Soil

Chemistry for Engineers 2022

 Soil
▪ The thin layer of material covering the earth's surface.

▪ Produced from the weathering or

fragmentation of rocks.

▪ Composed 45% mineral particles, 5% organic materials,

20-30% air, 20-30% water and living organisms.
Rocks
▪ A natural substance composed solid
crystals of different minerals fused
together into solid lump.

▪ Igneous rock - formed when magma

cools and crystalizes

▪ Sedimentary rock - formed when

eroded fragments of other rocks or
from the remains of plants or animals

▪ Metamorphic rock - transformed

sedimentary or igneous rock by
pressure, heat or intrusion of fluids
Igneous rock
▪ Texture and composition – basis for classification

▪ Texture – physical characteristics

▪ Composition – specific minerology and chemical composition

▪ Felsic igneous rock – rich in feldspar AT4 O8 and silica SiO2 minerals

▪ Mafic igneous rock – rich in ferromagnesium and some feldspar

▪ Intermediate igneous rock – between felsic and mafic composition

▪ Ultramafic igneous rock – extremely mafic

Sedimentary rocks
▪ Composed of sandstones, mudrocks and carbonate rocks

▪ Sandstone – rich in quartz, significant amount of feldspar, silt (quartz,

kaolinite, chlorite, hydromica, smectite, and felspar) and clay (silica,
alumina or magnesium, water)

▪ Mudrocks – rich in silt and clay

▪ Carbonate rocks – rich in carbonate minerals like calcite and dolomite

 Metamorphic rock
▪ Composed of quartz, felspar, mica, calcite and hornblende

▪ Mica – composed of silica, alumina, potassium oxide and ferric oxide

▪ Calcite – composed of calcium carbonate

▪ Hornblende – composed of calcium-rich mineral Ca, Na 2 Mg, Fe, Al 5 Al, Si 8 O22 (OH)2
Soil Horizon
▪ Soil profile

▪ Distinct layers of soil parallel to the surface soil.

▪ Vertical section exposed by soil pit.

▪ Layers are identified by the color and size of soil

particles.

▪ Layers of soil – Top soil, Subsoil, Parent rock

 ▪ Uppermost most layer of soil
Top soil ▪ O soil horizon

▪ Top 2’’ – 7’’ of the soil

▪ Layer of highest biological activity

▪ Composed of organic matter and microorganisms

▪ Composed of 𝐂, 𝐍, microbes and larger creatures like

worms, beetles and other insects.

▪ Black color, the blacker soil the richer nutrients

content

▪ Strong earthy smell

▪ Hold more 𝐇𝟐 𝐎
Suboil
▪ Undersoil

▪ B soil horizon

▪ Composed of sand, silt and clay

▪ Layer collecting the minerals from the

top soil

▪ More small rocks and clay particles

▪ Less organic matter and fewer

nutrients

▪ Lighter color than top soil

Parent rock
▪ Bedrock

▪ Parent material or prolith

▪ Starting point of soil development

 ▪ Composed of small particles of weathered
rocks like granite, limestone and quartz.

▪ Poorest type of soil due very low nutrients

content and poor water holding capacity.

Sand
 Silt
▪ Composed of rocks and minerals

▪ More fertile

▪ Particle size smaller than sand

▪ Fine and smooth

▪ Better water holding capacity than

sand

▪ Found mostly near river, lakes and

other bodies

▪ Mostly carried and transported by

water currents
 ▪ Smallest particle size

Clay ▪ Tightly packed particles with little to

no air space

▪ Sticky when wet but smooth when dry

▪ Hard for water and air to penetrate

▪ Densest and heaviest soil

▪ Combination of sand, silt and clay in
equilibrium Loam
▪ Capable to retain nutrients and water

▪ Humus

▪ High in calcium content

▪ High pH due
Uses of Soil
▪ Support system

▪ Natural water filter and purifier

▪ Natural source of nutrients and minerals

▪ Raw materials for minerals and

elements
▪ Well being and quality of life

▪ Artistic expression
 ▪ Ingredient of beauty products
and treatments

▪ Raw material for Microbial fuel cell

▪ Ecosystem balance

▪ Source of medicine
▪ Sources of raw materials for building
and construction materials
Selection of sites with the best soil is an important decision civil
engineers have to make in the building process of structures and
infrastructures for individual use and the society as a whole. What
should civil engineers consider in soils when erecting safe structures and
infrastructures?