Chapter 3 - SOIL
Igneous Rock - is the result from the cooling and hardening of molten rock
called magma that has originated from deep within the earth.
Sedimentary Rocks - are formed from accumulated deposits of soil
particles or remains of certain organisms that have harden by pressure or
cemented by materials
Metamorphic Rocks - are rocks resulted from metamorphism due to
changes in temperature, pressure and plastic flow, changing the original rock
structure and mineral composition of the rock
Residual Soil or Sedimentary Soil- is formed from the weathering of rocks
or accumulation of organic materials remained at the location of their origin.
Mechanical weathering - refers to physical disintegration due to effects of
wind, rain, running water or tectonic forces (earth quake)
Chemical and solution Weathering - is decomposition of rock due to
chemical reactions that occur as a result of exposure to atmosphere,
temperature changes, reaction with water or other materials
Transported Soils- are those materials transported from their place of origin.
Transportation may result due to the effects of gravity, wind, water, glaciers of
human activity.
cobbles or boulders - Particles larger than gravel
Dilatancy - If small amount of moist silt sample is shaken on the palm of the
hand, water will appear on the surface of the sample but disappear when
shaking stops
CHARACTERISTIC OF SOILS
Gravel- consist of rock fragments more or less rounded by water action or
abrasion classified according to the following types:
a) Quartz is the hardest of common rock forming mineral'
b) Well Rounded Pebbles and Boulders - those that undergone long period of
wear that become almost quartz.
c) Slightly Worm Gravel is rough and other materials or rocks like granite,
limestone.
Fine Sand - has particles that are more coarse and fine sand particles.
Coarse Sand - is usually rounded like gravel with which it is found and
generally contains the same materials.
Silt Sand - is similar to fine sand with the same mineral composition. They
are found as rock flour in glacial moraines" It could be produced by chemical
decay.
Clay- is plate like, scale like, or rod like in shape as a result of chemical
weathering. Because of their smaller sizes, its performance is influenced by
moisture and surface chemistry'
Colloidal clay - is a finer clay particle that remains suspended in water and
does not settle under the force of gravity
Coarse Grain Materials - For most purposes, coarse grain materials are
considered satisfactory construction material.
Pedology - is the science of soils
Loam - Soil containing 20 to 30 percent clay
Soil deposit - consists of solid particles and void spaces between particles,
either partially or completely filled with water
The specific gravity of most commonly occurring rock or soil or soil
materials is between 2.30 and 3.10.
The specific gravity of soil solids lies within the range of 2.60 to 2.75.
ln-place density - refers to the volumetric weight expressed in pound per
cubic foot, or kilo Newton per cubic meter, or *mega gram per cubic meter of
soil in the undisturbed condition or compacted fill.
ENUMARATION
MAJOR CATEGORIES OF SOIL:
1. GRAVEL
2. SAND
3. SILT
4. CLAY
COARSE GRAIN SOILS:
1. GRAVEL
2. SAND
FINE GRAIN SOILS:
1. SILT
2. CLAY
characteristics of individual soil particles such as:
1. GRAIN SIZE
2. GRAIN SHAPE
3. Surface texture and electrical surface charges, resulted from chemical
composition and molecular structures.
silt contains:
1. Pumice
2 Loess
3. Materials foreign to the associated sand.
Strength and compressibility of the soil is directly related to:
1. Soil density weight per unit volume.
2. Water content of the soil.
3. Void ratio.
4. Degree of saturation.
