Depth to first water

(time and date) ROCKS

Depth to water after drilling Core Logging &
(time and date)
Discontinuities
Drilling rate
Drilling conditions
Rig behavior (chatter) CORE BOX LABELING
DRILLING

Quality RQD
NOTES

Loss of drilling fluid 45º

Fluid color changes Very Poor 0-25% c
Project Name T = Top

RQD
Poor 25-50% Project Number B = Bottom

INFORMATION FOR
Caving / sloughing

or
a D = Length Driven (units)

RUN SPACERS
e
Boring Number R = Recovery (units)
Fair 51-75%
Interior
Sudden drops Hole s

End View
xi
27.4’ Top View
Good 76-90% Incination = Box _ of _
Rate changes Angle from Depth: __ to __
T = 22.4’

Casing record Excellent 91-100% Horizontal

B = 27.4’
D = 60”
Side View
Date: xx - Month - xxxx R = 56”

CALCULATING RQD

Boring No.
Box _ of _
TOR

27.4
23.3
Total Length of core run = 200 cm
drilling

27.4
L = 0 cm break L = 0
L = 38 cm L = 17 cm no pieces > 10 cm L = 20 cm L = 35 cm
Lost Core/

Project Name
(~15 in) (~7 in) (4 in) (~8 in) (~14 in) no recovery

34.6

35.7

Depth _ to _
Sampled

42.2
END
38+17+20+35 Project Name
Side View Boring No.
RQD = x 100 = 55% Depth _ to _ Box _ of _
Sum of length of core pieces > 10 cm (4 in) in length 200
RQD = x 100
Total Length of core run 15+7+8+14
RQD = x 100 = 55% Project Name
79
Project Number
Boring Number
ORDER OF DISCONTINUITY TYPE FRACTURE ORIENTATION
With respect to core axis
Box _ of _
Depth: __ to __
Top
DESCRIPTION
DISCONTINUITIES

F - Fault Date: xx - Month - xxxx

CONDITION OF

J - Joint (Discontinuity)
1. Type Fz - Fractrue Zone 90º 60º 30º 0º
2. Orientation S - Shear SHAPE
3. Aperature Sz - Shear Zone
4. Infilling V - Vein Pl - Planer
5. Shape Fo - Foliation C - Curved
B - Bedding Joint U/W - Undulating/Wavy
6. Roughness St - Stepped
MB - Mechanical Break Undulating/
7. Spacing BZ - Broken Zone Planer (Pl) Curved (C) Wavy (U/Wa) Stepped (St) Irregular (Ir) Ir - Irregular

APERATURE Cl - Clay Clean (No) No infilling (None) HL0 Totally Fracture is completely healed or
Ca - Calcite Stained (Su) Discolored on surface, but no recemented to a degree at least as hard
INFILLING AMOUNT
INFILLING TYPE

Ch - Chlorite recognizable infilling. Note color or as surrounding rock

Tight (T) 0 Ep - Epidote mineral (e.g., FeO, MnO) HL2 Moderately >50% of fracture material or surfaces is

HEALING
Very Narrow (Vn) <1.3 mm (<0.05”) Fe - Iron Oxide Spotty (Sp) Patchy staining on surface of healed or recemented, and/or strength of
Narrow (N) 1.3 - 2.5 mm (0.05 - 0.1”) Gy - Gypsum discontinuity healing agent is less hard than
Mn - Manganese Partial Filled (Pa) Patches of recognizable material surrounding rock
Open (O) 2.5 - 12.7 mm (0.1 - 0.5”) Py - Pyrite Filled (Fi) Filled with recognizable material,
Qz - Quartz HL3 Partially <50% of fractured material, filling or
Wide (W) >12.7 mm (>0.5”) may term as crust, if through rock fracture surface is healed or recemented
Sd - Sand alteration.
No - None Cemented (Cm) Fracture sealed with infill material, HL5 Unhealed Surface, zone, or filling is not healed or
O - Other (healed) recemented.

Slickensided (Slk) Visual evidence of polishing, striations Extremely Wide (Ew) >2 m *Note: Fracture spacing is applicable
ROUGHNESS

for similarly oriented discontiuities

FRACTURE

Wide (W) 61 to 201 cm

SPACING

Smooth (S) Surface appears and feels smooth within single core run, not across True
Slightly rough (Sr) Asperities are distinguishable and can be felt Moderate (M) 21 to 61 cm multiple core runs. Spacing

Rough (R) Asperities are clearly visible, some ridges Close (C) 6 to 21 cm
evident, suface feels abrasive Very Close (VC) 2 to 6 cm
Apparent
Very rough (Vr) Near-vertical ridges occur on surface Extremely Close (Ex) <2 cm Spacing

JOINT ROUGHNESS COEFICIENT Q WIRELINE DIAMOND CORING BITS

Pol (P) Size Core Diameter Hole Diameter Hole Volume Rod Diameter OD Rod Diameter ID
JRC = 0 - 2 Sliks (Slk) mm (in) mm (in) L/100 m(gal/100 ft.) mm (in) mm (in)
JRC = 2 - 4 AQ 27.0 (1-1/16) 57
48.0 (1- /64) 181 (14.6) 44.5 (1-3/4) 34.9 (1-3/8)
Smooth (Sm)

