ASTM D6640-01(2005)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D6640–01(Reapproved2005)
Standard Practice for
Collection and Handling of Soils Obtained in Core Barrel
Samplers for Environmental Investigations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6640; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids
1.1 This practice covers procedures for obtaining soils from
D1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-
core barrel samplers for chemical and physical analysis, with
Barrel Sampling of Soils
an emphasis on the collection and handling procedures that
D1587 Practice forThin-WalledTube Sampling of Soils for
maintain the representativeness of the chemical contaminants
Geotechnical Purposes
of concern. Core barrel samplers are initially empty (hollow)
D3550 Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel,
until they are pushed into the ground to collect and retrieve a
Drive Sampling of Soils
cylindricalsoilsamplewithminimaldisturbance.Theselection
D3694 Practices for Preparation of Sample Containers and
of equipment and the sample handling procedures are depen-
for Preservation of Organic Constituents
dent on the soil properties, the depth of sampling, and the
D4547 Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
general properties of the chemical contaminants of concern,
Organic Compounds
that is, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic
D4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
compounds, and inorganic constituents. The sampling proce-
D4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
dures described are designed to maintain representative con-
D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment
centrations of the contaminants regardless of their physical
Used at Waste Sites
state(s), that is, solid, liquid or gas.
D5784 Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoen-
1.2 Four general types of core barrel samplers are discussed
vironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface
in this practice: split-barrel, ring-lined barrel, thin-walled tube,
Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
and solid-barrel samplers.
D5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Re-
1.3 This document does not cover all the core barrel devices
lated to Waste Management Activities: Development of
that are available for the collection of soil samples.
Data Quality Objectives
1.4 The procedures described may or may not be applicable
D5875 Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and Sampling
to handling of samples for assessing certain geotechnical
Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installa-
properties, for example, soil porosity.
tion of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
NOTE 1—Prior to commencement of any intrusive exploration, the site
D5876 Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline Casing
should be checked for underground utilities.
Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Monitoring Devices
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D6051 Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsam-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
pling for Environmental Waste Management Activities
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
D6151 Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geo-
technical Exploration and Soil Sampling
2. Referenced Documents
D6169 Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investi-
gations
D6232 Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for
Waste and Contaminated Media Data CollectionActivities
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.03 on
Sampling Equipment.
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published June 2005. Originally
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D6640-01. DOI:
10.1520/D6640-01R05. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6640–01 (2005)
D6282 Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environ- tileorganiccompounds)areobtainedfromasinglesoilcore.In
mental Site Characterizations this situation, soils should be taken from the interior of the soil
D6286 Guide for Selection of Drilling Methods for Envi- core to avoid potential interferences between the contaminants
ronmental 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
beofaclosedoropendesign(D6282).Oncethecorebarrelhas
semi-volatile organic compound analysis than for the analysis
been filled, the sampler is recovered from the bore hole and the
of volatile organic compounds or inorganic constituents or
soil sample is handled appropriately for the chemical constitu-
both. Typically, a 250-mL(8-oz) bottle is filled for the analysis
ents 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.
standardsrelatedtodataqualityobjectives(D5792),equipment
5.1.4 Suitability for soil type, that is, grain size, cohesion
specifications (D6232, D6169 and D4700), their limitations
properties, and moisture content. For example, when sampling
and advantages (D6282), and the site-specific geological and
non-cohesive materials or when sampling below the water
hydrological data should be reviewed to determine the soil
table, a core catcher (basket) should be used to limit the loss of
coring equipment that is best suited for a specific project.
sample and ground water during retrieval (D4700 and D6282).
