Using Soil

Classification &
Description Data
(What you Need to Know,
Especially for Risk
Assessment and Modeling)
VAP Spring 2015
Certified Professional Coffee

Soil Classification & Description

Purpose of training
Briefly review the most commonly used
soil classification systems (USDA & USCS)
Identify some limitations and (associated
misuses) of each system
Address some concerns about the use of
soil classification and description data
(especially for risk assessment and
modeling)

Soil Classification & Description

Purpose of soil classification and
description?
Provides soil property data in an
organized, systematic manner to
support an activity (environmental
remediation, agriculture, construction,
etc.)
Foundation of the conceptual site model
for environmental remediation projects

Soil Classification &

Description
Johnson and Ettinger model for estimating
subsurface vapor intrusion into buildings
Uses USDA Soil Conservation Survey soil
classification data to provide site-specific
data for the following model parameters:
Soil bulk density
Total porosity
Water-filled porosity

Soil Classification & Description

Poor quality data often result from
A laissez-faire approach to soil (geologic)
logging, which leads to
Failure to learn and consistently follow
standard soil classification & description
methods
Indiscriminately using different
classification systems (mix and match), or
making it up as you log along

Soil Classification & Description

Even good quality data can be misused
when the user doesnt understand
The classification system and what the
data actually indicate about soil properties
Data limitations, e.g.,
Field vs. laboratory classification
Properties used as basis for a particular
classification (USDA silt vs. USCS silt)

Soil Classification Systems

Unified Soil Classification System
Engineering and environmental applications
ASTM D2486-11 (lab), ASTM D2488-09a (field)

USDA Soil Classification System

Agricultural, land development and
environmental applications
USDA Soil Survey Manual
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soil
s/ref/?
cid=nrcs142p2_054262

USDA Soil Classification System

Origin and purpose
Early soil science work, 1930s through 1940s by
American and Russian scientists
U.S. National Cooperative Soil Survey officially
adopted the USDA system in 1965 and published it
in 1975 (Soil Taxonomy: A Basic System of Soil
Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil
Surveys)
Evaluates soils for agriculture, ranching, forestry
(land development, non-farm uses important after
1950)

USDA Soil Classification System

USDA Texture Triangle
Diagram
Twelve soil classes defined
by %s sand, silt, clay
Silty Clay = 40-60% clay,
40-60% silt, 0-20% sand
Lab analyses or field
texture by feel analysis
Gravel not included (used
as modifier); %s sand, silt
clay normalized to 100%
without gravel

USDA Soil Classification System

Particle Size Limits
(Sieves)
(Hydrometer)

GRAVEL

75 mm

SAND

2.00 mm

SILT

CLAY

0.050 mm 0.002 mm

USDA Soil Classification System

Soil class identification (e.g., sandy
loam)
May be based on field examination or lab
analysis of soil samples
Field examination, estimate % sand/silt/clay by
Plasticity (ability to form a soil ribbon
Feel of soil (gritty vs. smooth vs. greasy)

Accuracy of field identification? At best, +/10% to 15% (sand/silt/clay)

USDA Soil Classification System

(Field Testing)

USDA Soil Classification System

(Field Testing)
Soil
ribbon
length
estima
tes
% clay
Gritty

Smooth

Grittiness estimates % sand versus % silt

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Origin and purpose
Developed in 1942 by Professor Arthur
Casagrande for airfield construction during
WWII
Most commonly used soil classification system
Applicable ASTM standards
ASTM D2487-11, Standard Classification for
Engineering Purposes (laboratory testing)
ASTM D2488-09a, Standard Practice for Description
and Identification of Soils (field evaluation)

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Separates soils into two broad categories
and then uses a flow-chart approach to
classify based on soil properties (%s by
weight)
Coarse-grained soils, > 50% sand and gravel
G stands for gravel or gravelly soils
S stands for sand or sandy soils

Fine-grained soils, >= 50% silt and clay

M stands for silt or silty soils
C stands for clay or clayey soils

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Coarse-Grained Soil
Classification

Less than 5% fines (silt and clay)

If the % sand is >= % gravel, SAND (S)
If the % gravel is > % sand, GRAVEL (G)

Greater than 15% fines

SILTY SAND (SM) or CLAYEY SAND (SC)
SILTY GRAVEL (GM) or CLAYEY GRAVEL
(GC)

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Coarse-Grained Soil
Classification: Grading
Well Graded
(Poorly Sorted)

Poorly Graded
(Well Sorted)

Well Graded vs Poorly

Graded

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Coarse-Grained Soil
Classification

Between 5 and 15% fines (approx. 10%)?

