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ASTM D 2488 : 2017 : EDT 1

Current
Current

The latest, up-to-date edition.

Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedures)
Available format(s)

Hardcopy , PDF

Language(s)

English

Published date

04-04-2018

1.1This practice covers procedures for the description of soils for engineering purposes.

1.2This practice also describes a procedure for identifying soils, at the option of the user, based on the classification system described in Test Method D2487. The identification is based on visual examination and manual tests. It shall be clearly stated in reporting, the soil identification is based on visual-manual procedures.

1.2.1When precise classification of soils for engineering purposes is required, the procedures outlined in Test Method D2487 shall be used.

1.2.2In this practice, the identification procedures assigning a group symbol and name are limited to soil particles smaller than 3 in. (75 mm).

1.2.3The identification portion of this practice is limited to naturally occurring soils. Specimens used for identification may be either intact or disturbed.

Note 1:This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. (see Appendix X2).

1.3The descriptive information in this practice may be used with other soil classification systems or for materials other than naturally occurring soils.

1.4Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are rationalized conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard. The sieve designations are identified using the “alternative” system in accordance with Practice E11.

1.5This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements see Section 8.

1.6This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.7This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Committee
D 18
DocumentType
Standard Practice
Pages
13
PublisherName
American Society for Testing and Materials
Status
Current
Supersedes

