Three simple tests to determine the proportions of gravel, sand and fine particles in a soil sample:

(1) Vibration test

Figure 1 shows an easy way to separate particles according to their respective sizes. First, place a dry sample on a board or a piece
of cardboard. When you lift this board at one end and tap it slightly, the particles will be separated as the difference in weight will
cause the finer ones to stay high and coarser ones to move downward.

Fig 1. Vibration test
If there are a lot of different sizes between the largest and the smallest, the sample is well graded. If only a few sizes can be seen,
the sample is single-sized or poorly graded. Single-sized materials do not compact well, because there are no suitably sized small
particles to fill the empty spaces between the bigger particles and to produce mechanical interlock.
(2) Settling test
An easily carried out method to define the proportions of the various soil fractions is the settling test (figure 2). A sample is placed
in a glass jar with straight sides. Approximately half of the jar should be filled. Then water is added until the jar is three-quarters
full. Add some salt to the water, as this will improve the settling of the finer materials. The jar is shaken vigorously and the soil is
allowed to settle.

Fig 2
The gravel and coarse sand fractions will settle immediately. The finer sand and the coarse silt fractions settle more slowly, taking
approximately half a minute. The clay and fine silt fractions will remain in suspension for some hours before they settle. The
approximate quantities of each size can be seen as layers in the sample.
(3) Cohesion test
To determine whether a soil contains an important quantity of silts or clays, a handful of moistened soil should be moulded into a
ball. When silts or clays are present, the ball will stay together and the hands will be stained. When the sample contains only fine
sand the ball will stick together but will crumble at a touch. Then when the sample contains only coarse sand or gravel, the material
cannot be moulded at all.
The above tests have shown how you can determine the proportions of coarse and fine particles and define whether silt or clay is
present. We will now discuss three tests designed to define the clay and silt proportions within the fines fraction of the soil.
Silts and clays
Dry lumps of silt will tend to crumble and disintegrate into a fine powder when rubbed. Dry silt will rapidly absorb water.
Dry lumps of clay will be hard when a lump of clay is broken into smaller lumps; the exposed surfaces will have a glossy appearance.
Dry clay will not rapidly absorb water. The following tests can be used to find out if a soil consists of clay:
Moulding test
When moistened, it will be possible to mould clay into a thread, Moist silt, however, will crumble or form small short threads
(figure 3).

Fig 3
Drying test
Fill a matchbox with a moistened sample and allow the sample to dry out.
Fig 4

Moist clay

Dry clay
Figure 4 shows that clay after drying out will have shrunk and cracked. Silt will not shrink, but tends to crumble after it has dried.
As we have said before, many soils are mixtures of various fractions. This means that the results of the tests described above can
only provide indications as to the behaviour which can be expected from these soils. Laboratory tests will always be necessary
when a detailed soil classification is required.
To summarise the above tests, it can be said that:
(1) Coarse grain soils can be identified by the size of the particles.
(2) Fine grain soils can be identified by their behaviour when they are wet or dry.
(3) Organic soils can be identified by their smell and appearance.
Table 2 shows how you can describe different soils after testing.
Figure 5 shows the various steps to be taken when a soil sample is tested.