ASTM D2488-00

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Designation: D 2488 – 00
Standard Practice for
Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual
1
Procedure)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2488; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope * be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the description of
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
soils for engineering purposes.
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
1.2 This practice also describes a procedure for identifying
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
soils, at the option of the user, based on the classification
title of this document means only that the document has been
system described in Test Method D 2487. The identification is
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
based on visual examination and manual tests. It must be
clearly stated in reporting an identification that it is based on
2. Referenced Documents
visual-manual procedures.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2.1 When precise classification of soils for engineering
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
purposes is required, the procedures prescribed in Test Method
2
Fluids
D 2487 shall be used.
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
1.2.2 In this practice, the identification portion assigning a
2
Auger Borings
group symbol and name is limited to soil particles smaller than
D 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel
3 in. (75 mm).
2
Sampling of Soils
1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited to
2
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
naturally occurring soils (disturbed and undisturbed).
D 2113 Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Inves-
2
NOTE 1—This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to
tigation
such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. (seeAppendix
D 2487 Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes
X2).
2
(Unified Soil Classification System)
1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be used
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
withothersoilclassificationsystemsorformaterialsotherthan
Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and rock
3
naturally occurring soils.
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
D 4083 Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-
2
as the standard.
Manual Procedure)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3. Terminology
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 Definitions—Except as listed below, all definitions are
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
in accordance with Terminology D 653.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
NOTE 2—For particles retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) US standard sieve,
precautionary statements see Section 8.
the following definitions are suggested:
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
Cobbles—particles of rock that will pass a 12-in. (300-mm) square
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
opening and be retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve, and
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
Boulders—particles of rock that will not pass a 12-in. (300-mm) square
opening.
withprofessionaljudgment.Notallaspectsofthispracticemay
3.1.1 clay—soilpassingaNo.200(75-µm)sievethatcanbe
made to exhibit plasticity (putty-like properties) within a range
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identification and
Classification of Soils.
2
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2000. Published May 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
e1 3
published as D 2488 – 66 T. Last previous edition D 2488 – 93 . Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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D 2488
with Test Method D 2487 where two symbols are required. Two symbols
of water contents, and that exhibits considerable strength when
arerequiredwhenthesoilhasbetween5and12
...