochemical sutdies showing active groundwater flow in the humified peat, which must have substantial permeability. Consequently, metal profiles in peat may be used as indicators of the condition of groundwater flow in peatlands where other hydrologic or geochemical information is lacking.