BQ 36.5 (1-7/16) 60.0 (2-23/64) 282.2 (22.7) 55.6 (2-3/16) 46.0(1-13/16)

JRC = 4 - 6 NQ 47.6 (1-7/8) 75.7 (2-63/64) 451.0 (36.3) 69.9 (2-3/4) 60.3 (2-3/8)
HQ 63.5 (2-1/2) 96.0 (3-25/32) 724.4 (58.3) 88.9 (3-1/2) 77.8 (3-1/16)
JRC = 6 - 8 PQ 85.0 (3-11/32) 122.6 (4-53/64) 1180.4 (95.1) 117.5 (4-5/8) 103.2 (4-1/5)

JRC = 8 - 10
5% 10% 20%
Rough (R)

JRC = 10 - 12
JRC = 12 - 14
JRC = 14 - 16
Rough (Vr)

30% 40% 50%

Very

JRC = 16 - 18
JRC = 18 - 20

0 5 10 cm

0 INCHES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CENTIMETERS
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Chart Design by Jennifer Van Pelt
Rev. 5
 ORDER OF
ROCKS
DESCRIPTION Description &
1. Rock type
Mapping
2. Color (Munsell I.D.)
Sedimentary e.g., conglomerate; breccia; sandstone; siltstone; claystone;
3. Texture wacke; boundstone; packstone; mudstone; shale; gypsum;
Q

ROCK TYPE
60 60

4. Degree of Wx halite; chert; dolomite

5. Strength Igneous e.g., granite; granodiorite; diorite; gabbro; rhyolite; dacite;

it e

qu
ol
andesite; rhyolite; monzonite; trachyte; lapilli tephra; coarse

lite
6. Hardness

rhy

dac

art
Q

rhyo
ash tuff; fine ash tuff; pyroclastic breccia; volcanic glass;

z
ali

ite
7. Structure

an
rhyodacite

alk
pumice; scoria; cinders

de
8. Discontinuities

site
Metamorphic e.g., gneiss; schist; phyllite; slate; amphobilite; argillite; quartz quartz quartz

tra li-qtz
te
90 andesite

chy
9. Miscellaneous mylonite, quartzite, marble, serpentinite, blueschist, eclogite
trachyte latite

a
alk
5 5
trachyte latite latite basalt
A 10 35 65 90 P
IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC METAMORPHIC FABRIC-BASED NAMES alkali basalt
ROCK TEXTURES Schistose Schist (coarse-grained) quartz-rich trachyte

Phyllite (fine-grained) granetoids

V. Coarse-grained >10 mm (>3/8”) Ash 25 75 Lapilli
Slate (v. fine-grained)
Foliated

Coarse-grained 5-10 mm (3/16 - 3/8”) Tuff Lapilli-

stone
Medium-grained 1-5 mm (1/32 - 3/16”) Gneissic Gneiss 60 60 Lapilli-Tuff
Fine-grained 0.1-1 mm (0.04 - 1/32”) Mylonite Mylonite (m. to coarse-grained) granite 25 25
Aphanitic <0.1 mm (>0.04”) Ultramylonite (v.fine-grained)

ite
Tuff Breccia

r an
MINERALOGY Granoblastic Granofels (m. to coarse-grained)

gran

ton
rg
Siliceous; argillaceous; ferruginous; Hornfelsic Hornfels (fine-grained)

alit
spa

odio
Massive

75 75
Pyro-
dolomitic; lithic; calcareous; carbona- Cataclastic Tectonic Breccia (v. coarse)

e
syeno- monzo- clastic

feld
Cataclasite (m. to fine-grained) Breccia

rite
ceous; pyritic; feldspathic; mafic; felsic, Gouge (v. fine-grained) granite granite
Blocks &

ali
sideriditic; micaceous; gypsiferous; Pseudotachylite (ex. fine-grained, Bombs

alk
tuffaceous, quartzitic, amphobilitic, glassy)
20 20

qua
quartz gab
syeldspa lkali
quartz quartz quartz
monzodiorite

nite r

rtz bro
fe rtz a
Particle Name Diameter Texture Rock Name syenite monzonite quartz

dior
SEDIMENTARY ROCK

qua
monzogabbro

ite
5 5
Boulders >30 cm (>12”) Conglomerate* A syenite monzonite
monzodiorite
monzogabbro P
Cobbles 8-30 cm (3 to 12”) Conglomerate* 10 35 65 90
TEXTURES

alkali-feldspar diorite
Coarse gravel 2-8 cm (3/4 to 3”) Coarse-grained Conglomerate* syenite gabbro
Fine gravel 0.5-2 cm (3/16 to 3/4”) Fine-grained Conglomerate*
Sharp

STRATIGRAPHIC
Coarse sand 2 to 5 mm (0.1-3/16”) Coarse-grained Sandstone SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE
Transitional

CONNTACT
Medium sand 0.425 to 2 mm (0.015-0.1”) Medium-grained Sandstone Primary Interbedded; horizontal; crossbedded; ripple; Conformable
Fine sand 0.075 to 0.425 mm (0.004-0.015”) Fine-grained Sandstone wavy; inclined; flowbanded; graded; flaser; Unconformable
lenticular; etc. Erosional
Silt/clay (fines) <0.075 mm (<0.004”) Very fine-grained Shale/claystone/siltstone Welded
*Use clay-sand textures to describe conglomerate matrix Secondary Disturbed; rooted; bioturbated; fossilliferous Gradational

