A STUDY ON THE DECOMPOSITION IN LAKE BOTTOM SEDIMENTS IN THE ORDOVICIAN AND POST-ORDOVICIAN OF ONTARIO II

Abstract

This thesis analyses the sediments created by decomposing organic matter present in southern Ontario lakes to ascertain the amount of re-mineralisation that has taken place in the organic sediment. The intermediate products analysed for in this thesis were; bitumens, protobitumens, fats, pectins, water soluble carbohydrates and proteins, minerals, hemicelluloses, dilute acid soluble proteins, celluloses, humic acid and lignins. In addition the total carbon present in each sample of sediment was also determined. The nitrogen and phosphorus content of each sample was determined as well as their content in a number of the aforementioned fractions. Since the problem has been approached from a quantitative basis, it is hoped that the results will allow for the determination of what kind of decomposition has taken place as well as how much decomposition has taken place.