SOIL AND SOIL AGGREGATES

Water
Soil
Unconsolidated mineral material
at or near the earths surface which
consist of air moisture and other
organic substance which may be
incorporated therein and which have
resulted from natural process such as
decay, weathering and other chemical
action.
Rock
Natural solid mineral matter
occurring in large masses of fragment
Broken Rock angular fragments
of rock which will be retained on
a 75mm (3) sieve
Soil Aggregates
Natural or prepares mixtures
consisting predominantly of stone,
gravel or sand containing silt clay
(0.075mm or passing No. 200 sieve)
material.
Other material
Binder (Soil binder)
o Portion of soil passing
0.425mm (#40) sieve
Silt-Clay materials
o Fine soil particles which will
pass the 0.075mm (#200)
sieve.
Soil Composition
Air
Minerals
Organic matter
The relative proportions of these
constituents greatly influence the
behavior and productivity of soils
Mineral Constituents
Various mineral particles (particles
of weathered parent material)
Constituents:
o Sand
o Silt
o Clay
Different mixtures of these result
in various soil textures
Organic Matters
Wide range of carbonaceous
substances including living
organisms, remains of organisms
and compounds produces by
current and past metabolism in the
soil.
Organic matter is lost to the soil
over time as CO2, which is
produced by microbial respiration
The influence of organic matter in
soil properties is far greater than
its low percent by weight and
volume would suggest.
Importance: Engineering Medium
Most structures rest on soil, most
construction projects require
excavation into the soil.
Some soils not as stable as others