Fresh (W1) No evidence of mechanical or chemical alteration Massive >3 m (>10’) >2 m (>6’)
THICKNESS

Unfractured

DEGREE OF
DEGREE OF WEATHERING

JOINTING
BEDDING

V. Thick 0.9-3 m (3-10’)

Slightly (W2) Slight discoloration on surface, slight alteration along Thick 0.3-0.9 m (1-3’) Slightly 61-200 cm (2-6’)
discontinuities, <10% of rock volume altered Medium 9-30 cm (0.3-1’) Moderately 21-60 cm (8”-2’)
Moderately (W3) Discoloring evident. Surface is pitted, Alteration Thin 3-9 cm (0.1-0.3’) Highly 5-20 cm (2-8”)
penetrates well below rock surfaces, weathering halos V. Thin 0.9-3 cm (3/8”-0.1’)
evident. 10-50% of rock volume altered. Laminated <9 mm (<3/8”) Intensely <5 cm (<2”)
4 Highly (W4) Entire mass discolored, alteration pervaseive, small
BED/JOINT

pockets of less weathered rock, some minerals leached Flat 0º to 10º 40º Inclined bedding showing strike and dip
COMMON MAP
DIP OF

away Shallow 10º to 30º Vertical bedding showing strike

SYMBOLS

Decomposed or Rock reduced to a soil with relict rock texture, generally Moderate 30º to 60º Horizontal bedding
Completely (W5) moldable and crumbled by hand
Residual Soil (W6) All rock material converted to soil. Rock texture not Steeply 60º to 90º 40º Inclined joint showing strike and dip
discernible Vertical joint showing strike
COMMON LITHOLOGY Horizontal joint
3 R0 Extremely weak Indented with fingernail PATTERNS Inclined cleavage showing strike and dip
STRENGTH

R1 Very weak Easily peeled with knife, crumbles by pick blows

R2 Weak Difficult to peel with knife, shallow indent from rock pick Clay or clay shale
RELATIVE HARDNESS SCALE
R3 Moderately strong Breaks with single hammer blow, cannot be peeled 1 Talc
R4 Strong Will resist more than one hammer blow Siltstone 2 Gypsum Angular
Fingernail (2.2)
R5 Very Strong Will resist many hammer blows 3 Calcite
Copper Coin (3.5)
ANGULARITY

R6 Extremely strong Can only be chipped under hammer blows Sandstone 4 Fluorite
Wire nail (4.5) Sub-
2 5 Apetite Angular
Geologic Hammer (5.1)
Very soft (H7) Can be deformed by hand (plastic material only) Gravel / conglomerate Pocketknife (5.2)
Soft (H6) Can be gouged deeply with knife, scratched with Window glass (5.5)
6 Feldspar
fingernail or crushed by hand Steel file (6.5) Sub-
Breccia
HARDNESS

7 Quartz Rounded
Moderately soft (H5) Can be grooved with a pocket knife with mod. pressure Streak plate (7.5)
Hardened steel file (7+)
Moderately hard (H4) Scratched easily with knife, readily visible scratch and 8 Topaz
Limestone 9 Corundum
heavy trace of rock powder Rounded
10 Diamond
Hard (H3) Scratched with knife only with great difficulty, little
1 powder Granitic rock
Very hard (H2) Cannot be scratched with knife, steel left on surface
Extremely hard (H1) Can only be chipped with repeated hammer blows Igneous rock

INCHES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CENTIMETERS
Chart Design by
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Jennifer Van Pelt
Rev. 3
 GUIA DE LOGUEO DE ROCAS Y SUELOS

1. PASOS PARA EL LOGUEO DE ROCAS

Para proyectos de ingeniería, es importante brindar una descripción completa de las

propiedades geotécnicas y geológicas de cada tipo de roca. Se debe completar las
descripciones de ambas propiedades de discontinuidades incluyendo juntas
comprometidas, estratificación, fallas y zonas de fracturas (corte). En términos más
simples:

MACIZO ROCOSO = MATERIAL DE ROCA + DISCONTINUIDADES

De las exposiciones de la roca superficial, se puede realizar una descripción de tipo de roca
y de las discontinuidades. Para e logueo de testigos es necesario proveer una descripción
del tipo de roca seguido de descripciones y discontinuidades detalladas.

Descripción de la Roca

Es importante proveer descripciones geológicas y geotécnicas detalladas de los tipos de

roca como parte de los procedimientos de mapeo de campo y logueo de testigos.

Las descripciones geológicas y geotécnicas deben incluir:

a. Tipo de roca / Nombre

b. Color
c. Textura
d. Grado de Meteorización del tipo de roca
e. Grado de alteración del tipo de roca
f. Espacios entre fisuras
g. Fuerza estimada de la roca

a. Tipo de roca / Nombre

Es importe identificar y nombrar correctamente los tipos de roca durante el mapeo de

campo y logueo de testigos, se empleara en la mayoría de los casos el conocimiento de la
geología regional del Ingemmet, teniendo en cuenta que se pueden presentar anomalías
locales no registradas en la geología regional, es ese caso y para una buena práctica es
recomendable que se obtengan muestras representativas de cada una de los diferentes tipos
de rocas, para una posible confirmación en laboratorio o con un geólogo experimentado.
Es recomendable incluir donde sea posible, además del nombre principal de la roca, incluir
una descripción secundaria como presencia de limo, arena, arcilla, cuarzo, feldespato,
Granito, etc.

