Water free from calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. CF:hard water;
hardness. Crispin
a. All unconsolidated materials above bedrock. This is the meaning of the
term as used by early geologists and in some recent geologic reports, and
has been vigorously advocated by Legget (1967, 1973). It is the common
usage among engineering geologists (see, e.g., compaction; soil
mechanics). In recent years the approx. syn. regolith has come into wide
geological use. AGI
b. The natural medium for growth of land plants.--Etymol: Latin solum,
ground. See also:sounding
See:soil survey
A related sequence of soil profile types created by changes from one
drainage condition to another. These changes are usually transitional.
Hawkes, 2
The addition of cement to a soil, as a binding agent, and converting it
into a weak form of concrete. See also:cement stabilization
Nelson
The tests are of two main types, namely: (1) mechanical analysis,
performed by sieving or sedimentation, to determine the size-distribution
of the constituent particles; and (2) index property tests, for soils
passing a 36-mesh British Standard sieve, by means of which the type is
deduced from the moisture content at standard consistencies.
See also:index properties
A cylindrical sample of soil for tests and examination. Undisturbed
samples may be obtained by the use of special appliances, which allow
extraction of soil cores of diameter usually 1-1/2 in (3.8 cm) or 4 in
(10.2 cm). The core barrel, forming part of the coring tool, is detachable
and is capped and the core hermetically sealed for delivery to the
laboratory. The natural moisture content and other properties are
preserved for examination. Individual soil cores, up to 3 ft (0.9 m) in
length, may be obtained by continuous coring if necessary.
See also:borehole samples; undisturbed sample. Nelson
The gradual, steady downhill movement of soil and loose rock material on a
slope that may be very gentle but is usually steep.
Syn:surficial creep
See:solifluction
See:solifluction
The processes whereby fragmental material resulting from rock weathering
is transformed into a medium that can support plant growth.
Factors, such as parent material, climate, vegetation, topography,
organisms, and time, involved in the transformation of an original
geologic deposit into a soil profile. ASCE
A layer of a soil that is distinguishable from adjacent layers by
characteristic physical properties, such as structure, color, or texture,
or by chemical composition, including content of organic matter or degree
of acidity or alkalinity. Soil horizons are generally designated by a
capital letter, with or without a numerical annotation, e.g. A horizon, A2
horizon. Syn:horizon; soil zone; pedologic horizon. AGI
The application of the principles of mechanics and hydraulics to
engineering problems dealing with the behavior and nature of soils,
sediments, and other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles; the
detailed and systematic study of the physical properties and utilization
of soils, esp. in relation to highway and foundation engineering and to
the study of other problems relating to soil stability. AGI
A sounding instrument, which may be used to supplement the vane test. It
consists essentially of a rod inside a tube. When the appliance is
mechanically jacked into the ground, the point or cone of the rod records
all differences in resistance to penetration. It thus determines quickly
the soil strength profile in depth and detects any soft beds in advance of
the vane tests. See also:penetration log
The organized body of knowledge concerned with the physical
characteristics of soil and with the methods employed in their
determinations. ASCE
A vertical section of a soil that displays all its horizons.
Syn:profile
a. A tube driven into the ground so as to obtain an undisturbed soil
sample. In sands, such tubes would be fitted with a core catcher.
Hammond
b. One of a number of different mechanical devices used for taking samples
of an unconsolidated material. See also:solid-barrel sampler;
split-tube barrel; split-tube sampler. Long
The study of the properties, occurrence, and management of soil as a
natural resource. Generally it includes the chemistry, microbiology,
physics, morphology, and mineralogy of soils, as well as their genesis and
classification. Syn:pedology
A machine employed in soil stabilization comprising two nearly touching
half drums, which rotate in opposite directions and break up the soil.
Hammond
Chemical or mechanical treatment designed to increase or maintain the
stability of a mass of soil or otherwise to improve its engineering
properties. See also:cement-modified soil; cement stabilization;
processing; pulverization. ASCE