Dual Symbol: two symbols separated by a

hyphen, e.g., SP-SC, Poorly Graded Sand with Clay
1st symbol (SP) identifies sand or gravel and grading
2nd symbol (SC) identifies the type of fines (silt or
clay)
Hydraulic conductivity significance (fines lower K by
reducing effective porosity) + other soil properties

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Dual Symbols, Coarse-Grained Soils
Poorly Graded Gravel
with Silt (GP-GM)

Poorly Graded Sand

with Silt (SP-SM)

Poorly Graded Gravel

with Clay (GP-GC)

Poorly Graded Sand

with Clay (SP-SC)

Well-Graded Gravel
with Silt (GW-GM)
Well-Graded Gravel
with Clay (GW-GC)

Well-Graded Sand
with Silt (SW-SM)
Well-Graded Sand
with Clay (SW-SC)

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Fine-Grained Soil Classification
Fine-grained soil > or = 50% silt and/or clay
The USCS grain size limit for the silt (M) and
clay (C) fractions is the same 0.075 mm
(passes #200 sieve)
(USDA system: silt fraction is between 0.05
and 0.002 mm, clay fraction < or = 0.002 mm)
USCS silt and clay classification is based
on plastic properties (Atterberg Limits)
and not particle size distribution

Unified Soil Classification

System (USCS)
Atterberg Limits (based on laboratory
testing, ASTM D2487)
Plastic Limit (PL), water content at which
soil starts to exhibit plastic behavior
Liquid Limit (LL), water content at which
soil starts to exhibit liquid behavior
Plasticity Index, PI, numeric difference
between LL and PL, measure of plasticity;
clays have a high PI, silts have a low PI

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Fine-Grained Soil Classification, Plasticity Chart

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Fine-Grained Soil Classification, Field Plasticity
Tests (based on Table 12, ASTM D2488-09a)

Unified Soil Classification System

(USCS) Fine-Grained Soil Classification
Percentages of sand or gravel?
If < 15% sand or gravel, no qualifier needed,
e.g., lean clay
If 15-25% sand or gravel, add with sand (%S
> or = %G) or with gravel (%G > %S), e.g.,
lean clay with sand
If > 30 % sand or gravel, add sandy (%S > or
= %G) or gravelly (%G > %S), e.g., sandy
lean clay

USCS vs. USDA Particle Size Comparison

USDA Soil Classification

System
75 mm
2.00 mm
0.05 mm 0.002 mm
GRAVEL

SAND

SILT

CLAY

ATTERBERG LIMIT
GRAVEL
SAND
SILT and CLAY
75 mm 4.75 mm 0.074 mm (#200 sieve)

Unified Soil Classification System

Misuse of Soil Classification Systems

Scenario #1

A model utilizes USDA soil

classification data (the results will be
used to evaluate risk). Is substituting
USCS soil type data for equivalent
USDA soil type data appropriate? For
example, can we assume that that
USCS lean clay and sandy clay are
equivalent to USDA clay and sandy
clay?

USDA Soil Types

t Comparison of USCS & USDA Lab
ification of 62 Soil Samples From
hoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas and
gomery Counties (DERR County Background Sampling)

Misuse of Soil Classification Systems

Scenario #1

Ohio EPA geotechnical laboratory

data indicates
USCS lean clay may classify as USDA
silty clay, clay loam, silty clay loam,
loam or silt loam (but not clay)
USCS clayey sand classifies as USDA
sandy loam (not clayey sand)

Misuse of Soil Classification Systems

Scenario #1
USCS and USDA are not mix and match
systems (soil types arent equivalents)
Some soil classification types may not
occur in a given geographic area or site
locations
USCS elastic silt (MH) is not common in Ohio
Based on DERRs county soil data to date,
USDA clay, sandy clay, and sandy clay loam
are not common in Ohio

