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Geol 40 Quiz 3

The document discusses the differences between silt and clay, including identification methods in the field, and classifies coarse and fine-grained soils. It outlines various tests for classifying fine-grained soils and provides an overview of the U.S. agricultural soil classification system. Additionally, it clarifies that 'SC' refers to clayey sand, indicating a higher proportion of sand with significant clay content.

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Pecasales Karisa Louise A.
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7 views2 pages

Geol 40 Quiz 3

The document discusses the differences between silt and clay, including identification methods in the field, and classifies coarse and fine-grained soils. It outlines various tests for classifying fine-grained soils and provides an overview of the U.S. agricultural soil classification system. Additionally, it clarifies that 'SC' refers to clayey sand, indicating a higher proportion of sand with significant clay content.

Uploaded by

Pecasales Karisa Louise A.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Karisa Louise A.

Pecasales April 3,2025

2CEB – GEOL 40 GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING

QUIZ 3

1. Differentiate between silt and clay. How will you identify them in the field.
Silt and clay are both fine-grained soil particles, but they differ in size, texture,
and behavior. Silt particles are relatively large, ranging from 0.0625 to 0.002 mm, and
have a smooth, floury or slightly gritty texture. In contrast, clay particles are extremely
small, less than 0.002 mm, and have a plastic, sticky or slippery texture. To identify
silt and clay in the field, you can perform a texture test by rubbing a small sample of
soil between your fingers. Silt feels smooth or slightly gritty, while clay feels plastic or
sticky. You can also conduct a water test by mixing a small sample of soil with water.
Silt settles quickly, forming a cloudy suspension, while clay settles slowly or remains
suspended. Additionally, you can perform a ball test by moistening a small sample of
soil and shaping it into a ball. Silt forms a cohesive ball that crumbles easily, while
clay forms a tight, cohesive ball that resists crumbling.

2. What are the coarse grained soils? Indicate the different classifications of the coarse-
grained soils.
Coarse-grained soils refer to soils with particles larger than 0.0625 mm in
diameter. These soils are typically non-plastic and non-cohesive, meaning they don’t
stick together when moistened. The main classifications of coarse-grained soils are
gravel and sand. Gravel consists of particles larger than 2 mm in diameter, and can
be further subdivided into coarse gravel (particles larger than 20 mm), medium gravel
(particles between 6 mm and 20 mm), and fine gravel (particles between 2 mm and 6
mm). Sand, on the other hand, consists of particles between 0.0625 mm and 2 mm
in diameter, and can be further subdivided into coarse sand (particles between 0.5
mm and 2 mm), medium sand (particles between 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm), and fine
sand (particles between 0.0625 mm and 0.25 mm).

3. What are fine grained soils? Indicate the different classification of fine-grained soils.
Fine-grained soils refer to soils with particles smaller than 0.0625 mm in
diameter. These soils are typically plastic and cohesive, meaning they stick together
when moistened. The main classifications of fine-grained soils are silt and clay. Silt
consists of particles between 0.002 mm and 0.0625 mm in diameter, while clay
consists of particles smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter. Fine-grained soils can be
further subdivided based on their plasticity and other properties, such as coarse,
medium, and fine silt, and coarse, medium, and fine clay. Additionally, fine-grained
soils can also be classified based on their behavior and composition, including
inorganic clays, organic clays, silty clays, and clayey silts.

4. Describe the field tests that can be done to classify the fine-grained soils into fines
and, silt and clay.
To classify fine-grained soils into silt and clay, several field tests can be
performed. The “Feel Test” involves rubbing a small sample of soil between your
fingers to assess its texture. If the soil feels smooth and floury, it’s likely silt, while a
plastic or sticky feel indicates clay. The “Water Test” involves mixing a small sample
of soil with water and observing its behavior. If the soil settles quickly and forms a
cloudy suspension, it’s likely silt, while a slow-settling or non-settling mixture
indicates clay. The “Shaking Test” involves shaking a small sample of soil in a
container filled with water. If the soil forms a cloudy suspension that settles quickly,
it’s likely silt, while a slow-settling or non-settling mixture indicates clay. The “Thread
Test” involves rolling a small sample of soil into a thread-like shape. If the thread
holds its shape and doesn’t crumble, it’s likely clay, while a crumbling or breaking
thread indicates silt. These field tests can provide a preliminary classification of fine-
grained soils into silt and clay.

5. Give a short account of the U.S. agricultural classification of soils.


The U.S. agricultural classification of soils, also known as the USDA soil
taxonomy, categorizes soils into 12 main orders based on their physical and chemical
properties. These orders are: Alfisols, Andisols, Aridisols, Entisols, Gelisols,
Histosols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Oxisols, Spodosols, Ultisols, and Vertisols. Each
order is further subdivided into suborders, great groups, and families, resulting in over
20,000 different soil series. This classification system considers factors such as soil
texture, moisture levels, temperature, and nutrient availability to group soils with
similar characteristics and potential uses. The USDA soil taxonomy provides a
standardized framework for understanding and managing soils, which is essential for
sustainable agriculture, conservation, and environmental management.

6. What does SC means; sandy clay or clayey sand?


In soil classification, “SC” refers to clayey sand. This designation indicates
that the soil contains a higher proportion of sand particles, but also has a significant
amount of clay particles. The “SC” classification suggests that the soil’s behavior and
properties are more influenced by the clay fraction, despite the presence of a larger
amount of san

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