68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

HYPER-SALINE SPRING DYNAMICS AND SALT DEPOSITS ON AXEL HEIBERG ISLAND, NUNAVUT

Session: Geocryology II / Géocryologie II

Melissa Ward, McGill University (Canada)
Wayne Pollard, McGill University (Canada)

On Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian High Arctic, low temperature perennial saline springs occur despite cold polar desert conditions marked by a mean annual air temperature close to -20°C. Distinct large scale salt deposits are associated with two hyper-saline springs. This research characterises the geomorphology and geochemistry of two hyper-saline springs on Axel Heiberg Island: the first is located at Wolf Diapir (79°07’23”N; 90°14’39”W), the deposit at this site resembles a large conical mound (2.5 m tall x 3 m diameter). The second is located at Stolz Diapir (79°04’30”N; 87°04’30”W). In this case a series of pool and barrage structures staircase down a narrow valley for approximately 800 m (several pools are up to 10 m wide x 3 m deep). A detailed methodology and preliminary results are presented.