Specific Gravity of Soil
Specific Gravity of Soil
The specific gravity is the ratio between the weight per unit volume of the material and the weight per unit volume of water at a stated temperature, usually 20°C. There are three ways of determining and expressing specific gravity; specific gravity of the solids, the apparent specific gravity, or the bulk specific gravity. The specific gravity of the solid substance of most inorganic soils varies between 2.60 and 2.80. Tropical iron-rich laterite as well as some lateritic soils will generally have a specific gravity of 3.0 or more. Sand particles composed of quartz have a specific gravity around 2.65. Clays generally range from 2.68 to 2.75, but can have values as high as 3.50. The solids of soil particles are composed of minerals. Generally these minerals will have a specific gravity greater than 2.60. Therefore, values of specific gravity smaller than 2.60 indicate the possible presence of organic matter.
The specific gravity is the ratio between the weight per unit volume of the material and the weight per unit volume of water at a stated temperature, usually 20°C. There are three ways of determining and expressing specific gravity; specific gravity of the solids, the apparent specific gravity, or the bulk specific gravity. The specific gravity of the solid substance of most inorganic soils varies between 2.60 and 2.80. Tropical iron-rich laterite as well as some lateritic soils will generally have a specific gravity of 3.0 or more. Sand particles composed of quartz have a specific gravity around 2.65. Clays generally range from 2.68 to 2.75, but can have values as high as 3.50. The solids of soil particles are composed of minerals. Generally these minerals will have a specific gravity greater than 2.60. Therefore, values of specific gravity smaller than 2.60 indicate the possible presence of organic matter.
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