VISUAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL 1. Particle size Soil Type Particle size Boulder > 300mm Cobbles 300mm to 80mm Gravel 80mm to 4.75mm Sand 4.75mm to 75 micron Silt 75 micron to 2 micron Clay <2micron If the individual particles can be seen, the particles are probably fine sand, but if can not, the particles are probably silt or clay. Silt and clay particles often form clumps that may be mistaken for sand particles. In this situation, wetting the clump will break apart the particles. To distinguish between silt and clay particle, roll the soil into threads of 3mm in diameter. This may be done with soils containing high amount of clay, but silty soils cracks during the process. 2. Color Dark grey or black — Presence of Organic material 3. Odor Soils containing a significant amount of organic material usually have a distinctive odor of decaying vegetation. This is especially apparent in fresh samples. If the samples are dried, the odor may be revived by heating a moistened sample.4. Dry strength Dry strength of a fine grained soil may be estimated by crushing a dry 3mm sample between the thumb and forefinger. If the sample crushes easily, it contains mostly silt. Soil containing clay fractions are more difficult to break apart, however, their strength may be lost when wetted. Sands and silts contain cementing agent. If the soils are wetted, cemented soils retain their dry strength, whereas clays will be soften. Description Criteria None The dry specimen crumbles into powder with mere pressure of handling Low The dry specimen crumbles into powder with some finger medium pressure High The dry specimen can not be broken with finger pressure Specimen will break into pieces between thumb and a hard surface Very high The dry specimen can not be broken between the thumb and a hard surface 5. Moisture condition Condition —_ Description Dry Dusty, dry to touch Moist Damp but no visible water Wet Visible free water6. Cementing agent To check the presence of cementing agent such as Calcium carbonate, it is allowed to react with HCI. “Condition Description None a No visible reaction Weak Some reaction with bubbles formation Strong Violent reaction with bubbles forming immediately 7. Cementation Condition Description Weak Crumbles or break with handling or little finger pressure Moderate Crumbles or break with considerable finger pressure Strong Will not crumble or break with finger pressure 8. Plasticity Description Criteria Non-plastic A 3mm thread cannot be rolled at any water content Low The thread can barely be rolled and the lump can not be formed when drier than the plastic limit Medium The thread is easy to roll and not much time to require the plastic limit High It takes a considerable time rolling and kneading to teach the plastic limit9. Consistency a. Consistency classification of Fine-grained soil Classification Description Un-drained shear strength Very soft Soil can be plastically squeezed or = < 12 kPa penetrated with thumb Soft Soil is molded with light finger 25 to 50 kPa pressure Medium Soil is molded with strong finger 50 to 100 kPa pressure Stiff Soil is indented with thumb 100 to 150 kPa Hard Soil is indented with thumbnail 150 to 200 kPa Very hard Soil is not easily indented with > 200 kPa pencil point b. Consistency classification of coarse-grained soil Classification _ Description Relative density Very loose Easily penetrated with a 12mm Oto 15% diameter rod pushed by hand Loose Hardly penetrated with a 12mm 15to35% diameter rod pushed by hand Medium dense Easily penetrated 300 mm with a 35to065% 12mm diameter rod with a 2.3kg hammer Dense Hardly penetrated 300mm with a 65t085% 12mm diameter rod driven with a 2.3 kg hammer Very dense Penetrated only 150mm with a 12 mm 85 to 100% diameter rod driven with a 2.3 kg hammer