ASTM D4544-86(1996)e1

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or
withdrawn. Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
Designation: D 4544 – 86 (Reapproved 1996)
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Estimating Peat Deposit Thickness
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4544; 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.
e NOTE—Section 1.3 was added editorially in January 1999.
1. Scope the thickness and areal extent of peat can be defined and the
volume of peat may be calculated.
1.1 This practice uses a technique of probing to estimate the
4.2 Sampling of the peat may be required to determine the
thickness of surficial peat deposits overlying mineral soil or
peat characteristics.
bedrock. These estimates may be needed for energy, horticul-
tural, or geotechnical purposes.
5. Significance and Use
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 This practice allows the determination of the depth at
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
which the resistance to penetration of a pushed or driven rod
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
increases sharply. When the overlying material is peat and the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
underlying one is mineral soil or bedrock, the depth of change
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
may be interpreted as the thickness of peat. Successive areal
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
determinations of this depth, in combination with surface
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
measurements of the lateral extent of peat will allow calcula-
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
tion of the volume of peat in the deposit.
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
6. Interferences
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
6.1 Sampling of the zone of contact of peat with underlying
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
material is usually necessary to verify the interpretations of
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
material change from the rod penetration resistances.
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
6.2 Where the peat − mineral transition zone is of signifi-
title of this document means only that the document has been
cant thickness, or where the peat is underlain by soft clays or
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
marls, further sampling and testing will be required (see 7.2).
2. Referenced Documents 6.3 The frequency of sampling is highly dependent upon the
physical details of the deposit.
2.1 NRC Canada Document:
6.4 Penetration of the rod may be prevented by wood pieces
Peat Testing Manual
in the peat deposit. Data should be examined and rechecked if
3. Terminology this occurrence is suspected.
6.5 The thin and flexible nature of the rod strings will limit
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
the depths of penetrating and sampling.
3.1.1 peat—a naturally occurring organic substance derived
primarily from plant materials.
7. Apparatus
4. Summary of Practice 7.1 Graduated Steel Rods—Penetration is achieved with
graduated steel rods of 9.5 6 1.0-mm diameter and 1.0 or
4.1 The resistance to penetration of a pushed or driven rod
1.2-m length, which can be threaded together to penetrate a
will increase sharply at the boundary of a peat layer with
range of thickness. The rods are ringed at 200-mm intervals for
underlying mineral soil or bedrock.
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