Document No.

: GDWI-COP01-005
Revision No.: 00
Work Instruction
Process Type: Customer Oriented Process

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Liquid Limit Determination Effective Date: October 30, 2017
Regional Office No. V
Rawis, Legazpi City Page 1 of 4

Revision History

Effective DCN Approved

Revision No. Description Author
Date No. by

M.C.L. G. A.
00 30-Oct-17 - Initial Issue Moratalla Molina

Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

Ma. Cristina L. Moratalla Arlene E. Dayao Engr. Guillermo A. Molina, Jr. IV

Senior Chemist Chief, Geosciences Division OIC, Office of the RD
Process Owner Division Chief Regional Director

PROPRIETARY NOTICE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION PROPRIETARY TO MINES AND GEOCIENCES BUREAU, REGIONAL OFFICE NO. V (MGB RO V). ANY DISCLOSURE, COPY OR USE IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT UPON WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MGB RO V.
 Document No.: GDWI-COP01-005
Revision No.: 00
Work Instruction
Process Type: Customer Oriented Process

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Liquid Limit Determination Effective Date: October 30, 2017
Regional Office No. V
Rawis, Legazpi City Page 2 of 4

1.0 Procedure Details

Steps Activities Responsible

1.1 Prepare the following apparatus: Chemist /
 Evaporating dish Laboratory
 Pulverizing apparatus (mortar and pestle) Technician II
 US No. 40 (0.425 mm) sieve
 Spatula, about 3 in. (75 mm) long and approximately ¾ in. (19
mm) wide
 Balance, sensitive to 0.01 g
 Watering bottle with tap water
 Numbered aluminum weighing dish with close fitting numbered
lids
 Mechanical Liquid Limit Device
 Grooving tool
 Oven, capable of maintaining temperature at 110±5˚C
 Desiccator with desiccating agent

1.2 Take about 100 g sample from the thoroughly mixed material passing Chemist /
the 0.425 mm (No. 40) sieve which has been obtained from the Laboratory
grinding and sieving operations. Technician II

1.3 Place sample in an evaporating dish and mix thoroughly with 15 to 20 Chemist /
mL tap water by alternately and repeatedly stirring and kneading with a Laboratory
spatula. Technician II

If needed, further additions of water shall be made in increments of 1

to 3 mL; each increment of water shall be thoroughly mixed with the
soil.

1.4 Place a sufficient quantity of the soil mixture in the cup above the spot Chemist /
where the cup rests on the base and squeeze and spread into the Laboratory
position shown below, with as few strokes of the spatula as possible. Technician II
Care should be taken to prevent the entrapment of air bubbles within
the mass. With the spatula, level the soil and at the same time trim it to
a depth of 0.3937 in. (10 mm) at the point of maximum thickness.
Return the excess soil to the evaporating dish.

PROPRIETARY NOTICE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION PROPRIETARY TO MINES AND GEOCIENCES BUREAU, REGIONAL OFFICE NO. V (MGB RO V). ANY DISCLOSURE, COPY OR USE IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT UPON WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MGB RO V.
 Document No.: GDWI-COP01-005
Revision No.: 00
Work Instruction
Process Type: Customer Oriented Process

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Liquid Limit Determination Effective Date: October 30, 2017
Regional Office No. V
Rawis, Legazpi City Page 3 of 4

1.5 Equally divide the soil pat by a firm stroke of the grooving tool along Chemist /
the diameter through the centerline of the cam follower so that a clean, Laboratory
sharp groove of the proper dimensions will be formed. Technician II

1.6 Lift and drop the cup by turning the crank at the rate of 2 rps, until the Chemist /
two halves of the sample flow together and come in contact at the Laboratory
bottom of the groove along a distance of ½ in. (12.7 mm). Record the Technician II
number of drops (blows) required to close the groove this distance.

1.7 Take a slice of soil approximately the width of the spatula, extending Chemist /
from edge to edge of the soil cake at right angles to the groove and Laboratory
including that portion of the groove in which the soil flowed together. Technician II
Place the soil in a previously tared aluminum dish for moisture content
determination.

1.8 Repeat the foregoing operations (1.3 to 1.7) for at least two different Chemist /
determinations on the soil sample to obtain samples of such Laboratory
consistency that at least one determination will be made in each of the Technician II
following range of drops: 25-35, 20-30, 15-25, so the range in the three

PROPRIETARY NOTICE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION PROPRIETARY TO MINES AND GEOCIENCES BUREAU, REGIONAL OFFICE NO. V (MGB RO V). ANY DISCLOSURE, COPY OR USE IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT UPON WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MGB RO V.
 Document No.: GDWI-COP01-005
Revision No.: 00
Work Instruction
Process Type: Customer Oriented Process

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Liquid Limit Determination Effective Date: October 30, 2017
Regional Office No. V
Rawis, Legazpi City Page 4 of 4

determinations is at least 10 drops. The number of drops required to

close the groove should be above and below 25.

1.9 Calculate as follows: Chemist /

Laboratory
1.9.1 Calculate the moisture content of each sample of soil, Technician II
expressed as a percentage of the weight of the oven-dry soil,
as follows:

𝑊1 − 𝑊2
%𝑀𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑥 100
𝑊2
Where:
𝑊1 = weight of wet soil sample
𝑊2 = weight of dried soil sample

1.9.2 Plot the percent moisture as ordinate on an arithmetic scale

against the number of blows as abscissa on a logarithmic
scale. Draw a straight line connecting these points. The graph
is called the “flow curve”.

1.9.3 The moisture content corresponding to the intersection of the

flow curve with the 25 blow ordinate is the liquid limit of the soil.

Reference: ASTM 4318 (Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index
of Soils)

2.0 Distribution List

Note 1: Select relevant copy holder to appear in below list.

Copy Holder No. Office/ Division/Copy Holder

1 Office of the Regional Director
2 Geosciences Division

Note 2: Master Copy is in the custody of the Records Officer.

- END -

PROPRIETARY NOTICE
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION PROPRIETARY TO MINES AND GEOCIENCES BUREAU, REGIONAL OFFICE NO. V (MGB RO V). ANY DISCLOSURE, COPY OR USE IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED EXCEPT UPON WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MGB RO V.