ASTM D2488-06

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Designation: D 2488 – 06
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
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
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
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).
Sampling of Soils
1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited to
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils
naturally occurring soils (disturbed and undisturbed).
for Geotechnical Purposes
NOTE 1—This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to
D2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of
such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. (seeAppendix
Rock for Site Investigation
X2).
D 2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be used
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
withothersoilclassificationsystemsorformaterialsotherthan
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
naturally occurring soils.
Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
as the standard.
D 4083 Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Manual Procedure)
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Terminology
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1 Definitions—Except as listed below, all definitions are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
in accordance with Terminology D 653.
precautionary statements see Section 8.
NOTE 2—For particles retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) US standard sieve,
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
the following definitions are suggested:
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
Cobbles—particles of rock that will pass a 12-in. (300-mm) square
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
opening and be retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve, and
withprofessionaljudgment.Notallaspectsofthispracticemay
Boulders—particles of rock that will not pass a 12-in. (300-mm) square
opening.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
2
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identification and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Classification of Soils. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2006. Published November 2006. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D 2488 – 00. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D2488–06
Dual Symbol—A dual symbol is two symbols separated by a hyphen,
3.1.1 clay—soilp
...