Terrain Geochemistry Surveys, Permafrost Studies, and Arctic Limnology, District of Keewatin, N.W.T.: Implications for Water Quality Monitoring in the North

Geochemical studies and surveys conducted by the Geological Survey of Canada have provided considerable information about the natural geochemical variations in glacial drift, lake sediments, and lake waters in south-central District of Keewatin. In addition to their intended contribution to mineral exploration, these activities yielded much basic background data that may be applied to the planning of water quality monitoring programs in the region. Studies of permafrost features, and arctic limnology have furnished knowledge about natural geomorphic and diagenetic processes that influence surface water quality. Cryoturbation, on land and in the shallow areas of lakes underlain by permafrost, plays a major role in the transfer of particulate and dissolved drift constituents to surface waters. In spite of the abundance of mineral detritus on shore, profundal lake sediments are typically highly diatomaceous and possess conspicuous oxic surface layers that likely have a strong capacity to sequester both nutrients and trace metals.