ACTIVE GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS IN CANADA'S HIGH ARCTIC

Canada’s High Arctic is charaterised by thick permafrost (over 600 m) that has been thought to inhibit active groundwater systems. However recent work has shown that shallow to deep circulating groundwater systems are common in mountainous glaciated regions. The Borup Fiord sulphur spring provides insight into how these systems operate. Combined geological and geochemical data suggest the abundant sulphur in this system is derived by deep circulation of glacial melt water as much as 1.5 km into underlying bedrock before returning to surface and discharging through glacial ice. Paleo-spring channels found in bedrock in the proglacial area suggest that the insulating layer of ice may play an important role in maintaining spring discharge.