ASTM D6640-01

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Designation:D6640–01
Standard Practice for
Collection and Handling of Soils Obtained in Core Barrel
Samplers for Environmental Investigations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6640; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 1587 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Geotechni-
cal Sampling of Soils
1.1 This practice covers procedures for obtaining soils from
D 3550 Standard Practice for Ring-Lined Barrel Sampling
core barrel samplers for chemical and physical analysis, with
of Soils
an emphasis on the collection and handling procedures that
D 3694 Standard Practices for Preparation of Sample Con-
maintain the representativeness of the chemical contaminants
tainers and for Preservation of Organic Constituents
of concern. Core barrel samplers are initially empty (hollow)
D 4547 Standard Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for
until they are pushed into the ground to collect and retrieve a
Volatile Organic Compounds
cylindricalsoilsamplewithminimaldisturbance.Theselection
D 4687 Guide for General Planning of Sampling
of equipment and the sample handling procedures are depen-
D 4700 Standard Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose
dent on the soil properties, the depth of sampling, and the
Zone
general properties of the chemical contaminants of concern,
D 5088 Standard Practice for Decontamination of Field
that is, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic
Equipment Used at Nonradioactive Waste Sites
compounds, and inorganic constituents. The sampling proce-
D 5784 Standard Guide for Use of Hollow-StemAugers for
dures described are designed to maintain representative con-
Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of
centrations of the contaminants regardless of their physical
Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
state(s), that is, solid, liquid or gas.
D 5792 Standard Practice for Generation of Environmental
1.2 Four general types of core barrel samplers are discussed
Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Develop-
in this practice: split-barrel, ring-lined barrel, thin-walled tube,
ment of Data Quality Objectives
and solid-barrel samplers.
D 5875 Standard Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and
1.3 This document does not cover all the core barrel devices
Sampling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and
that are available for the collection of soil samples.
the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring
1.4 The procedures described may or may not be applicable
Devices
to handling of samples for assessing certain geotechnical
D 5876 Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline
properties, for example, soil porosity.
Casing Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenviron-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
mental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D 6051 Standard Guide for Composite Sampling and Field
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Subsampling for Environmental Waste Management Ac-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tivities
2. Referenced Documents
D 6151 Standard Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers
for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 6169 Standard Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Sampling Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Inves-
Fluids
tigations
D 1586 Standard Test Method for Penetration Test and
D 6232 Standard Guide for Selection of Sampling Equip-
Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection
Activities
D 6282 Standard Guide for Direct Push Soil Samplings for
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
Environmental Site Characterization
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.03 on
Sampling Equipment.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2001. Published April 2001.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
3 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6640
D 6286 Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling Methods core to avoid potential interferences between the contaminants
for Environmental Site Characterization of concern and the surface of the core barrel that is in direct
contact with the sample.
3. Summary of Practice 5.1.2 The design of the core barrel sampler should allow for
easy access to the sampled substrate for all subsequent han-
3.1 Obtaining soil samples from the surface and subsurface
dling procedures.
for chemical and physical analysis often involves the advance-
5.1.3 Core barrel size requirements depend on the type and
ment of a core barrel sampler into the ground. A core barrel
number of chemical constituents of concern. For example,
sampler can be operated by hand or mechanically, and it may
more soil is needed for the collection of samples intended for
be of a closed or open design (D 6282). Once the core barrel
semi-volatile organic compound analysis than for the analysis
hasbeenfilled,thesamplerisrecoveredfromtheboreholeand
of volatile organic compounds or inorganic constituents or
the soil sample is handled appropriately for the chemical
both. Typically, a 250-mL(8-oz) bottle is filled for the analysis
constituents of concern.
ofsemi-volatileorganiccompounds,a125-mL(4-oz)bottlefor
3.2 This practice describes collection and handling proce-
inorganic constituents, and only 5-g subsamples are taken for
dures used with four types of core barrel samplers. The
volatile organic compounds.