En algunos casos, particularmente para la evaluación de la aceptabilidad del agregado del

concreto o dureza total es importante tener secciones delgadas microscópicas preparadas y
analizadas para análisis petrográficos detallados para determinar los porcentajes de
minerales de arcilla, minerales alcalinos y otros minerales.

b. Color

Se debe utilizar descripciones estándar del color y cuando sea posible se debe incluir
gráficos de color en las fotografías de las exposiciones de campo y de testigos de
perforación.

c. Textura

La textura del tipo de roca debe describirse en términos del tamaño del grano, el cual se
refiere a las partículas componentes o cristales que forman la roca. En algunos casos puede
ser útil incluir descripciones de la forma de los granos. Las descripciones estándar del
tamaño del grano deben ser de la siguiente manera (Geological Society Engineering Group
1977)

Tabla 1-1 Descripción estándar del tamaño del grano

Grado del tamaño
Descripción Tamaño (mm)
del Grano
1 Muy Grueso > 60
2 Grueso 2 - 60
3 Mediano 0.06 - 2
4 Fino 0.02 - 0.06
5 Muy Fino < 0.02

Las descripciones para la forma del grano incluyen: equidimencional, aplanada, fibrosa,
angular, sub-angular, redonda, muy redonda

d. Grado de meteorización del tipo de roca

Se utilizan descripciones separadas para la meteorización del tipo de roca y del macizo
rocoso. Se debe describir primero el grado de meteorización o alteración del macizo
rocoso en su totalidad utilizando la terminología mostrada en la tabla 2-1.
 Tabla 1-2 Descripción de la meteorización del macizo rocoso (ISRM, 1977)
Grado de
Termino Descripción
Meteorización
No hay señal visible de meteorización de la roca; quizás
1 Fresco una pequeña decoloración en la mayoría de las
superficies de discontinuidades.
Decoloración indica meteorización de la roca y
Ligeramente superficies de discontinuidad. Toda la roca puede
2
Meteorizada decolorarse por la meteorización y puede ser
externamente más débil que en su condición fresca
Menos de la mitad de la roca se descompone y/o se
Moderadamente desintegra a un suelo. Roca decolorada se encuentra
3
Meteorizada presente ya sea por horizontes o como corestones (capas
concéntricas).
Más de la mitad del material de roca se descompone
Altamente y/o se desintegra a un suelo. Roca decolorada se
4
Meteorizada encuentra presente ya sea por horizontes o como
corestones (capas concéntricas).
Completamente Toda la roca se descompone y/o se desintegra a un
5
Meteorizada suelo. La estructura de masa original es casi intacta.
Toda la roca se ha convertido en suelo. Se destruye la
estructura y textura de la roca. Genera un gran cambio
6 Suelo Residual
en el volumen pero el suelo prácticamente no se ha
movido.
El grado de meteorización o alteración del material rocoso a lo largo de las paredes de
discontinuidades individuales o una serie de discontinuidades se deben describir utilizando la
terminología en la tabla 1.3

Tabla 1-3 Descripción de la meteorización del macizo rocoso (ISRM, 1977)

Término Descripción
Fresco No hay señal visible de meteorización de la roca
El color de la rocas fresca original ha cambiado. Se debe indicar el grado
Decolorado del cambio del color original, así mismo se debe indicar si el cambio de
color es limitado a particulares componentes del mineral.
La roca meteorizada a una condición de suelo en el que la textura del
Descompuesto material original está intacta pero algunos o todos los granos de
mineral están descompuestos.
La roca es meteorizada a condición de suelo en el que la textura
Desintegrado original se encuentra intacta. La roca es friable pero los granos de
mineral no se encuentran descompuestos.

e. Grado de alteración del tipo de roca

Se debe incluirlas descripciones de la alteración del material de roca donde sea necesario
utilizando la terminología típica: decolorado, milonitico, brechado, etc.
f. Espacios entre fisuras

El grado relativo de espacios entre fisura (juntas) de roca dentro del tipo de roca debe
describirse de acuerdo con el método sugerido ISRM incluyendo lo siguiente.

Tabla 1-4 Espacio entre juntas de roca.

Descripción Espacio Verdadero (m)
Juntas extremadamente espaciadas >6.0
Juntas muy espaciadas 2.0 – 6.0
Juntas espaciadas 0.6 – 2.0
Juntas moderadas 0.2 – 0.6
Juntas 0.06 – 0.2
Muy Juntas 0.02 – 0.06
Extremadamente juntas < 0.02

g. Fuerza estimada de la roca

La resistencia estimada de la roca debe describirse según el método sugerido por el ISRM
incluyendo el siguiente.

La estimación de la resistencia del material rocoso puede realizarse utilizando la escala R-S
como se muestra abajo y también puede realizarse basándose en la prueba de carga de índice
puntual.

