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Chapter 2: Soil Deposits - Origin, Grain-Size, and Shape

The document discusses the origin, particle size, shape, and classification of soil. There are three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Soil forms through weathering of rocks and can be residual soils remaining in place or transported soils deposited by glaciers, water, wind, or other mechanisms. Particle size is analyzed using sieves and hydrometers to create a distribution curve. Other properties like effective size, uniformity, and sphericity are also defined.

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Marcus Natividades
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61 views25 pages

Chapter 2: Soil Deposits - Origin, Grain-Size, and Shape

The document discusses the origin, particle size, shape, and classification of soil. There are three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Soil forms through weathering of rocks and can be residual soils remaining in place or transported soils deposited by glaciers, water, wind, or other mechanisms. Particle size is analyzed using sieves and hydrometers to create a distribution curve. Other properties like effective size, uniformity, and sphericity are also defined.

Uploaded by

Marcus Natividades
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 2: Soil Deposits – Origin, Grain-

Size, and Shape


Rock Cycle and the Origin of Soil

Three Basic Types of Rocks

1. Igneous rocks – are formed by the


solidification of molten magma ejected from
deep within the earth’s mantle. (Ex: Granite,
gabbro, and basalt)
Weathering – is the process of breaking down
rocks by mechanical and chemical processes into
smaller pieces.

Residual Soils – are soils formed by the weathered


products at their place of origin.

Transported Soils:
Glacial soils – formed by transportation and
deposition of glaciers.
Alluvial soils – transported by running water and
deposited along streams.
Lacustrine soils – formed by deposition in quiet
lakes.
Marine soils – formed by deposition in the seas.
Aeolian soils – transported and deposited by
wind.

2. Sedimentary rock – was at one time consisted


of particles deposited as sediment by water,
wind or glacier. (Ex: Limestone, sandstone,
shale, dolomite)
3. Metamorphic rock – is either igneous or
sedimentary rock that has been changed in
texture, structure and mineral composition or
in or two of these characteristics, by intense
geologic heat or pressure or both. (Ex: Gneiss,
marble, quartzite)
Soil-Particle Size

• Gravels
• Sand
• Silts
• Clays
Specific Gravity (Gs)

The specific gravity of solids of light-colored sand,


which is made mostly of quartz, may be
estimated to be about 2.65; for clayey and silty
soils, it may vary from 2.6 to 2.9.
Mechanical Analysis of Soil

Mechanical analysis is the determination of the


size range of particles present in a soil, expressed
as a percentage of the total dry weight (or mass).
Two methods are generally used to find the
particle-size distribution: (1) sieve analysis – for
particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in diameter,
and (2) hydrometer analysis – for particle sizes
smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter.
Sieve Analysis – consists of shaking the soil sample
through a set of sieves that have progressively
smaller openings. First the soil is oven dried, and
then all lumps are broken into small particles
before they are passed through the sieves. U.S.
standard sieve numbers and the sizes of openings
are given in the table below.
U.S. Standard Sieve Sizes
Hydrometer Analysis – is based on the principle of
sedimentation of soil grains in water. When a soil
specimen is dispersed in water, the particles settle
at different velocities, depending on their shape,
size, and weight. For simplicity, it is assumed that
all the soil particles are spheres and the velocity of
soil particles can be expressed by Stokes’ law,
according to which:
Where: ν = velocity
s  w 2 ρs = density of soil particles
v D
18 ρw = density of water
η = viscosity of water
D = diameter of soil particles
18 18 L
D  L (cm)
s  w s  w t D (mm)  K
t (min)
s  Gs w
30
18 K
D
L
Gs  1
Gs  1 w t

30 L
D
Gs  1w t

ρw = 1 g/cm3
Particle-Size Distribution Curve
The results of mechanical analysis (sieve and
hydrometer analyses) are generally presented
on semilogarithmic plots known as particle-size
(or grain-size) distribution curves. The particle
diameters are plotted in log scale and the
corresponding percent finer in arithmetic scale.
Effective Size, Uniformity Coefficient, and
Coefficient of Gradation, Sorting Coefficient

Effective size, D10 = is the diameter in the particle


size distribution curve corresponding to 10% finer.
Uniformity coefficient, Cu
D60
Cu 
D10

Where: D60 = is the diameter corresponding to


60% finer in the particle-size distribution curve.
Coefficient of gradation, Cz
2
D30
Cz 
D60 xD10

Where: D30 = is diameter corresponding to


30% finer in the particle-size distribution
curve.
Sorting Coefficient, S0
𝐷75
𝑆0 =
𝐷25
Example Problem:

Following are the results of a sieve analysis. Make the


necessary calculations and draw a particle-size
distribution curve.
Example Problem:

From the previous problem, calculate the


uniformity coefficient and the coefficient of
gradation of the soil.
Particle Shape

1. Bulky particles (Angular, subangular,


subrounded, rounded)
2. Flaky particles – have very low sphericity –
usually 0.01 or less.
3. Needle-shaped particles – are much less
common than the other two particle types.
Angularity, A
Average radius of corners and edges
A
Radius of the maximum incribed sphere

Sphericity of bulky materials, S

De
S
Lp
Where :
6V
D e  equivalent diameter of the particle  3

V  volume of particle
L p  length of particle

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