SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 27


 Figure 12. Isopach map of the Everglades
 region showing thickness of peat
 and some muck areas. (From
 Davis, 1946).




the variability of the material. Peat may be classified as fibric, hemic or
sapric depending on the extent to which it has decomposed (see section
entitled "Classification Systems Applied to Peat"). It also varies with
respect to the chemical and physical properties that affect its eventual
uses, e.g. fuel and horticulture. Complete assessment of the peat
resource requires laboratory analysis in addition to time-consuming field
studies.
 Attempts to assess the amount and locations of peat in Florida are
hampered by an additional factor. Peat deteriorates by oxidizing when
the wetlands where it accumulates are drained. This drainage may be
due to the activities of man or by natural lowering of the water table in


 LAKE
 LEGEND O .KEECHOBEE
 OKEECHOBE'l'\
 MUCK
 PEAT
THICKNESS
 FEET

 S 7-9Y ';.'. "

 5-7 BIG
 CYPRESS ii :



 D o-
 0-1 MIAMI

 WITHIN LIMITS '
 OF EVERGLADES



 MANGROVE
 PEAT CAPE SABLE

 ISOPA CH MAP
 SHOWING THICKNESS OF PEAT IN
 THE EVERGLADES