The nature of a shield lake sediment

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Abstract
The nature of the sediment of Drinking Lake in the Churchill River Basin in Canada was studied with special reference to its chemical and colloidal composition. Crystalline minerals present in the colloidal fractions of the sediment are quartz, cristobalite, feldspars, micas, amphiboles, vermiculite, chlorite and kaolinite. Sesquioxidic components and the extractable Ca and Mg are present not only in the colloidal fractions but also in the non‐colloidal fractions of the sediment. Over 99% of the nitrogen in the sediment is organic and about 60% of the sediment phosphorus is inorganic. The importance of the crystalline and non‐crystalline mineral components of the sediment studied in the exchange of nutrients between the sediment and its overlying water is discussed. In view of the important roles of these mineral components in affecting the transfer of nutrients, possible significant modifications of the quality of the lake water after impoundment, if a dam were constructed in the basin for a hydro‐electric development, deserve close attention.