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ACITIVITY 1-A
VISUAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS

OBJECTIVE:
Visually classify the soils.

STANDARD REFERENCE:
ASTM D 2488 - Standard Practice for Description and Identification of
Soils (Visual - Manual Procedure)

PURPOSE:
The first step in any geotechnical engineering project is to identify and
describe the subsoil condition. For example, as soon as a ground is
identified as gravel, engineer can immediately form some ideas on the
nature of problems that might be encountered in a tunneling project. In
contrast, a soft clay ground is expected to lead to other types of design and
construction considerations. Therefore, it is useful to have a systematic
procedure for identification of soils even in the planning stages of a project.

Soils can be classified into two general categories: (1) coarse grained
soils and (2) fine grained soils. Examples of coarse-grained soils are gravels
and sands. Examples of fine-grained soils are silts and clays. Procedures
for visually identifying these two general types of soils are described in the
following sections.

Equipment:
Magnifying glass (optional)

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Procedure: You will be required to collect soil samples in the field. Visually
classify these soils. Record all information on the attached forms following
the steps here:

a. Identify the color (e.g. brown, gray, brownish gray), odor (if any)
and texture (coarse or fine-grained) of soil.

b. Identify the major soil constituent (>50% by weight) using Table

1 as coarse gravel, fine gravel, coarse sand, medium sand, fine
sand, or fines.

c. Estimate percentages of all other soil constituents using Table 1

and the following terms:

Trace - 0 to 10% by weight

Little - 10 to 20%
Some - 20 to 30%
And - 30 to 50%

(Examples: trace fine gravel, little silt, some clay)

d. If the major soil constituent is sand or gravel:

Identify particle distribution. Describe as well graded or poorly

graded. Well-graded soil consists of particle sizes over a wide
range. Poorly graded soil consists of particles which are all
about the same size. Identify particle shape (angular,
subangular, rounded, subrounded) using Figure 1 and Table 2.

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e. If the major soil constituents are fines, perform the following

tests:

Dry strength test: Mold a sample into 1/8" size ball and let it dry.
Test the strength of the dry sample by crushing it between the
fingers. Describe the strength as none, low, medium, high or
very high depending on the results of the test as shown in Table
3(a).

Dilatancy Test: Make a sample of soft putty consistency in your

palm. Then observe the reaction during shaking, squeezing (by
closing hand) and vigorous tapping. The reaction is rapid, slow
or none according to the test results given in Table 3(b).

During dilatancy test, vibration densifies the silt and water

appears on the surface. Now on squeezing, shear stresses are
applied on the densified silt. The dense silt has a tendency for
volume increase or dilatancy due to shear stresses. So the
water disappears from the surface. Moreover, silty soil has a
high permeability, so the water moves quickly. In clay, we see
no change, no shiny surface, in other words, no reaction.

Plasticity (or Toughness) Test: Roll the samples into a thread

about 1/8" in diameter. Fold the thread and reroll it repeatedly
until the thread crumbles at a diameter of 1/8". Note (a) the
pressure required to roll the thread when it is near crumbling, (b)
whether it can support its own weight, (c) whether it can be
molded back into a coherent mass, and (d) whether it is tough

during kneading. Describe the plasticity and toughness

according to the criteria in Tables 3(c) and 3(d). A low to

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medium toughness and non-plastic to low plasticity is the

indication that the soil is silty; otherwise the soil is clayey.

Based on dry strength, dilatancy and toughness, determine soil

symbol based on Table 4.

f. Identify moisture condition (dry, moist, wet or saturated) using

Table 5.

g. Record visual classification of the soil in the following order:

color, major constituent, minor constituents, particle distribution
and particle shape (if major constituent is coarse-grained),
plasticity (if major constituent is fine-grained), moisture content,
soil symbol (if major constituent is fine-grained).

Examples of coarse-grained soils:

Soil 1: Brown fine gravel, some coarse to fine sand, trace silt,
trace clay, well graded, angular, dry.
Soil 2:Gray coarse sand, trace medium to fine sand, some silt,
trace clay, poorly graded, rounded, saturated.

Examples of fine-grained soils:

Soil A: Brown lean clay, trace coarse to fine sand, medium
plasticity, moist, CL.
Soil B: Gray clayey silt, trace fine sand, non-plastic, saturated,
ML.

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Soil Constituent Size Limits Familiar Example

Boulder 12 in. (305 mm) or more Larger than basketball
Cobbles 3 in (76 mm) -12 in (305 mm) Grapefruit
Coarse Gravel ¾ in. (19 mm) - 3 in. (76 mm) Orange or Lemon
Fine Gravel 4.75 mm (No.4 Sieve) - ¾ in. (19 mm) Grape or Pea
2 mm (No.10 Sieve) - 4.75 mm (No. 4
Coarse Sand Rocksalt
Sieve)
0.42 mm (No. 40 Sieve) - 2 mm (No. 10
Medium Sand Sugar, table salt
Sieve)
0.075 mm (No. 200 Sieve) - 0.42 mm (No.
Fine Sand* Powdered Sugar
40 Sieve)
Fines Less than 0.0075 mm (No. 200 Sieve) -

Table 1. Grain Size Distribution

*Particles finer than fine sand cannot be discerned with the naked eye at a distance of 8 in (20 cm).

Rounded Subrounded

Angular Subangular

Figure 1. Shape of Coarse-Grained Soil Particles

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Table 2. Criteria for Describing Shape of Coarse-Grained Soil Particles

Description Criteria
Particles have sharp edges and relatively plane sides with unpolished
Angular
surfaces.
Subangular Particles are similar to angular description, but have rounded edges.
Particles have nearly plane sides, but have well-rounded corners and
Subrounded
edges.
Rounded Particles have smoothly curved sides and no edges.

