2.2 Perform Soil/ Geotechnical and Geological Analysis Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three types of rocks?

A

Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Soil formation process creates layers called

A

Horizons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the soil horizons in layers?

A

0, A, B, C, D

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

O horizon

A

Organic matter in recognizable form, including leaves and partially decomposed matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

A horizon

A

Topsoil layer. Heavy non-recognizable organic matter mixed with minerals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

B Horizon

A

Subsoil. Nutrients left by rain water leaching, hardpans & clay pans develop here.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

C Horizon

A

Partially weathered rock fragments; Represents the unconsolidated material that has not been affected by the soil formation process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

D horizon

A

Bedrock or Ledge. `

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Used to determine the amount of nutrients in the soil

A

Soil test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Summary report of the exploration of the subsurface soils and how they are to. be used as construction materials

A

Geotechnical Reports

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What percentage of clay soils must have clay particles?

A

35-40%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Capacity of soil to support loads applied to the ground. Maximum average contact pressure between a structure and the soil surface on which it rests that the soil can support without failure

A

Bearing capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bearing Capacity (low to high)

A
Clay (1-2 tons/ sqft)
Silt (1.5-3)
Sand (loose, 2-3)
Gravel (loose, 4)
Sand-gravel (compact, 6)
Well graded, well compacted clayey sand and gravel (10)
Sedimentary rock (15)
Foliated rocks (40)
Massive bedrock (100)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

If there is presence of significant ammounts of water in the soil, what does it do?

A

Lowers the bearing capacity (especially in clays and silts).

It lowers the frictional forces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Very strong when dry, but become. mushy when saturated with water

A

Clay soils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Soil types smalles to largest

A

Clay (< 0.002mm)
Silt (0.002 - 0.05 mm)
Fine Sand (0.05-0.5 mm)
Coarse Sand (0.5-2.0 mm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe Sandy Soils

A
Over 45% Sand
Drains quickly
Light weight
Non-expansive
Erodable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe Silty Soils

A

Over 40% silt
Small grain size
Moderate permeability
Highly erodable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe Clayey Soils

A

35-40% clay
Lowe permeability or impermeable
Heavy weight
Expansive: heaves, shrinks (swells when wet, shrinks when dry)
Low water availability at low moisture content
Collodial content describes presence of clay particles in samples
Erodable to highly erodable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Suspension of finely divided particles in a dispersing medium; particles do not rapidly settle out of suspension and are not readily filtered

A

Colloid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe Loam Soils

A

Less than 40% clay with a good particle size distribution
HIghly valuable agricultural soil
Very good drainage, moderately permeable, high water holding capacity
Slight erosion potential, 0-3% slope
Highly fertile
Easily worked

22
Q

Soil amendment used to improve soil structure. Reduces salt toxicity in soils that are heavily irrigated. Provides sulfur and calcium to the soil and improves permeability. Does not significantly affect soil pH

A

Gypsum

23
Q

What percentatge of moisture is best when needing to till or compact?

A

8-15%

24
Q

Low pH
Usually have a high percentage of organic matter
Often associated with high rainfall

A

Acidic soils

25
Q

Reasons for having acidic soils

A
  • Rainfall and leaching
  • Acidic parent material (granite)
  • Organic matter decay
  • Harvest of high yielding crops
26
Q

What happens in wet climates & how does that create acidic soils?

A

Rainfall leaches a soils basic elements (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) over time, and are replaced with acidic elements. High yielding crops rapidly absorb basic elements

27
Q

High ph 7-14
Heavy in salts and other solutes
Usually associated with low rainfall

A

Alkaline/ Basic

28
Q

Reasons for having basic soils?

A
  • Soil is derived from a basic parent material such as limestone
  • Located in a climate where the alkaline elements are not leached out by rain
29
Q

Amendments to make soils less acidic

A

Lime
Pine needles
Organic material

30
Q

Amendments to make soil less basic

A

aLuminum sulfate

sulfur

31
Q

Best soil for plants?