Tabla 1-5 Fuerza estimada de la roca.

Grado de Identificación Fuerza
Descripción
Fuerza en Campo MPa
Varios cm penetrados, fácilmente con el puño muestra < 0.025
S-1 Arcilla muy suave
marcas (distict heal marks)
Varios cm penetrados fácilmente con el dedo (faint heal
S-2 Arcilla suave 0.025-0.05
marks)
Puede penetrarse con el dedo ejerciendo en esfuerzo
S-3 Arcilla firme 0.05-0.10
moderado, difícil de cortar la mano.
Puede penetrarse con el dedo ejerciendo gran esfuerzo, no
S-4 Arcilla rígida 0.10-0.25
puede cortarse con mano
S-5 Arcilla muy rígida Rasgado fácilmente con la uña del pulgar 0.25-0.50
S-6 Arcilla dura Raspado con dificultad con la uña del pulgar >0.50
Roca extremadamente Raspado con la uña del pulgar
R-0 0.25-1.0
débil
Desmoronado con golpes de martillo, puede sacarse pedazos
R-1 Roca muy débil 1.0-5.0
con una cuchilla.
Puede sacarse difícilmente pedazos con una cuchilla,
R-2 Roca débil 5.0-25
raspones poco profundos con golpes de martillo
Roca medianamente No se puede raspar ni sacar pedazos con una cuchilla, se
R-3 25-50
fuerte puede fracturar con un solo golpe de martillo.
R-4 Roca dura Se requiere más de un golpe de martillo para fracturarla 50-100
R-5 Roca muy dura Ser requiere muchos golpes de martillo para para fracturarla 100-250
Roca extremadamente Solo se puede romper con una pico?
R-6 >250
dura
 ORDER OF
DESCRIPTION SOILS
1. Soil type
2. USCS Symbol
3. Color (Munsell I.D.)
4. Consistancy/Density Example soil descriptions: Depth to first water
5. Moisture Poorly-graded sand with gravel (SP), light Lean clay with sand (CL), olive brown (time and date)
6. Grain size (% each) brown (7.5YR,6/4), loose, moist, predomi- (2.5Y,4/4), medium stiff, moist, trace
7. Cementation nantly fine sand (75%), trace medium sand medium sand (5%), coarse sand (15%), Depth to water after drilling
8. Plasticity (clays) (5%), fine gravel (20%), hydro carbon odor fine gravel (5%), weakly cemented, low (time and date)
9. Miscellaneous and staining plasticity
Well-graded◊ gravels, gravel-sand mixtures, little or no fines Percentages of gravel, sand,

◊Note: Well-graded = poorly sorted - Poorly-graded = well sorted

GRAVELS GW

SOIL TYPE MODIFIERS

FINE-GRAINED SOILS COARSE-GRAINED SOILS

GRAVELS and fines may be stated in

<50% passes #200 sieve

<50% coarse with little or no fines Poorly-graded◊ gravels, gravel-sand mixtures, little or no fines GP terms indicating a range of
fraction passes GRAVELS Silty gravels, poorly-graded◊ gravel-sand-silt mixtures GM percentages as below:
#4 sieve with >15% fines Clayey gravels, poorly-graded◊ gravel-sand-clay mixtures GC Term %
SANDS SANDS Well-graded◊ sands, gravelly sands, little or no fines SW Trace <5
<50% coarse with little or no fines Poorly-graded◊ sands, gravelly sands, little or no fines SP Few 5-10
fraction passes SANDS Silty sands, poorly-graded◊ sand-gravel-silt mixtures SM Little 15-25
#4 sieve Clayey sands, poorly-graded◊ sand-gravel-clay mixtures Some 30-45
with >15% fines SC Mostly 50-100
Inorganic silts/very-fine sands, silty or clayey fine sands, silts with slight plasticity ML
>50% passes #200 sieve

SILTS AND CLAYS
liquid limit <50
SILTS AND CLAYS
liquid limit >50
HIGHLY ORGANIC SOILS
CONSISTENCY of FINE GRAINED (†COHESIVE) SOILS (Silts and Clays)
Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity, gravelly clays, sandy clays, silty clays, CL Borderline Symbol—A
borderline symbol is two
lean clays symbols separated by a slash,
Organic silts and clays of low plasticity OL for example, CL/CH, GM/SM,
Inorganic silts, micaceous or diatomaceous fine sand or silt CL/ML. A borderline symbol
MH should be used to indicate that
Inorganic clays of high plasticity, fat clays CH the soil has been identified as
having properties that do not
Organic silts and clays of medium to high plasticity OH
distinctly place the soil into a
Peat, humus, swamp soils with high organic content PT specific group. (ASTM D2488)
Blows/ft*

(Cohesionless Soils**)
Blows/ft* (N) †
Soils possessing the characteristics of (SPT) (modCAL)
Unconfined plasticity, and exhibiting undrained behavior.
Relative
Term (SPT) (modCAL) Compresive Density 1.4”ID 2.0”ID 2.5”ID

