Unit 2: Soil Types
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following materials is NOT considered a major soil type?

  • Sand
  • Gravel
  • Silt
  • Limestone (correct)

    • According to the AASHTO classification system, what is the maximum grain size (in mm) for sand particles?

  • 76.2
  • 0.075
  • 0.002
  • 2 (correct)

    • What is the primary distinction between coarse-grained and fine-grained soil?

  • Density
  • Presence of organic matter
  • Mineral composition
  • pH level
  • Particle size (correct)
  • Color
  • Water content
  • Location in the soil profile

    • Which of the following soil types would require magnification to be seen?

    <p>Clay (A), Silt (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these organizations is NOT mentioned as contributing to the classification of soil types?

    <p>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about clay is NOT true based on the provided text?

    <p>Clay is classified as a cohesive soil due to its strong bond when submerged in water. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on the text, what property allows a soil to be deformed without cracking or significant volume change?

    <p>Plasticity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following descriptions best characterizes cohesionless soil?

    <p>Soil that lacks significant strength when air-dried and has minimal cohesion when submerged. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the parent material of a soil?

    <p>The original material from which a soil has been derived. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would be classified as a cohesive soil based on the provided information?

    <p>Clay (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between silt and clay?

    <p>Silt has negligible plasticity, while clay has a significant degree of plasticity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on the text, soil structure refers to:

    <p>The way in which soil particles are bound together. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would be considered a coarse-grained soil?

    <p>Gravel (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary criterion for categorizing soil types?

    <p>Particle size (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which property is used when soil particle size is too small to be observed?

    <p>Plasticity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significantly influences the properties and behaviors of soils apart from particle size?

    <p>Mineralogical composition (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to recognize various soil properties in engineering applications?

    <p>To determine suitability for design and construction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the ability of soil to deform?

    <p>Plasticity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of soil is characterized by the interaction with water according to the content?

    <p>Cohesive soils (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of understanding clay mineralogy in soils?

    <p>It relates directly to soil properties (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects is NOT covered in the examination of soil types?

    <p>Soil types defined by organic content (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary mineral constituent of kaolin?

    <p>Kaolinite (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which property of a soil refers to its ability to decrease in volume when under load?

    <p>Compressibility (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of structure is characterized by individual soil particles and is typical of coarse-grained soils?

    <p>Single-grained Structure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the effect of remolding on the consistency of cohesive soil?

    <p>Sensitivity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the thixotropic process in a soil material?

    <p>A change to a soft consistency upon agitation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the structure created by the repulsion of clay particles leading to face-to-face orientation?

    <p>Dispersed Structure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is known for its ability to swell when wet and shrink upon drying?

    <p>Montmorillinite (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term refers to the removal of soluble soil material by percolating water?

    <p>Leaching (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary basis for categorizing soil types when particle size is easily observable?

    <p>Particle size (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Beyond particle size, what additional property is used to categorize soils with extremely small particles that cannot be directly observed?

    <p>Plasticity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is also used in addition to particle size to help understand soil properties?

    <p>Soil structure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT explicitly mentioned in the text as a factor influencing soil behavior?

    <p>Vegetative cover (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does plasticity of a soil directly indicate?

    <p>Its ability to deform (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a crucial aspect of understanding soil that the module aims to highlight?

    <p>The different clay minerals (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of particle size in relation to soil categorization?

    <p>It serves as a foundational criterion for categorizing soil. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a core aim of the module?

    <p>Highlight the importance of water content in soil behavior (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a cohesive soil from a cohesionless soil?

    <p>Cohesive soil has significant cohesion when submerged, while cohesionless soil has little or no cohesion when submerged. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these best defines 'soil texture'?

    <p>The size, shape, arrangement, and crystallinity of component particles and related void characteristics. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are 'colloidal particles' defined in the context of soil?

    <p>Particles that are so small that surface activity significantly influences the properties of the aggregate. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of a 'non-plastic' soil?

    <p>It lacks the properties of plasticity and does not retain shape on drying. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the content, what particle size distinguishes 'clay' from other soil types?

    <p>Particles finer than 0.002 mm (or 0.005 mm in some cases). (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately describes 'silt'?

    <p>It is non-plastic or very slightly plastic and exhibits little or no strength when air-dried. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the property of soil that allows it to deform without cracking or significant volume change?

    <p>Plasticity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of a 'soil' according to the provided information?