ASTM D 3080/D3080M : 2011 Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions (Withdrawn 2020)
ASTM D 8140 : 2018 Standard Guide for the Use of Foundry Sand in Asphalt Mixtures
ASTM C 1821/C1821M : 2016 Standard Practice for Installation of Underground Circular Precast Concrete Manhole Structures
ASTM C 1479M : 2016 Standard Practice for Installation of Precast Concrete Sewer, Storm Drain, and Culvert Pipe Using Standard Installations (Metric)
ASTM D 2573/D2573M : 2018 Standard Test Method for Field Vane Shear Test in Saturated Fine-Grained Soils
ASTM D 1883 : 2016 Standard Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of Laboratory-Compacted Soils
ASTM E 3163 : 2018 Standard Guide for Selection and Application of Analytical Methods and Procedures Used during Sediment Corrective Action
ASTM D 425 : 2017 Standard Test Method for Centrifuge Moisture Equivalent of Soils
ASTM D 6913/D6913M : 2017 Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis
ASTM D 5434 : 2012 Standard Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations of Soil and Rock (Withdrawn 2021)
ASTM D 2166/D2166M : 2016 Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil
ASTM D 2937 : 2017 : EDT 2 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the Drive-Cylinder Method
ASTM D 7015/D7015M : 2018 Standard Practices for Obtaining Intact Block (Cubical and Cylindrical) Samples of Soils
ASTM F 1668 : 2016 Standard Guide for Construction Procedures for Buried Plastic Pipe
ASTM D 4700 : 2015 Standard Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone (Withdrawn 2024)
ASTM D 4546 : 2014 : EDT 1 Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Soils
ASTM D 2774 : 2012 Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pressure Piping
ASTM D 4253 : 2016 Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
ASTM D 3213 : 2019 Standard Practices for Handling, Storing, and Preparing Soft Intact Marine Soil
ASTM D 2487 : 2017 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 6282/D6282M : 2014 Standard Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Site Characterizations (Withdrawn 2023)
ASTM D 420 : 2018 Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
ASTM D 6001 : 2005 : R2012 Standard Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for Environmental Site Characterization
ASTM D 3550/D3550M : 2017 Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 6938 : 2017 : REV A Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
ASTM D 1452/D1452M : 2016 Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings
ASTM D 1586/D1586M : 2018 Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 4050 : 2014 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Testing for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 6286 : 2012 Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling Methods for Environmental Site Characterization
ASTM D 698 : 2012 : EDT 2 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft<sup>3</sup> (600 kN-m/m<sup>3</sup>))
ASTM D 4221 : 2018 Standard Test Method for Dispersive Characteristics of Clay Soil by Double Hydrometer
ASTM D 5299/D5299M : 2018 Standard Guide for Decommissioning of Groundwater Wells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and Other Devices for Environmental Activities
ASTM D 1587/D1587M : 2015 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Fine-Grained Soils for Geotechnical Purposes (Withdrawn 2024)
ASTM D 2850 : 2015 Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression Test on Cohesive Soils
ASTM D 5101 : 2012 : R2017 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Filtration Compatibility of Soil-Geotextile Systems
ASTM D 3999/D3999M : 2011 : EDT 1 Standard Test Methods for the Determination of the Modulus and Damping Properties of Soils Using the Cyclic Triaxial Apparatus (Withdrawn 2020)
ASTM D 1557 : 2012 : EDT 1 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft<sup>3</sup> (2,700 kN-m/m<sup>3</sup>))
ASTM D 2435/D2435M : 2011 Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
ASTM D 6151/D6151M : 2015 Standard Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling (Withdrawn 2024)
ASTM D 6519 : 2015 Standard Practice for Sampling of Soil Using the Hydraulically Operated Stationary Piston Sampler
ASTM C 1479 : 2016 Standard Practice for Installation of Precast Concrete Sewer, Storm Drain, and Culvert Pipe Using Standard Installations
ASTM D 4648/D4648M : 2016 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for Saturated<brk/>Fine-Grained Clayey Soil
ASTM D 7608 : 2018 Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Measure Drained Fully Softened Shear Strength and Stress Dependent Strength Envelope of Fine-Grained Soils
ASTM D 6914/D6914M : 2016 Standard Practice for Sonic Drilling for Site Characterization and the Installation of Subsurface Monitoring Devices
ASTM C 1733 : 2017 : REV A Standard Test Method for Distribution Coefficients of Inorganic Species by the Batch Method
ASTM D 7928 : 2017 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Fine-Grained Soils Using the Sedimentation (Hydrometer) Analysis
ASTM D 5092/D5092M : 2016 Standard Practice for Design and Installation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells
ASTM C 12 : 2017 Standard Practice for Installing Vitrified Clay Pipe Lines
ASTM D 5514/D5514M : 2018 Standard Test Method for Large-Scale Hydrostatic Puncture Testing of Geosynthetics
ASTM D 5472/D5472M : 2014 Standard Test Method for Determining Specific Capacity and Estimating Transmissivity at the Control Well
ASTM D 3839 : 2014 Standard Guide for Underground Installation of “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pipe
ASTM D 4083 : 1989 : R2016 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D 6528 : 2017 Standard Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Direct Simple Shear Testing of Fine Grain Soils
ASTM D 4254 : 2016 Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
ASTM D 6066 : 2011 Standard Practice for Determining the Normalized Penetration Resistance of Sands for Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential (Withdrawn 2020)
ASTM D 4972 : 2019 Standard Test Methods for pH of Soils
ASTM D 4186/D4186M : 2012 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Saturated Cohesive Soils Using Controlled-Strain Loading
ASTM D 8167/D8167M : 2018 : REV A Standard Test Method for In-Place Bulk Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by a Low-Activity Nuclear Method (Shallow Depth)
ASTM D 1140 : 2017 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Amount of Material Finer than 75-μm (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing
ASTM D 4647/D4647M : 2013 Standard Test Methods for Identification and Classification of Dispersive Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test
ASTM E 1197 : 2012 Standard Guide for Conducting a Terrestrial Soil-Core Microcosm Test
ASTM D 5472/D5472M : 2020 Standard Practice for Determining Specific Capacity and Estimating Transmissivity at the Control Well
ASTM E 3281 : 2021 : REV A Standard Guide for NAPL Mobility and Migration in Sediments – Screening Process to Categorize Samples for Laboratory NAPL Mobility Testing
ASTM D 698 : 2012 : R2021 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft<sup>3</sup> (600 kN-m/m<sup>3</sup>))
ASTM D 4050 : 2020 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Testing for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 2321 : 2020 Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewers and Other Gravity-Flow Applications
ASTM E 3268 : 2021 Standard Guide for NAPL Mobility and Migration in Sediment—Sample Collection, Field Screening, and Sample Handling
ASTM D 6467 : 2021 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Determine Drained Residual Shear Strength of Fine-Grained Soils
ASTM C 1479M : 2016 : R2021 Standard Practice for Installation of Precast Concrete Sewer, Storm Drain, and Culvert Pipe Using Standard Installations (Metric) (Withdrawn 2023)
ASTM D 1883 : 2021 Standard Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of Laboratory-Compacted Soils
ASTM D 4647/D4647M : 2013:R2020 Standard Test Methods for Identification and Classification of Dispersive Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test
ASTM D 7263 : 2021 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Density and Unit Weight of Soil Specimens
ASTM D 6907 : 2022 Standard Practice for Sampling Soils and Contaminated Media with Hand-Operated Bucket Augers
ASTM D 7608 : 2018 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for Torsional Ring Shear Test to Measure Drained Fully Softened Shear Strength and Stress Dependent Strength Envelope of Fine-Grained Soils
ASTM F 1668 : 2016 : R2022 Standard Guide for Construction Procedures for Buried Plastic Pipe
ASTM D 2774 : 2021 : REV A Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pressure Piping
ASTM D 7928 : 2021 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Fine-Grained Soils Using the Sedimentation (Hydrometer) Analysis
ASTM D 6001/D6001M : 2020 Standard Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for Environmental Site Characterization
ASTM D 6938 : 2017 : REV A : EDT 1 Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
ASTM C 12 : 2022 : REV A Standard Practice for Installing Vitrified Clay Pipe Lines
ASTM C 1479/C1479M : 2022 Standard Practice for Installation of Precast Concrete Sewer, Storm Drain, and Culvert Pipe Using Standard Installations
ASTM E 1197 : 2012 : R2021 Standard Guide for Conducting a Terrestrial Soil-Core Microcosm Test
ASTM D 2435/D2435M : 2011 : R2020 Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
ASTM C 1733 : 2021 Standard Test Method for Distribution Coefficients of Inorganic Species by Batch Method
ASTM D 5102/D5102M : 2022 Standard Test Methods for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Compacted Soil-Lime Mixtures
ASTM D 4253 : 2016 : EDT 1 Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
ASTM D 7382 : 2020 Standard Test Methods for Determination of Maximum Dry Unit Weight of Granular Soils Using a Vibrating Hammer
ASTM D 1586/D1586M : 2018 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 4186/D4186M : 2020 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Saturated Cohesive Soils Using Controlled-Strain Loading
ASTM D 4546 : 2021 Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Soils
ASTM C 1821/C1821M : 2016 : R2021 : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Installation of Underground Circular Precast Concrete Manhole Structures
ASTM D 3839 : 2014 : R2019 Standard Guide for Underground Installation of “Fiberglass” (Glass-Fiber Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Pipe
ASTM D 1557 : 2012 : R2021 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft<sup>3</sup> (2,700 kN-m/m<sup>3</sup>))
ASTM D 8153 : 2022 Standard Test Method for Determination of Soil Water Contents Using a Dielectric Permittivity Probe
ASTM D 7263 : 2009 : R2018 : EDT 2 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Density (Unit Weight) of Soil Specimens
ASTM D 5567 : 1994 : R2018 Standard Test Method for Hydraulic Conductivity Ratio (HCR) Testing of Soil/Geotextile Systems
ASTM D 2321 : 2018 Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewers and Other Gravity-Flow Applications
ASTM D 3385 : 2018 Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of Soils in Field Using Double-Ring Infiltrometer

