The enigmatic rings of the James Bay Lowland : a probable geological origin / J.J. Veillette, J-F. Giroux.: M183-2/3708E-PDF

"Light-coloured circular rings typically <300 m but up to 2 km in diameter, are clearly visible on airphotos, in poorly-drained stands of black spruce (Picea mariana) in the boreal forest of northwestem Quebec and northern Ontario, as well as on Anticosti Island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The features have long been object of curiosity and speculation. Their origin remains unknown and has intrigued vegetation and earth science specialists since aerial photographs became a common surveying tool. The features have been noted by geologists, some of whom mapped them using a symbol proportional to their actual size. But generally the rings were ignored or not detected by surficial mappers and foresters. We present here the first systematic inventory of the features in an attempt to focus the attention of the geobotanical and geoscience communities on their potential scientific and economic importance. This progress report traces the evolution of research completed toward the objective of determining the origin of the rings, considered by some to be the result of biological and by others, of geological processes. We favour a geolocial/geochemical origin on the basis of the strong negative evidence gathered with respect to biological causes and the positive evidence for geological processes described in this report. Current investigations being carried out in cooperation with the Ontario Geological Survey and the private sector, are directed at a detailed analysis of individual rings"--Intro., p. 3.

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