5.1.5 The spreading of contamination between sampling
4. Significance and Use
depths should be minimized. Sealed hollow-barrel samplers
4.1 Often during environmental investigations, soils are
(6.1.4) or cased bore holes and proper advancement techniques
analyzed after being collected from the surface, the vadose
should be used to limit cross-contamination between sampling
zone(D653)andsometimesfrombelowthegroundwatertable
depths in the vadose zone.Although a cased bore hole does not
to identify and quantify the presence of a chemical contami-
guarantee that contamination will not be spread from one
nant. A contaminant is a substance that is typically hazardous
sampling depth to another, it lowers the possibility and
and either is not normally present or that occurs naturally but
eliminates the potential for bore hole collapse and side wall
is of an uncharacteristically high concentration (D4687). A
slough that can compromise the integrity of the samples
three-dimensional spatial array of samples can often provide
removed from uncased bore holes. When there is standing
information as to the source and route(s) of migration of the
ground water in the bore hole, a sealed sampler system should
contaminant. The resultant information is used to direct reme-
be used.
dial and corrective actions or can be used for monitoring
5.1.6 Other criteria that should be considered when select-
purposes. Obtaining a soil sample with a core barrel sampler
ing a core barrel sampler for soil sampling include sampling
involves driving this device into the ground and then retrieving
depth (see Guide D6286, for selection of drilling method), site
it for sample processing. Several methods for advancing a core
accessibility, time constraints, and appropriate equipment
barrel are generally acceptable (e.g., D1586, D1587, D3550,
availability.
D4700, D5784, D5875, D5876, D6151, D6282, and D6286).
Drilling methods that use drilling fluids (liquids or air) should
6. Sampling Equipment
be avoided because they are more susceptible to cross-
6.1 The types of core barrel samplers discussed in this
contamination (See section 5.1.6).
practice are the split-barrel, ring-lined barrel, thin-walled tube,
and solid-barrel samplers. These samplers are part of equip-
5. Equipment Selection Criteria
ment that is either manually or mechanically powered, are
5.1 Important criteria to consider when selecting a core designed to excavate a bore hole to the sampling depth, and
barrel sampler for soil sampling are: may remain in the bore hole during the sample collection
5.1.1 The materials that come into direct contact with the activity (i.e., cased bore hole or dual-walled casing).
soil sample (barrel or barrel liner) should be compatible with 6.1.1 Split-Barrel Sampler—As described in Methods
the chemical or physical properties of the contaminant(s) of D1586 and D4700, the split-barrel sampler is composed of a
concern and the chemical properties of the soil. As a general core barrel cut in half along the length of the barrel, a hardened
rule samples obtained for semi-volatile organic compound metal drive shoe (cutting tip) and a sample head that vents
analysiscanbeobtainedwithinacorebarrelorcorebarrelliner (e.g., a ball check valve) to allow air to be displaced as it is
that is composed of stainless steel, steel, or brass. When only filled (see Fig. 1). The shoe and the head thread onto opposite
inorganic constituents are of concern, a plastic core barrel liner ends of the split barrel and hold the two halves together. A
would be more appropriate than the previously cited materials. common barrel size is 5.08 cm (2 in.) outside diameter and
All of these materials are suitable for volatile organic com- 3.81 cm (1.5 in.) inside diameter.The drive shoe used with this
pounds as long as the contact time is minimized. Often all of particular barrel size has an inside diameter of 3.49 cm (1.375
the above samples (semi-volatile organic, inorganic, and vola- in.). If fitted with a liner for encasing the sample, the inside
D6640–01 (2005)
FIG. 2 Ring-Lined Barrel Sampler
FIG. 1 Split Barrel Sampler
diameter of the core barrel liner should not be less than the 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 (D4700 and D6282).
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 D1587 and D4700, 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)
to allow air to be displaced as it is filled. This sampler
continuous-flightaugersoranequivalentdrillingordirect-push
probe system (D4700 and D6282). description is unique to the Shelby tube, which is available
6.1.2 Ring-LinedBarrelSampler—AsdescribedinMethods with outside diameters of 5.08, 7.62, and 12.70 cm (2, 3, and
D3550 and D4700, the ring-lined barrel sampler consists of an 5 in.), and a length of approximately 0.91 m (36 in.). In all
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 (D4700 and D6282).
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- equippedwithaliner(s)andacorecatcher(MethodD6282,see
turbed soil by leaving space to contain the disturbed soil that Figs. 4 and 5). Most of the core barrel samplers in D6282 are
often is present at the bottom of a hole.Acore catcher (basket) designed to be a closed chamber until the depth of interest is
can be used with this type of sampler to help retain non- 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
D6640–01 (2005)
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 m
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