A

6.5-7.5

32
Q

List of Macronutrients

A
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
33
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Responsible for the vegetative growth of plants above ground.
Rich dark green foliage
Helps seed and fruit production

If deficient, plant tends to have a pale yellowish color (chlorosis), have a stunted appearance, develop thin, spindly stems. Lower leaves more affected.

Natural sources come from alfalfa meal, manure

A

Nitrogen

34
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Promotes healthy strong roots, fruit and flower development, and greater resistance to disease. Enhances photosynthesis, root growth.

If deficient, plant is usually stunted, thin stemmed, and spindly. Foliage is often red or purple.

Natural sources include rock phosphate and bone meal

A

Phosporous

35
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Helps plants resist diseases, protects them from the cold and protects during dry weather by preventing excessive water loss.
Plays a critical role in reducing the loss of water from leaves and increases the ability of roots to take up water from the soil.
Helps with environmental stresses

Signs of deficiency are tips and edges of oldest leaves begin to yellow and die (burned on tthe edges)

Natural sources include potassium sulfate, granite dust, wood ash

A

Potassium

36
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Essential part of cell wall structure, provides for normal transport and retention of other elements as well as strength in the plant

Deficiency symotoms: deformed tips of leaves and little root growth

A

Calcium (think strength of bones)

37
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Essential for photosynthesis. Activates many plant enzymes for growth

Deficiency symptoms: yellowing of leaves, purple leaf margins

A

Magnesium

38
Q

MACRO NUTRIENT
Essential for production of protein. Helps in chlorophyll formation. Improves root growth and seed production. Helps with vigorous plant growth and resistence to cold

Deficiency symptoms: yellow and brown leaves

A

Sulfur

39
Q

What are the 6 micronutrients?

A
Iron
Maganese
Zinc
Copper
Boron
Molybdium
40
Q

Surface of clay particles and organic matter are negatively charged and as such are capable of storing and supplying plant nutrients, which are positively charged.

Once mineral cations are absorbed onto soil particle surfaces, they are less likely to leach.

A high number of this indicates high soil fertility

A

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

41
Q

Soil Cation Exchange Capacity generally ____ as pH ____. Acidic soils tend to not have a high a CEC.

A

Increases, increases

42
Q

Formed by the cooling of liquid magma (molten rock).
Two types:
extrusive - rock cools quickly when brought to surface; fine grained (ex. basalt)
intrusive - “ “ slowly “ “ ; coarse grained (ex. granite)

A

igneous

43
Q

Formed by sedimentation of material at the earth’s surface and within bodies of water. Based on their depositional mode

Examples include Conglomerate (mechanically eroded), Sandstone, shale, and siltstone (mechanically eroded)

Limestone (chemically precipitated)

A

Sedimentary

44
Q

Transformed from other rock materials in response to pressure or temperature

Two types:

  • Foliated - distinctive layering (ex. gneiss and slate)
  • non-foliated - (ex. Quartzite and marble)
A

Metamorphic

45
Q

Movement of sand along a coastline due to wave and tidal action

A

Litoral drift

46
Q

Blue or gray color of soil

A

Lack of air in soil / poor drainage

47
Q

Yellow and red color of soil

A

Good drainage! Caused by iron oxides

48
Q

Light colors in upper soil

A

Nutrient and iron leaching due to high percolation rates, or high levels of calcium carbonates

49
Q

Dark colors in the surface layer of soil

A

Presence of organic matter

50
Q

Evaluations of risk for conditions of possible environmental contamination, usually performed as part of a commercial real estate transaction.

Under federal law, a landowner is liable of environmental conditions on his property whether they had knowledge or not.

Usually occurs before purchase of land

A

Environmental Site Assesment (ESA)

51
Q

Walk through of the site typically using a checklist that conforms to ASTM E-1528.
Performed by a site professioinal.

A

Transaction Screen