ASTM E 11 : 2020 Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
ASTM D 2487 : 2017 : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 1452 : 2009 Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings
ASTM D 1586 : 2008 : REV A Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 653 : 2007 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 3740 : 2012 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 1586 : 1999 Standard Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 1586 : 2008 Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 4427 : 2023 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 3740 : 2023 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 4083 : 1989 : R1994 : EDT 2 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D 3740 : 2019 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 3740 : 2004 : REV A : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 3740 : 2008 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 2113 : 2014 Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Exploration (Withdrawn 2023)
ASTM D 1452 : 2007 : REV A Standard Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by Auger Borings
ASTM D 1587 : 2008 : R2012 : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
ASTM D 4427 : 1992 : R2007 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 3740 : 1999 : REV C Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 1586 : 2011 Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D 4427 : 2013 : R2017 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 4083 : 1989 : R2001 : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM E 11 : 2022 Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
ASTM D 653 : 2022 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 1587 : 2008 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
ASTM D 653 : 2020 : EDT 1 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 4427 : 2013 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 4427 : 1992 : R1997 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 3740 : 2011 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 4427 : 1992 : R2002 : EDT 1 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 4083 : 1989 : R2007 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D 3740 : 2010 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 653 : 2021 : REV A Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 3740 : 2004 : REV A Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 3740 : 2001 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 2113 : 2006 Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Investigation
ASTM D 2113 : 2008 Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Investigation
ASTM D 2487 : 2006 : EDT 1 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 653 : 2021 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 653 : 2021 : REV B Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 2113 : 1999 Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Investigation
ASTM D 4427 : 2007 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 1452 : 2007 Standard Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by Auger Borings
ASTM D 4083 : 1989 : R2016 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D 3740 : 2012 : REV A Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 3740 : 2003 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 2487 : 2010 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 2487 : 2000 Standard Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 2487 : 2006 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 2487 : 2011 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 4427 : 2018 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
ASTM D 1587 : 2000 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
ASTM D 2487 : 2017 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D 3740 : 2004 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
ASTM D 2487 : 1969 : R1975 Standard Test Method for Classification Of Soils For Engineering Purposes
ASTM D 1452 : 1980 : R2000 Standard Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by Auger Borings

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