    <p>All material located above bedrock including mineral particles and organic material; or sediments and other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles produced by the physical and chemical disintegration of rocks, which may or may not contain organic matter. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two primary groups into which soil types are categorized?

    <p>Coarse-grained soil and fine-grained soil (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the AASHTO classification system, what is the minimum grain size (in mm) for gravel particles?

    <p>2 mm (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following soils is classified as fine-grained soil?

    <p>Clay (B), Silt (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between gravel and sand based on their grain sizes according to the AASHTO classification system?

    <p>Gravel has larger particles than sand (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What organization is NOT involved in determining the classification of soil types?

    <p>U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is characterized by its ability to swell when wet and shrink upon drying?

    <p>Montmorillonite (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the ability of a soil to stiffen when standing but become fluid upon agitation?

    <p>Thixotropy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary component of kaolin?

    <p>Kaolinite (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of soil structure is typified by the arrangement of individual soil particles?

    <p>Single-grained Structure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which property pertains to a soil's susceptibility to decrease in volume when subjected to load?

    <p>Compressibility (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the removal of soluble soil materials by percolating water?

    <p>Leaching (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the structure caused by the aggregation of minute soil particles?

    <p>Flocculent Structure (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to soil that has had its natural structure altered by manipulation?

    <p>Remolded Soil (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the provided information, what does 'interstitial' refer to?

    <p>The spaces between soil particles or within rocks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary distinction, based on particle size observability, between coarse-grained and fine-grained soils?

    <p>Coarse-grained soils can be seen without magnification, while fine-grained soils require magnification. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum grain size (in mm) for silt, according to the AASHTO classification system?

    <p>0.002 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately represents the grain size relationship between gravel and sand, according to the AASHTO classification system?

    <p>Gravel has a larger grain size than sand. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these clay minerals is characterized by a sheet-like structure prone to swelling when wet?

    <p>Montmorillinite (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the arrangement of soil particles in a loosely packed, stable structure resembling a honeycomb?

    <p>Honeycomb Structure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A soil's consistency, which influences how readily it deforms, is most directly affected by its:

    <p>Sensitivity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the defining characteristic of a soil undergoing thixotropy when left standing?

    <p>Stiffening in a relatively short time (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'leaching' in soil science specifically refers to:

    <p>The removal of soluble materials by percolating water (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of soil structure is produced when clay particles are repelled from each other, leading to a face-to-face orientation?

    <p>Dispersed (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a primary factor influencing the assessment of soil suitability for engineering applications, as highlighted in the provided text?

    <p>Temperature fluctuations (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes a 'remolded' soil?

    <p>A soil that has had its natural structure altered by manipulation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main criterion for categorizing soils when particle size is readily discernible?

    <p>Particle size (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term best describes the formation of loose, open clusters of soil particles in a suspension?

    <p>Flocs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of evaluating the plasticity of a soil?

    <p>To assess its ability to deform (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a key factor, in addition to particle size, that significantly impacts soil properties and behavior?

    <p>Soil structure and mineralogical composition (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of soil behaviour is MOST affected by its plasticity?

    <p>The soil's ability to deform (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are cohesive soils primarily characterized by, according to the text?

    <p>Small particle sizes and high plasticity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the role of water in soil behavior?

    <p>Water content is the primary factor determining soil categorization. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is being evaluated when determining the soil's consistency?

    <p>The soil's ability to deform (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the term 'soil structure'?

    <p>The arrangement and aggregation of soil particles in a soil mass. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the distinguishing characteristic of a 'cohesive soil' according to the text provided?

    <p>It has considerable strength when air-dried, and significant cohesion when submerged. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between 'silt' and 'clay' based on the information provided?

    <p>Silt is non-plastic, or very slightly plastic, while clay exhibits considerable plasticity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What constitutes the 'parent material' of a soil?

    <p>The material from which the soil has been derived. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in the context of soil properties?

    <p>The ability to deform beyond the point of recovery without cracking or volume change. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on the provided text, how are 'collodial particles' characterized?

    <p>They are particles so small that their surface activity has an appreciable influence on the aggregate. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a 'non-plastic' soil from other soil types, according to the text?

    <p>It lacks the properties of plasticity, meaning it does not exhibit a range of water contents over which it exhibits plasticity and will not retain its shape on drying. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main feature of 'soil texture' as defined in the provided text?