standards related to data quality objectives (D 5792), equip-
5.1.4 Sampling depth (see D 6286, for selection of drilling
ment specifications (D 6232, D 6169 and D 4700), their limi-
method).
tations and advantages (D 6282), and the site-specific geologi-
5.1.5 Suitability for soil type, that is, grain size, cohesion
cal and hydrological data should be reviewed to determine the
properties, and moisture content. For example, when sampling
soil coring equipment that is best suited for a specific project.
non-cohesive materials or when sampling below the water
table, a core catcher (basket) should be used to limit the loss of
4. Significance and Use
sample and ground water during retrieval (D 4700 and
4.1 Often during environmental investigations, soils are
D 6282).
analyzed after being collected from the surface, the vadose
5.1.6 The spreading of contamination between sampling
zone (D 653) and sometimes from below the ground water
depths should be minimized. Sealed hollow-barrel samplers
table to identify and quantify the presence of a chemical
(section 6.1.4) or cased bore holes and proper advancement
contaminant. A contaminant is a substance that is typically
techniques should be used to limit cross-contamination be-
hazardous and either is not normally present or that occurs
tween sampling depths in the vadose zone. Although a cased
naturally but is of an uncharacteristically high concentration
bore hole does not guarantee that contamination will not be
(D 4687). A three-dimensional spatial array of samples can
spread from one sampling depth to another, it lowers the
often provide information as to the source and route(s) of
possibility and eliminates the potential for bore hole collapse
migrationofthecontaminant.Theresultantinformationisused
and side wall slough that can compromise the integrity of the
to direct remedial and corrective actions or can be used for
samples removed from uncased bore holes. When there is
monitoring purposes. Obtaining a soil sample with a core
standing ground water in the bore hole, a sealed sampler
barrel sampler involves driving this device into the ground and
system should be used.
then retrieving it for sample processing. Several methods for
5.1.7 Site accessibility.
advancing a core barrel are generally acceptable (e.g., D 1586,
5.1.8 Time constraints.
D 1587, D 3550, D 4700, D 5784, D 5875, D 5876, D 6151,
5.1.9 Appropriate equipment availability.
D 6282, and D 6286). Drilling methods that use drilling fluids
(liquids or air) should be avoided because they are more 6. Sampling Equipment
susceptible to cross-contamination (See section 5.1.6).
6.1 The types of core barrel samplers discussed in this
practice are the split-barrel, ring-lined barrel, thin-walled tube,
5. Equipment Selection Criteria
and solid-barrel samplers. These samplers are part of equip-
5.1 Important criteria to consider when selecting a core ment that is either manually or mechanically powered, are
barrel sampler for soil sampling are:
designed to excavate a bore hole to the sampling depth, and
5.1.1 The materials that come into direct contact with the may remain in the bore hole during the sample collection
soil sample (barrel or barrel liner) should be compatible with activity (i.e., cased bore hole or dual-walled casing).
the chemical or physical properties of the contaminant(s) of 6.1.1 Split-Barrel Sampler—As described in Methods
concern and the chemical properties of the soil. As a general D 1586 and D 4700, the split-barrel sampler is composed of a
rule samples obtained for semi-volatile organic compound core barrel cut in half along the length of the barrel, a hardened
analysiscanbeobtainedwithinacorebarrelorcorebarrelliner metal drive shoe (cutting tip) and a sample head that vents
that is composed of stainless steel, steel, or brass. When only (e.g., a ball check valve) to allow air to be displaced as it is
inorganic constituents are of concern, a plastic core barrel liner filled (see Fig. 1). The shoe and the head thread onto opposite
would be more appropriate than the previously cited materials. ends of the split barrel and hold the two halves together. A
All of these materials are suitable for volatile organic com- common barrel size is 5.08 cm (2 in.) outside diameter and
pounds as long as the contact time is minimized. Often all of 3.81 cm (1.5 in.) inside diameter.The drive shoe used with this
the above samples (semi-volatile organic, inorganic, and vola- particular barrel size has an inside diameter of 3.49 cm (1.375
tileorganiccompounds)areobtainedfromasinglesoilcore.In in.). If fitted with a liner for encasing the sample, the inside
this situation, soils should be taken from the interior of the soil diameter of the core barrel liner should not be less than the
D6640
FIG. 2 Ring-Lined Barrel Sampler
FIG. 1 Split Barrel Sampler
with hollow-stem continuous flight augers, or an equivalent
drive shoe. Several other sizes of split-barrel samplers are
drilling or direct-push probe system (D 4700 and D 6282).