DENSITY
1.4”ID 2.0”ID 2.5”ID Strength Field Test (when blow counts not available)
very loose 0-4 0-5 0-7
very soft 0-2 0-2 0-2 <0.25 tsf Easily penetrated several inches by thumb; extrudes when squeezed
loose 4-10 5-12 7-18
soft 2-4 2-4 2-4 0.25-0.50 tsf Easily penetrated one inch by thumb; molded by light pressure
medium dense 10-29 12-37 18-51
medium stiff 4-8 4-8 4-8 0.50-1.00 tsf Penetrated > 1/2” by thumb with moderate effort; molded with strong pressure
dense 30-49 37-60 51-86
stiff 8-15 9-17 9-18 1.00-2.00 tsf Redily Indented by thumb but penetrated with great effort
very dense >49 >60 >86
very stiff 15-30 17-39 18-42 2.00-4.00 tsf Readily indented by thumbnail
hard 30-60 39-78 42-85 >4.00 tsf Indented with difficulty by thumbnail **Soils consisting of gravel, sand, and silt, either
separately or in combination possessing no characteris-
very hard >60 >78 >85 Thumbnail will not indent soil * = 140 pound hammer dropped 30 inches tics of plasticity, and exhibiting drained behavior.

Term Field Test Term Size (mm) Size (inches) Scale size 5%
MOISTURE

Dry Absence of moisture, dry to touch Boulders >300 >12 Larger than basketball
GRAIN SIZE

Angular Slightly Moist Below optimum moisture content Cobbles 75 to 300 3 to 12 Fist to basketball
Moist Near optimum moisture content Coarse gravel 19 to 75 3 to 3/4 Thumb to fist
Very Moist Over optimum moisture content Fine gravel 4.75 to 19 3/16 to 3/4 Pea to thumb
ANGULARITY

Wet Visible Free Water Coarse sand 2.0 to 4.75 1/16 to 3/16 Rock-salt to pea 10%
Sub-
Angular Medium sand 0.425 to 2.0 1/64 to 1/16 Sugar to rock-salt
Italics = geotech
Fine sand 0.075 to 0.425 0.003 to 1/64 Flour to sugar
Term Field Test
CEMENTATION

Silt / clay (fines) <0.075 <0.003 Smaller than flour

Weak Crumbles or breaks with
Sub- handling or slight finger pressure
Rounded Term Field Test
Moderate Crumbles or breaks with 20%
Nonplastic Thread (1/8” or 3mm) cannot be rolled at any water content
considerable finger pressure
PLASTICITY

Strong Will not crumble or break Low Thread can barely be rolled. Lump cannot be formed when drier than
Rounded with finger pressure plastic limit.
Medium Thread is easy to roll and not much time is required to reach the
IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR FINE-GRAINED SOILS plastic limit. Thread cannot be rerolled after reaching the plastic limit.
USCS Dilatancy ‡
Dry Strength Toughness Lump crumbles when drier than plastic limit. 25%
ML Slow to rapid None to low Low/no thread High Takes considerable time rolling and kneading to reach the plastic limit.
CL None to slow Medium to high Medium Thread can be rerolled several times after reaching the plastic limit.
MH Low to medium None to slow Low to medium Lump can be formed without crumbling when drier than the plastic limit.
CH None High to v. High High
‡
DILATANCY 60
DRY STRENGTH ORGANIC CLAY OR SILT 30%
Fast, distinctive reaction
Very low sample crumbles with minor handling = clean very fine sand 50 (OH, OL) if:
Low sample crumbles to powder with little finger pressure LL (oven dried) < 0.75 CH
PLASTICITY INDEX (PI)

Rapid, moderate reaction E

= inorganic silt LL (not dried) IN
Medium breaks into pieces / crumbles with considerable pressure
"L
(LL < 50)
(LL 50)

40
High sample breaks to pieces but does not crush to powder No reaction lin
e) "A
Very high cannot break between thumb and hard surface = plastic clay e
"
"A )
ov e
30 ab "A"
lin
‡1/2 in. (12 mm) molded ball of material, dried, and crushed between fingers 1/2 in. (12 mm) ball of molded r
t o ow
40%
material with soft, not sticky (a
b el
TOUGHNESS consistency (water added if 20 CL (

necessary), smoothed in palm of

Low Slight pressure required to roll thread near plastic limit. hand. Shake horizontally striking MH
Thread and lump are weak and soft side of hand. Note reaction of 10
water appearing on surface. 7
(PI > 7)
(4 PI 7) CL-ML ML
Medium Medium pressure required to roll thread near plastic limit. Squeeze sample by pinching 4
(PI < 4)
Thread and lump have medium stiffness between fingers, note speed of 0 50%
High Considerable pressure required to roll thread to near the water absorption into soil. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Unified Soil Classification LIQUID LIMIT (LL)
plastic limit. Thread and lump have very high stiffness System - ASTM D2487,
ASTM D2488, USBR-5000,
0 INCHES 1 2 3 USBR-5001, USBR-3900 4 5 6 7

