Field Description of Soils

The field description of the soils will be based on a visual observation and physical characteristics of the soils. The soil shall be
described by Color, Grain Size, Moisture Content, Consistency / Relative Density, Odor, Fabric, Grading, Other Features, Origin.
The following descriptions will be used, in order, in describing the soils.
COLOR Typical soils colors may include light brown, dark brown, dark gray, light gray, brownish gray, reddish brown, yellow-
brown, olive-brown, etc.
Grain size describes the dominant grain-size composition of the soil. In general, the soil will either be fine grained or coarse
grained. Fine grained soils include clay, silt, clayey silt, silty clay, organic clay and organic silt, sandy clay and sandy silt.
GRAIN SIZE

Coarse grained soils include gravel, sand, sandy gravel, clayey gravel, silty gravel, silty sand, clayey sand. The description
should begin with the dominant constituent given in capitol letters, using “and” if two constituents occur in approximately
equal percentages. Minor constituents should be indicated using the following descriptors:
Trace: Less than 10% trace sand, trace silt, etc. Adjective: 20% to 35% gravelly, sandy, silty, clayey, etc.
Some: 10% to 25% some sand, some silt, etc. And: 45% to 55% and gravel, and sand, and silt, etc.
For Gravels or Sands:
Clean: < 5% fines Borderline: 5 to 12% percent fines Dirty: > 12% fines
The moisture shall be described using the following descriptors:
MOISTURE

Dry: No visible moisture, dry and Moist: Water present, but material not saturated
dusty
Damp: Not dry, but no free moisture Wet: Free water present in soil
present

Note the consistency of Fine-Grained soils or the Relative Density of Coarse-Grained soils.
Fine-Grained Coarse-Grained
Consistency SPT Field Test Rel. SPT Field Test
Density
V. Soft <2 Squeezes between fingers V. <4 Easily penetrated with a ½ inch rebar
when fist is closed. Easily Loose pushed by hand
penetrated several inches by
thumb.
Soft 3-4 Easily molded by fingers. Easily Loose 5-10 Easily penetrated with a ½ inch rebar
CONSISTENCY

penetrated one inch by thumb. pushed by hand

Med. Stiff 5-8 Molded by strong pressure of Med. 11-30 Easily penetrated with ½ inch rebar
fingers. Can be penetrated over Dense driven with a 5 lb hammer. (Can
¼” by thumb with moderate penetrate 1 ft.)
effort.
Stiff 9-15 Dented by strong pressure of Dense 31-50 Penetrated a foot with ½ inch rebar
fingers. Indented about ¼” by driven with a 5 lb hammer. (Can
thumb but penetrated only with penetrate 1 ft.)
great effort
V. Stiff 16-30 Dented only slightly by finger V. >50 Penetrated only a few inches with ½
pressure. Readily indented by Dense inch rebar driven with a 5 lb hammer
thumbnail.
Hard >30 Dented only slightly by pencil
point. Indented with difficulty by
thumbnail.
ODOR Note any unusual odors present, such as organic, sulfidic, petroleum, chemical, etc.
Split open a sample along its length and inspect for fabric on the face of the fresh break. Soils that show relics of the structure
of the parent rock material shall be described as a residual soil. Fabric, if present, should be described as given below.
Stratified Alternating layers of varying material or Blocky Cohesive soil that can be broken down
color with layers at least 6 mm thick. Note into smaller angular lumps which resist
FABRIC

thickness. further breakdown.

Fissured Breaks along definite planes of fracture with Lensed Inclusion of small pockets of different soil,
little resistance to fracturing. such a small lenses of sand or silt in a
clay deposit. Note thickness and material.
Slickensided Fracture planes appear polished or glossy, Homogeneous Same color and appearance throughout.
sometimes stratified.
GRADATION Describe whether coarse grained soils are well graded (comprised of a range of particle sizes) or poorly graded
( comprised of primarily a narrow range of particle sizes).
OTHER Other features, as observed should be described, such as roots, fossils, etc.
ORIGIN Note the likely origin of the soil deposit. Descriptors may include fill, alluvium, colluvium, lacustrine, residuum,
till, outwash