2.2 Perform Soil/ Geotechnical and Geological Analysis

Question 1

What are the three types of rocks?

Answer 1

Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic

Question 2

Soil formation process creates layers called

Answer 2

Horizons

Question 3

What are the soil horizons in layers?

Answer 3

0, A, B, C, D

Question 4

O horizon

Answer 4

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

Question 5

A horizon

Answer 5

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

Question 6

B Horizon

Answer 6

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

Question 7

C Horizon

Answer 7

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

Question 8

D horizon

Answer 8

Bedrock or Ledge. `

Question 9

Used to determine the amount of nutrients in the soil

Answer 9

Soil test

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Geotechnical Reports

Question 11

What percentage of clay soils must have clay particles?

Answer 11

35-40%

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Bearing capacity

Question 13

Bearing Capacity (low to high)

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

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

Answer 14

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

It lowers the frictional forces

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Clay soils

Question 16

Soil types smalles to largest

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Describe Sandy Soils

Answer 17

Over 45% Sand
Drains quickly
Light weight
Non-expansive
Erodable

Question 18

Describe Silty Soils

Answer 18

Over 40% silt
Small grain size
Moderate permeability
Highly erodable

Question 19

Describe Clayey Soils

Answer 19

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Colloid

Question 21

Describe Loam Soils

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Gypsum

Question 23

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

Answer 23

8-15%

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Acidic soils

Question 25

Reasons for having acidic soils

Answer 25

- Rainfall and leaching - Acidic parent material (granite) - Organic matter decay - Harvest of high yielding crops

Question 26

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

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Alkaline/ Basic

Question 28

Reasons for having basic soils?

Answer 28

- 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

Question 29

Amendments to make soils less acidic

Answer 29

Lime Pine needles Organic material

Question 30

Amendments to make soil less basic

Answer 30

aLuminum sulfate | sulfur

Question 31

Best soil for plants?

Answer 31

6.5-7.5

Question 32

List of Macronutrients

Answer 32

``` Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium Sulfur ```

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Nitrogen

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Phosporous

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Potassium

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Calcium (think strength of bones)

Question 37

MACRO NUTRIENT Essential for photosynthesis. Activates many plant enzymes for growth Deficiency symptoms: yellowing of leaves, purple leaf margins

Answer 37

Magnesium

Question 38

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

Answer 38

Sulfur

Question 39

What are the 6 micronutrients?

Answer 39

``` Iron Maganese Zinc Copper Boron Molybdium ```

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

Question 41

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

Answer 41

Increases, increases

Question 42

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)

Answer 42

igneous

Question 43

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)

Answer 43

Sedimentary

Question 44

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)

Answer 44

Metamorphic

Question 45

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

Answer 45

Litoral drift

Question 46

Blue or gray color of soil

Answer 46

Lack of air in soil / poor drainage

Question 47

Yellow and red color of soil

Answer 47

Good drainage! Caused by iron oxides

Question 48

Light colors in upper soil

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Dark colors in the surface layer of soil

Answer 49

Presence of organic matter

Question 50

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

Answer 50

Environmental Site Assesment (ESA)

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Transaction Screen