ASTM D2488-09a

Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The descriptive information required in this practice can be used to describe a soil to aid in the evaluation of its significant properties for engineering use.
The descriptive information required in this practice should be used to supplement the classification of a soil as determined by Test Method D 2487.
This practice may be used in identifying soils using the classification group symbols and names as prescribed in Test Method D 2487. Since the names and symbols used in this practice to identify the soils are the same as those used in Test Method D 2487, it shall be clearly stated in reports and all other appropriate documents, that the classification symbol and name are based on visual-manual procedures.
This practice is to be used not only for identification of soils in the field, but also in the office, laboratory, or wherever soil samples are inspected and described.
This practice has particular value in grouping similar soil samples so that only a minimum number of laboratory tests need be run for positive soil classification.
Note 4—The ability to describe and identify soils correctly is learned more readily under the guidance of experienced personnel, but it may also be acquired systematically by comparing numerical laboratory test results for typical soils of each type with their visual and manual characteristics.
When describing and identifying soil samples from a given boring, test pit, or group of borings or pits, it is not necessary to follow all of the procedures in this practice for every sample. Soils which appear to be similar can be grouped together; one sample completely described and identified with the others referred to as similar based on performing only a few of the descriptive and identification procedures described in this practice.
This practice may be used in combination with Practice D 4083 when working with frozen soils.
Note 5—Notwithstanding the statements on precision and bias contained in this standard: The prec...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the description of soils for engineering purposes.  
1.2 This practice also describes a procedure for identifying soils, at the option of the user, based on the classification system described in Test Method D 2487. The identification is based on visual examination and manual tests. It must be clearly stated in reporting an identification that it is based on visual-manual procedures.  
1.2.1 When precise classification of soils for engineering purposes is required, the procedures prescribed in Test Method D 2487 shall be used.
1.2.2 In this practice, the identification portion assigning a group symbol and name is limited to soil particles smaller than 3 in. (75 mm).
1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited to naturally occurring soils (either intact or disturbed).
Note 1—This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. (see Appendix X2).  
1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be used with other soil classification systems or for materials other than naturally occurring soils.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements see Section 8.  
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this pra...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2009
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.07 - Identification and Classification of Soils

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2488-09 - Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Replaced By: ASTM D2488-17 - Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedures)
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D2487-17e1 - Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D4546-21 - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Swell or Collapse of Soils
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D3550/D3550M-17 - Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1668-16(2022) - Standard Guide for Construction Procedures for Buried Plastic Pipe
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5092/D5092M-16 - Standard Practice for Design and Installation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D4648/D4648M-16 - Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for Saturated<brk/>Fine-Grained Clayey Soil
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D1452/D1452M-16 - Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2435/D2435M-11(2020) - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D6528-17 - Standard Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Direct Simple Shear Testing of Fine Grain Soils
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2850-23 - Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression Test on Cohesive Soils
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D1140-17 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Amount of Material Finer than 75-μm (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D1586/D1586M-18e1 - Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D8153-22 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Soil Water Contents Using a Dielectric Permittivity Probe
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D2488 −09a
Standard Practice for
Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual
1
Procedure)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2488; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the description of
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
soils for engineering purposes.
withprofessionaljudgment.Notallaspectsofthispracticemay
1.2 This practice also describes a procedure for identifying
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
soils, at the option of the user, based on the classification
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
system described in Test Method D2487. The identification is
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
based on visual examination and manual tests. It must be
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
clearly stated in reporting an identification that it is based on
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
visual-manual procedures.
title of this document means only that the document has been
1.2.1 When precise classification of soils for engineering
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
purposes is required, the procedures prescribed in Test Method
D2487 shall be used.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2.2 In this practice, the identification portion assigning a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
group symbol and name is limited to soil particles smaller than
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
3 in. (75 mm).
Fluids
1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited to
D1452 Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling byAuger
naturally occurring soils (either intact or disturbed).
Borings
NOTE 1—This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to
D1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-
suchmaterialsasshale,claystone,shells,crushedrock,etc.(seeAppendix
Barrel Sampling of Soils
X2).
D1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for
1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be used
Geotechnical Purposes
withothersoilclassificationsystemsorformaterialsotherthan
D2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of
naturally occurring soils.
Rock for Site Investigation
D2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
and are not considered standard.
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D4083 Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Manual Procedure)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3. Terminology
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
3.1 Definitions:
precautionary statements see Section 8.
3.1.1 Except as listed below, all definitions are in accor-
dance with Terminology D653.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identification and
2
Classification of Soils. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved June 15, 2009. Published July 2009. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D2488 – 09. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D2488-09A. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D2488−09a
NOTE 2—For particles retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) US standard sieve,
the soil has properties which do not distinctly place it into a
the following definitions are suggested:
specific group, borderline symbols may be used, see Appendix
Cob
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D 2488–00 Designation: D2488 – 09a
Standard Practice for
Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual
1
Procedure)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2488; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (ϵ) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the description of soils for engineering purposes.
1.2 This practice also describes a procedure for identifying soils, at the option of the user, based on the classification system
described in Test Method D 2487D2487. The identification is based on visual examination and manual tests. It must be clearly
stated in reporting an identification that it is based on visual-manual procedures.
1.2.1 When precise classification of soils for engineering purposes is required, the procedures prescribed in Test Method D
2487D2487 shall be used.
1.2.2 In this practice, the identification portion assigning a group symbol and name is limited to soil particles smaller than 3
in. (75 mm).
1.2.3The identification portion of this practice is limited to naturally occurring soils (disturbed and undisturbed).
1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited to naturally occurring soils (either intact or disturbed).
NOTE 1—This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied to such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. (seeAppendix X2).
1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be used with other soil classification systems or for materials other than
naturally occurring soils.
1.4The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements see Section 8.
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be
applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s
many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through
the ASTM consensus process.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D1452 Practice for Soil InvestigationExploration and Sampling by Auger Borings
D1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
D1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
2
D2113 Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Investigation Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for
Site Investigation
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identification and
Classification of Soils.
ϵ1
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2000. Published May 2000. Originally published as D 2488–66T. Last previous edition D 2488–93 .
Current edition approved June 15, 2009. Published July 2009. Originally approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D2488 – 09. DOI:
10.1520/D2488-09A.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 04.08.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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