available, with inside diameters ranging from 2.5 to 10 cm. A
6.1.3 Thin-Walled Tube Sampler—As described in Methods
core barrel catcher (basket) can be used with this type of
D 1587 and D 4700, the thin-walled tube sampler consists of a
sampler to help retain non-cohesive materials. The split-barrel
core barrel attached to a head (Fig. 3). The head connects to
sampler is often used in conjunction with hollow-stem
standard drill rods and contains a vent (e.g., a ball check valve)
continuous-flightaugersoranequivalentdrillingordirect-push
to allow air to be displaced as it is filled. This sampler
probe system (D 4700 and D 6282).
description is unique to the Shelby tube, which is available
with outside diameters of 5.08, 7.62, and 12.70 cm (2, 3, and
6.1.2 Ring-LinedBarrelSampler—AsdescribedinMethods
D 3550 and D 4700, the ring-lined barrel sampler consists of 5 in.), and a length of approximately 0.91 m (36 in.). In all
an intact barrel or two split-barrel halves, a drive shoe, rings, a cases the drive end of the thin-walled tube sampler has a
waste barrel, and a sampler head that vents (e.g., a ball check slightly smaller diameter than the inside of the tube. A core
valve) to allow air to be displaced as it is filled (Fig. 2). The barrel catcher (basket) cannot be used with this type of
rings, which come in various lengths and are made of several sampler; therefore, non-cohesive materials may be lost during
different materials, should fit snugly within the barrel. The retrieval. These samplers are often used in conjunction with
inside diameter of the rings should not be less than that of the hollow-stem continuous-flight augers or an equivalent drilling
drive shoe opening.The lengths of the rings will depend on the or direct-push probe system (D 4700 and D 6282).
sampling plan so as to either allow quick access to a cross 6.1.4 Solid Barrel Sampler—The solid-barrel sampler is
section of the soil core at a depth of interest or allow the similar in design to the thin-tube sampler, with some important
appropriate size sample to be collected (see section 8.1.2). The exceptions; the walls are thicker and they often can be
waste barrel section allows the rings to be filled with undis- equipped with a liner(s) and a core catcher (Method D 6282,
turbed soil by leaving space to contain the disturbed soil that see Figs. 4 and 5). Most of the core barrel samplers in D 6282
often is present at the bottom of a hole.Acore catcher (basket) are designed to be a closed chamber until the depth of interest
can be used with this type of sampler to help retain non- is reached, then either the entire sampler or an inner barrel is
cohesive materials. This sampler is often used in conjunction driven to a greater depth, without advancing or after retracting
D6640
FIG. 3 Thin-Walled Tube Sampler
the drive point or piston tip. The open chamber (no drive point
FIG. 4 Direct Push, Single Tube Sampler
or piston tip) sampler design is often used for near-surface
sampling equipment (Fig. 5).
immediate use. For example, when using an on-site chemical
7. Pre-Sampling
or physical method of sample preservation, it is necessary to
perform all of the steps leading up to the transfer of soil
7.1 The pre-sampling activities are:
subsample from the sampler to the sample container. This may
7.1.1 Equipment that comes into direct contact with the
involve adding a solvent or acid solution to a vessel and
sample should be steam cleaned, washed with a detergent
recording a tared weight or having a chamber available that is
so
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