    <p>The geometrical aspects consisting of size, shape, arrangement, and crystallinity of the component particles and voids. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Unit 2: Soil Types

    • Soil types are categorized based on particle size and plasticity
    • Soil properties are influenced by particle size, structure, and mineralogical composition
    • Soil properties influence engineering applications like roadway embankment, culvert installation, and sewage lagoons
    • Soil is all material above bedrock, including mineral particles, organic matter, and unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles.

    2.2.0 Definitions of Key Terms

    • Soil: All material above bedrock, including mineral particles, organic matter, and unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles.
    • Soil Structure: The arrangement and state of aggregation of soil particles in a soil mass.
    • Coarse-grained Soil: Soils made of gravel and/or sand.
    • Fine-grained Soil: Soils made of silt and/or clay. Clay is a fine-grained soil that exhibits plasticity (putty-like properties) at certain water contents and considerable strength when air-dried.
    • Clay Size: Particles finer than 0.002 mm (0.005mm in some cases)

    2.3.0 Soil Types

    • Soil classification is determined by particle size (gravel, sand, silt, clay)
    • Coarse-grained soils are visible without magnification
    • Fine-grained soils (silt and clay) require enhancement to visualize
    • Classifications use systems like AASHTO, ASTM, and USDA

    2.3.1 Particle Size and Shape

    • Particle size and shape influence the mechanical behavior of soils
    • Round particles do not interlock, while angular particles do
    • Flat particles can form planes of weakness, potentially leading to failure.
    • Fine-grained soils (silt and clay) consist of small particles whose behavior is heavily affected by water.
    • Silt particles are small and spherical, while clay particles are flat. These particles rarely get smaller than 2 microns

    2.4.0 Soil Structure

    • Soil structure describes the arrangement of soil particles
    • Cohesionless soils have little to no strength when dry or submerged. Their structure resembles stacked particles.
    • Void ratio (e): The ratio of void volume to solid particle volume, indicating strength, compressibility, and permeability
    • Smaller void ratio indicates higher strength and lower compressibility/permeability
    • This ratio is affected by factors like particle shape and arrangement, and external forces

    2.4.1 Cohesionless Soils

    • These soils have little to no strength when dry or submerged.
    • Particle arrangement is relatively stable, with particles in contact with neighboring particles.
    • Void ratio (e) affects strength and compressibility.
    • Loose states of cohesionless soil may be prone to quick volume reductions and strength loss under shock or vibrations

    2.4.2 Cohesive Soils

    • Cohesive soils exhibit inherent strength when dry or submerged.
    • Their particle structure controls strength, shape, and surface characteristics; often influenced by mineralogy and the chemical weathering process
    • Clay properties, like swelling and plasticity, are determined by composition.
    • Structure is affected by interaction of the clay particles with each other and the liquids (water) present.

    2.4.3 Clay Minerals

    • Kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite (smectite) are common clay minerals.

    2.5.0 Clay Mineralogy

    • Clay soil mineralogy differs from granular soil mineralogy
    • Clay surfaces have a net negative electrical charge, influenced by the arrangement of ions
    • This affects behavior due to the high surface-area-to-mass ratio

    2.5.1 Clay Structure

    • Clay soil structure is dictated by mineral composition and inter-particle forces.
    • Net negative charge on clay particles and positive/negative charges on water interact, leading to various structures
    • Flocculated structure: Clay particles are attracted to edge-to-face arrangements, due to attractive forces from water
    • Dispersed Structure: Parallel arrangements of particles with reduced cohesion. This can occur if salts are leached or water erodes flocculated structures

    2.6.0 Soil Microstructure

    • Soil microstructure describes mineral and rock grains' arrangements, voids, interstitial water, and air.
    • Various structures include single-grain, wedge-block, massive, dispersed massive, and layered structures. This is determined by factors like particle contact, water, salts, and external forces.

    2.7.0 Questions and Practical Problems

    • This section provides a list of questions about soil types for further analysis and detailed study.

    2.8.0 Web Resources

    • Contains sources and links for further research on soil.

    2.9.0 References

    • Listing of research papers and books. Including titles, authors, and publishing information.

    2.10.0 & 2.11.0 Field Pictures 1 & 2

    • Visual representations of soil types
    • Description of the pictures, if available, could be added

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    Description

    This quiz explores various soil types and their classifications based on particle size and plasticity. It covers definitions of key terms, including soil structure and the properties of coarse-grained and fine-grained soils. Understanding these concepts is essential for applications in engineering and construction.

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