CENTIMETERS
Chart Design by Jennifer Van Pelt
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rev. 5
 ORDER OF SOILS
DESCRIPTION
1. Soil type
2. USCS Symbol
3. Color (Munsell I.D.) Example soil descriptions:
4. Consistancy/Density Poorly-graded sand with gravel (SP), Lean clay with sand (CL), olive brown Depth to first water
5. Moisture light brown (7.5YR,6/4), loose, moist, (2.5Y,4/4), medium stiff, moist, trace (time and date)
6. Grain size (% each)
7. Cementation predominantly fine sand (75%), trace medium sand (5%), coarse sand (15%), Depth to water after drilling
8. Plasticity (clays) medium sand (5%), fine gravel (20%), fine gravel (5%), weakly cemented, low (time and date)
9. Miscellaneous hydro carbon odor and staining plasticity
MISCELLANEOUS

Fill or native material (e.g. soil, alluvium, bedrock) ≤ 5% fines well-graded GW < 15% sand Well-graded gravel
Stratigraphic unit (if known) ≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with sand
Organics, carbon, vegetation, debris poorly-graded GP < 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel
≥ 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel with sand

% gravel > % sand

Structure (e.g. layering, stratified, blocky, lenses)
well-graded fines = ML or MH GW-GM < 15% sand Well-graded gravel with silt
Coloration (e.g. staining, mottling, oxidation)

GRAVEL
≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with silt and sand
Lithology (e.g. quartz, mafic minerals) > 5% - < 15% fines = CL or CH GW-GC < 15% sand Well-graded gravel with clay
fines
Degree of rounding/angularity ≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with clay and sand
Odor (e.g. earthy, vegetative, hydro carbon) poorly-graded fines = ML or MH GP-GM < 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel with silt
≥ 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel with silt and sand
STRUCTURE (FABRIC) fines = CL or CH GP-GC < 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel with clay
≥ 15% sand Poorly-graded gravel with clay and sand
Stratified Alternating layers of varying materials or color; note ≥ 15% fines fines = ML or MH GM
thicknesses < 15% sand Silty gravel
1 ≥ 15% sand Silty gravel with sand
Laminated Alternating layers of varying material or color with
layers less than 6 mm thick; note thicknesses fines = CL or CH GC < 15% sand Clayey gravel
Fissured1 Breaks along definite planes with little resistance to ≥ 15% sand Clayey gravel with sand
fracturing
Slickensided1 Fracture planes appear polished or glossy, ≤ 5% fines well-graded SW < 15% gravel Well-graded sand
sometimes striated ≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with gravel
Blocky1 Cohesive soil that can be broken into small angular poorly-graded SP < 15% gravel Poorly-graded sand
lumps which resist further breakdown
≥ 15% gravel Poorly-graded sand with gravel
% sand > % gravel

Lenses Inclusion of small pockets of different soils such as < 15% gravel Well-graded sand with silt
small lenses of sand scattered through a mass of well-graded fines = ML or MH SW-SM
clay; note thicknesses ≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with silt and gravel
SAND

> 5% - < 15% fines = CL or CH SW-SC < 15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay
Homogeneous Same color and textural or structural appearance fines
throughout ≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay and gravel
1
Do not use for coarse grained soils with the exception of fine sands which can be laminated poorly-graded fines = ML or MH SP-SM < 15% gravel Poorly-graded sand with silt
≥ 15% gravel Poorly-graded sand with silt and gravel
REACTION WITH HCL fines = CL or CH SP-SC < 15% gravel Poorly-graded sand with clay
≥ 15% gravel Poorly-graded sandwith clay and gravel
None No visible reaction ≥ 15% fines fines = ML or MH SM < 15% gravel Silty sand
Weak Some reaction, with bubbles forming slowly ≥ 15% gravel Silty sand with gravel
Strong Violent reaction, with bubbles forming fines = CL or CH SC < 15% gravel Clayey sand
immediately ≥ 15% gravel Clayey sand with gravel

< 30% plus No. 200 < 15% plus No. 200 Lean clay
COMMON LITHOLOGY DRILLING NOTES
PATTERNS
4 15-29% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel Lean clay with sand Drilling rate
CL % sand < % gravel Lean clay with gravel
Clay or clay shale Rig behavior (chatter)
≥ 30% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel < 15% gravel Sandy lean clay Heaving sands
≥ 15% gravel Sandy lean clay with gravel Loss of drilling fluid
% sand < % gravel < 15% sand Gravelly lean clay Siltstone Caving / sloughing
≥ 15% sand Gravelly lean clay with sand
Sudden drops / rate changes
< 30% plus No. 200 < 15% plus No. 200 Silt
15-29% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel Silt with sand Sandstone 5% 10%
ML % sand < % gravel Silt with gravel
3 % sand ≥ % gravel < 15% gravel Sandy silt
≥ 30% plus No. 200 Gravel / conglomerate
≥ 15% gravel Sandy silt with gravel
% sand < % gravel < 15% sand Gravelly silt
≥ 15% sand Gravelly silt with sand Breccia 20% 25%
< 30% plus No. 200 < 15% plus No. 200 Fat clay
15-29% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel Fay clay with sand Limestone
CH
% sand < % gravel Fat clay with gravel
≥ 30% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel < 15% gravel Sandy fat clay
≥ 15% gravel Sandy fat clay with gravel 30%
2 SAMPLER ABBREVIATIONS
% sand < % gravel < 15% sand Gravelly fat clay
≥ 15% sand Gravelly fat clay with sand SS SPT Sampler (2” OD, 140 lb hammer)
< 30% plus No. 200 < 15% plus No. 200 Elastic silt SSO Oversize Split Spoon (2.5“ OD 140 lb typ.)
15-29% plus No. 200 % sand ≥ % gravel Elastic silt with sand HD Heavy Duty Split Spoon (3” OD, 340 lb typ.)
MH -BL Brass Liners used in Split Spoon 40%
% sand < % gravel Elastic silt with gravel
% sand ≥ % gravel < 15% gravel Sandy elastic silt BD Bulk Drive (4” OD, 340 lb hammer typ.)
≥ 30% plus No. 200 CA Continuous Core (Soil in Hollow-Stem Auger)
≥ 15% gravel Sandy elastic silt with gravel
GS Grab Sample from Surface / Testpit
% sand < % gravel < 15% sand Gravelly elastic silt
1 C Core (Rock)
≥ 15% sand Gravelly elastic silt with sand 50%
TW Thin Wall (Shelby Tube)
MS Modified Shelby
Gravels or sands with 5% to 12% fines require dual symbols (GW-GM, GW-GC, GP-GM, GP-GC, SW-SM, SW-SC, SP-SM, GP Geoprobe
SP-SC) and add "with clay" or "with silt" to group name. If fines classify as CL-ML for GM or SM, use dual symbol GC-GM or RC Air Rotary Cuttings
SC-SM. DX%) s soil particle diameter where X% is % finer. Optional Abbeviations: Lower case "s" after USCS group symbol AG Auger Cuttings
denotes either "sandy" or "with sand" while "g" denotes either "gravelly" or "with gravel"

