How much does peat (a black, organic kind of dirt) weigh?  Please
answer in yards per ton.  The weight of peat varies signicantly due to
how wet or dry it is.  Please answer for wet and dry or at least give
some kind of a range.  I do not need a highly accurate answer -- some
good ballpark numbers will do.  FYI -- My best guess is that it varies
from 1.2 yds/ton to 2.0 yds/ton.  Thank you!

kepes-ga,


According to the US Geological Survey report on peat:


http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/peat/510499.pdf



the average density of different types of peat varied over a considerable range.

Table 6 of the report is titled, aptly, "AVERAGE DENSITY OF DOMESTIC
PEAT SOLD IN 1999"

and tells us the density (in kg/cu meter) of:


sphangnum moss 169-219

hypnum moss 475-578

reed-sedge  557-597

Humus 797-1055


The table also tells us:


To convert kilograms per cubic meter to pounds per cubic yard multiply by 1.685.

Accordingly, the above table, in pounds per cubic yard is:


phangnum moss 285-369

hypnum moss 475-800

reed-sedge  939-1006

Humus 1342-1778


So, the number of cubic yards in a ton (2000 pounds) of peat comes to:


phangnum moss 285-369  7.0-5.4

hypnum moss 475-800  4.2-2.5

reed-sedge  939-1006  2.1-2.0

Humus 1342-1778   1.5-1.1  


So it seems your guess was awfully good as far as humus is concerned,
but other forms of peat, being far less dense, need a lot more cubic
yards to make up a ton of the stuff.  No doubt, the water content of
the peat types is a big factor in the weight difference.

I trust this information fully answers your question.  

However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need.  If you would like any additional information, just post a
Request for Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further,
and I'm at your service.

All the best,

pafalafa-ga



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