Table (3a). Criteria for Describing Dry Strength

Description Criteria
The dry specimen ball crumbles into powder with the slightest handling
None
pressure.
Low The dry specimen crumbles into powder with some pressure form fingers.
The dry specimen breaks into pieces or crumbles with moderate finger
Medium
pressure.
The dry specimen cannot be broken with finger pressure. Specimen will
High
break into pieces between thumb and a hard surface.
The dry specimen cannot be broken between the thumb and a hard
Very High
surface.

Table (3b). Criteria for Describing Dilatancy of a Soil Sample

Description Criteria
None There is no visible change in the soil samples.
Water slowly appears and remains on the surface during shaking or water
Slow
slowly disappears upon squeezing.
Water quickly appears on the surface during shaking and quickly
Rapid
disappears upon squeezing.

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Table (3c). Criteria for Describing Soil Plasticity

Description Criteria
Non-plastic A 1/8” (3-mm) thread cannot be rolled at any water content.
The thread is difficult to roll and a cohesive mass cannot be formed when
Low
drier than the plastic limit.
The thread is easy to roll and little time is needed to reach the plastic limit.
Medium The thread cannot be re-rolled after the plastic limit is reached. The mass
crumbles when it is drier than the plastic limit.
Considerable time is needed, rolling and kneading the sample, to reach
the plastic limit. The thread can be rerolled and reworked several times
High
before reaching the plastic limit. A mass can be formed when the sample
is drier than the plastic limit
Note: The plastic limit is the water content at which the soil begins to break apart and
crumbles when rolled into threads 1/8” in diameter.

Table (3d). Criteria for Describing Soil Toughness

Description Criteria
Only slight pressure is needed to roll the thread to the plastic limit. The
Low
thread and mass are weak and soft.
Moderate pressure is needed to roll the thread to near the plastic limit.
Medium
The thread and mass have moderate stiffness.
Substantial pressure is needed to roll the thread to near the plastic limit.
High
The thread and mass are very stiff.

Table 4. Identification of Inorganic Fine-Grained Soils

Soil Symbol Dry Strength Dilatancy Toughness

ML None or Low Slow to Rapid Low or thread cannot be formed
CL Medium to High None to Slow Medium
MH Low to Medium None to Slow Low to Medium
CH High to Very High None High

Note: ML = Silt; CL = Lean Clay (low plasticity clay); MH = Elastic Soil; CH = Fat Clay
(high plasticity clay). The terms ‘lean’ and ‘fat’ may not be used in certain geographic
regions (midwest).

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Table 5. Criteria for Describing Soil Moisture Conditions

Description Criteria
Dry Soil is dry to the touch, dusty, a clear absence of moisture
Moist Soil is damp, slight moisture; soil may begin to retain molded form
Wet Soil is clearly wet; water is visible when sample is squeezed
Saturated Water is easily visible and drains freely from the sample

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EXAMPLE DATA

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VISUAL SOIL CLASSIFICATION

DATA SHEET

Soil Number: Soil A

Classified by: RES
Date: 09-29-02

1. Color brown__
2. Odor none__
3. Texture Coarse_
4. Major soil constituent : gravel
5. Minor soil constituents: Sand, fines
Approx. % by
Type weight

gravel 60
sand 30_
fines _10_

6. For coarse-grained soils:

Gradation: well graded

Particle Shape: subrounded____

7. For fine-grained soils:

Dry Strength
Dilatancy
Plasticity
Toughness
Soil Symbol

8. Moisture Condition: dry___

Classification:

Brown gravel, some sand, trace fines, well graded, subrounded, dry

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VISUAL SOIL CLASSIFICATION

DATA SHEET

Soil Number: Soil B

Classified by: RES
Date: 09-27-02

1. Color gray__
2. Odor none__
3. Texture _coarse___
4. Major soil constituent: __sand___
5. Minor soil constituents: gravel, fines
Approx. % by
Type weight

sand 80
fine gravel 15
fines 5

6. For coarse-grained soils:

Gradation: poorly graded

Particle Shape: rounded

7. For fine-grained soils:

Dry Strength
Dilatancy
Plasticity
Toughness
Soil Symbol

8. Moisture Condition: dry___

Classification:

Gray sand, little fine gravel, trace fines, poorly graded, rounded,
dry

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VISUAL SOIL CLASSIFICATION

DATA SHEET

Soil Number: Soil C

Classified by: RES
Date: 09-29-02

1. Color gray__
2. Odor none__
3. Texture fine-grained_
4. Major soil constituent : fines
5. Minor soil constituents: Fine Sand
Approx. % by
Type weight

Fines 95
Fine Sand 5_
__

6. For coarse-grained soils:

Gradation:
Particle Shape:

7. For fine-grained soils:

Dry strength high
Dilatancy none
Plasticity medium
Toughness medium
Soil Symbol CL

8. Moisture Condition: moist___

Classification:

Gray silty clay, trace fine sand, medium plasticity, moist, CL

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BLANK DATA SHEETS

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VISUAL SOIL CLASSIFICATION

DATA SHEET

Soil Number: _______________

Classified by: ________________
Date: ________________

1. Color _________________
2. Odor _________________
3. Texture __________________
4. Major soil constituent: ___________
5. Minor soil constituents: __________
Approx. % by
Type weight

_________ _______
_________ _______
________ ________

6. For coarse-grained soils:

Gradation: ___________
Particle Shape: ___________

7. For fine-grained soils:

Dry Strength __________
Dilatancy __________
Plasticity __________
Toughness __________
Soil Symbol __________

8. Moisture Condition: ____________

Classification:

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