S. Army Corps of Engineers,

ctromagnetic Power Attenuation in Soils,
DC/EL TR-05-5, August 2005

USCS vs. USDA Particle Size Comparison

USDA Soil Classification

System
75 mm
2.00 mm
0.05 mm 0.002 mm
GRAVEL

SAND

SILT

CLAY

ATTERBERG LIMIT
GRAVEL
SAND
SILT and CLAY
75 mm 4.75 mm 0.074 mm (#200 sieve)

Unified Soil Classification System

Misuse of Soil Classification Systems

Scenario #1 (Continued)

If you perform hydrometer analysis

(ASTM D422) to determine the clay (>
0.002 mm) fraction for a soil sample
classified according to the USCS, can
you use the clay data with the USCS
sand and silt %s to determine the
USDA soil type?

USCS vs. USDA Particle Size Comparison

USDA Soil Classification

System
75 mm
2.00 mm
0.05 mm 0.002 mm
GRAVEL

SAND

SILT

CLAY

ATTERBERG LIMIT
GRAVEL
SAND
SILT and CLAY
75 mm 4.75 mm 0.074 mm (#200 sieve)

Unified Soil Classification System

USCS vs. USDA Lab Testing

USCS Must
Haves
Sieve Sizes
#4 (gravel/sand)
#200 (sand/
[silt+clay])

Atterberg
Limits

USDA Must
Haves
Sieve Sizes

#10 (gravel/sand)

Hydrometer
0.05 mm fraction
(sand/silt)
0.002 mm fraction
(silt /clay)

USCS vs. USDA Lab Testing

USCS Options

USDA Options

Sieve Sizes

Sieve Sizes

(c. gravel/f. gravel)

#10 (c. sand/m. sand)
#40 (m. sand/f. sand)

Hydrometer
0.005 mm or 0.002
mm fractions (clay)

#18 (v.c. sand/c.

sand)
#35 (c. sand/m.
sand)
#60 (m. sand/f. sand)
#140 (f. sand/v.f.
sand)

Misuse of Soil Classification

Systems Scenario #2
You are reviewing existing soil boring
logs for a new site. The previous
consultants assessment report states
that they logged soils using the USCS
per ASTM D2488-09a. You note that the
terms loam and loamy are used
with USCS terminology, and that silty
clay appears frequently as a field soil
description. Do you have any concerns?

Misuse of Soil Classification

Systems Scenario #2
Problems with consultants soil
classification:
Never appropriate to combine USCS and USDA
soil classification terminology
USCS silty clay or USDA silty clay? (significant
difference)
USCS silty clay? Should have used the term
lean clay instead per ASTM D2488-09a and
ASTM D2487-11 (silty clay cant be classified
in the field)

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Fine-Grained Soil Classification, Plasticity Chart

Misuse of Soil Classification

Systems Scenario #3
You need to determine USDA soil types for a Phase
II property assessment in Hamilton County. You
have soil type data from several sites in Franklin
County. Both counties are covered with till, which
consistently classifies as clay loam or silty clay
loam at the Franklin County sites.
Would assuming that the Hamilton County soils
are clay loam or silty clay loam based on the
Franklin County data be appropriate?

parison of USDA Soil Classification for Franklin and Hamilton Cou

(DERR County Background Sampling, Soil Laboratory Results)

son of USDA Soil Classification for Franklin, Lucas, and Hamilton

(DERR County Background Sampling, Soil Laboratory Results)

Recommendations for Using Soil

Classification Data
Become familiar with both the USCS
and USDA soil classification system
basics
Never substitute USCS data for USDA
soil classification data (directly or by
manipulation)
Request soil laboratory
testing/classification for modeling and
risk assessment purposes

Recommendations for Using Soil

Classification Data
Question soil classification (field or
lab) that doesnt appear to follow a
standard system
Never assume the soil type(s) at one
site is/are comparable to another site
based on the origin of geologic
material (or proximity)

Questions?
Thanks for your time and
attention!