INCHES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CENTIMETERS
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
2. PASOS PARA EL LOGUEO DE SUELOS
a. Textura

Todas las descripciones deberían estar completadas con las componentes abajo.

Tabla a-1 Componentes del suelo.

Componentes mm diámetros
Cantos Rodados >200
Guijarro 75-200
Grava 5-75
Grava Gruesa 20-75
Grava Fina 5-20
Arena 0.08-5
Arena Gruesa 2-5
Arena Media 0.4-2
Arena Fina 0.08-0.4
Limo 0.002-0.08
Arcilla < 0.002

 FINOS no califica en las descripciones; tendremos que estimar el contenido de limo y

arcilla; tampoco DETRITUS.
 Casi nunca tenemos ARENA Y ARCILLAS sin contenido de limo.
 EL CONTENIDO DE LIMO Y ARCILLAR ES MUY IMPORTANTE, porque afecta
la permeabilidad mucho más de los otros componentes. La diferencia entre 5% limo +
arcilla y 10% limo + arcilla es muy importante.
 Sacar muestras para granulometría
 Recuerda que las muestras son trituradas; trata compensar por la trituración de grava
en particular.

b. Orden

Siempre usa el mismo orden al describir los componentes del suelo:

TEXTURA, FORMAS DE PARTICULAS (solo para arena y más gruesos),

OTROS COMPONENTES (EJ. Raíces, componentes orgánicos),
CONSISTENCIA O DENSIDADAD, CONTENIDO de AGUA, ESTRUCTURA,
GRADO DE METEORIZACIÓN, COLOR, OLOR (si es aplicable), OTROS,
(ORIGEN PROBABLE – en paréntesis).

Termina la descripción de textura (ej. ARENA, gravosa, algo de limo, poco arcilla)
antes que las otras descripciones.
c. Roca
 ROCAS TIENEN TEXTURA TAMBIEN, siempre debemos describir su
grano(rocas sedimentarias) o cristalinidad (rocas ígneas o metamórficas).
 DUREZA ES IMPORTANTE, muchas veces las rocas tienen mayor
permeabilidad, porque las fracturas quedan abiertas, no son tapadas con arcillas. Es
importante para notar la dureza de la roca, si los cuttings son muy finos es probable
que la roca sea blanda; si son más gruesas son probablemente más duras; si la roca
tiene contenido de cuarzo, son probablemente más duras al mínimo en zonas.
 Cambios de color puede indicar zonas de fracturamiento/fallamiento pasaje de agua
(Esp. Con óxidos de hierro).
 Zonas arcillosas dentro de roca dura frecuentemente indican fallas potenciales.

d. Explicación porque sale el agua

Como hidrogeólogos, el énfasis está en las cosas que puedan afectar el movimiento y la
calidad del agua subterránea, EXPLICA PORQUE INCREMENTO LOS
RENDIMIENTOS CON AIRE, HABLA CON EL PERFORISTA, él puede decir si
pasamos por zonas duras, fracturas, etc. Muchas veces estoy viviendo incrementos en
rendimiento pero sin explicación. Trata de determinar porque está habiendo agua.

e. Log Plot
 Hacer los logueos bien en el campo y pone en forma digital para trabajarlos en
LOGPLOP o STRATER pasando la data a la plantilla de excel.
 Cuando cambia los componentes principales (ej. Más de 35% de contenido), eso
incluye orden, cambiamos litología, comentarios que luego tendremos que
actualizar en los programas, muchas veces falta muchos comentarios en loa logueos
y muchos errores en la litología

f. Envio de logueos
 Es importante loguear los cuttings rápidamente (ej. Cuando están perforando) y
para enviar la información con el fin de organizar el diseño de los piezómetros.