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Engineering Geology

Engineering Geology - geomuseu

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E n g i n e e r i n g G e o l o g y<br />

On this chart, the plasticity index is plotted against liquid limit. The A line is taken as the boundary<br />

between organic and inorganic soils, the latter lying above the line. Each of the main soil types<br />

and subgroups are given a letter, a pair of which are combined in the group symbol, the former<br />

being the prefix, the latter the suffix. Subsequently, the Unified Soil Classification system was<br />

developed from the Casagrande system.<br />

According to Anon (1999), a full description of a soil should provide data on its particle size,<br />

plasticity, particle characteristics and colour, as well as its bedding, discontinuities and<br />

strength. Anon divides soils into coarse and fine types. Coarse soils are gravels and sands,<br />

and fine soils are silts and clays.<br />

Boulders, cobbles, gravels, sands, silts and clays are distinguished as individual groups<br />

on the basis of their particle size distribution (Table 5.3a). Gravel, sand and silt have been<br />

subdivided into coarse-, medium- and fine-grained subgroups, and fine soils have been<br />

subdivided on the basis of plasticity. Coarse soils are described as well graded or poorly<br />

graded. Two further types of poorly graded coarse soils are recognized, namely, uniformly<br />

graded and gap graded (Fig. 1.18). Silts and clays are subdivided according to their liquid<br />

limits (Table 5.3b).<br />

Most soils consist of more than one grade size type. If boulders and cobbles are present in<br />

composite soil types, then they are removed before an attempt is made at classification, their<br />

proportions being recorded separately. Their presence should be recorded in the soil description.<br />

Very coarse deposits should be described as boulders if over half of the very coarse<br />

material is of boulder size. They may be described as cobbly boulders if cobbles are an<br />

Table 5.3a. Particle size distribution of soils<br />

Types of material<br />

Sizes (mm)<br />

Boulders Over 200<br />

Cobbles 60–200<br />

Coarse 20–60<br />

Gravel Medium 6–20<br />

Fine 2–6<br />

Coarse 0.6–2<br />

Sand Medium 0.2–0.6<br />

Fine 0.06–0.2<br />

Coarse 0.02–0.06<br />

Silt Medium 0.006–0.02<br />

Fine 0.002–0.006<br />

Clay Less than 0.002<br />

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