USCS Calibrated Baseline Soil Kit

A one-of-a-kind collection of calibrated soil samples designed to help test your soil classification and texturing analysis in the field using:

• Unified Soil Classification System
• USDA Soil Textures

This kit is the most powerful tool ever designed for learning how to classify soil with accuracy and confidence! This unique collection of soil samples is classified using not only the USDA and USCS, but includes instructions and helpful hints for simplifying classification procedures in the field.

What's included:

• 5 Soil Samples, 200+ ml each.
• Lab Summary Sheet showing particle size curve data and Atterberg Limits.
• Sample Summary that describes both the USCS lab and field classification for each sample, plus a comparison of between samples that explains how each may be differentiated from the other according to both USCS and USDA; also includes a description of the source and preparation for each sample.
• USDA triangle showing textural results.
• Field Guide for Soil and Stratigraphic Analysis.
• USDA Soil Texturing Field Flow Chart.
• Exercise Sheet for USCS classification.
• Exercise Sheet for USDA textures.
• 3 double-sided laminated field sheets of 'Helpful Hints'.
• Plastic jar containers with lids and labels.

What makes this soil kit so beneficial?
Natural soils can occur as every conceivable mix of sand, silt, clay, and gravel. Classifying them in the USCS and determining their texture in the USDA classification is easier if you're familiar with the end member, or baseline, classification. Easily practice and calibrate your familiarity with baseline soil classifications. Plus you can quickly compare which end member classification most closely resembles the natural soil. The USCS Calibrated Baseline Soil Kit provides these important end member samples.

Spectrum of Benefits:

• See and feel the primary baseline USCS soil classifications.
• Feel the contrast between SILT (ML), LEAN CLAY (CL) and FAT CLAY (CH).
• See and feel each fine grained sample without interference from secondary sand fractions.
• Learn to differentiate WELL GRADED SAND (SW) from POORLY GRADED SAND (SP) in the field.
• Practice classifying soil accurately, efficiently and with reproducible results.
• See and feel soil samples that plot "on the corners" of the USDA triangle.
• Improve the reliability of your USDA soil texturing skills.
• Learn the contrasting differences between soil texturing and soil classification procedures.
• Stop over-relying and mis-using on the USCS classification of "Silty Clay" and discover how to identify the accurate classification using standard procedures.
• Discover the differences between USCS lab and field classifications.
• Create field efficiencies through practicing your soil classification skills.
• Improve your project profitability while raising reliability of your work, and lowering the risk of a wrong soil classification.
• Test yourself and your colleagues.

What makes this soil kit so different?
The clay sample exceeds 90 percent clay and the silt sample exceeds 90 silt. How long do you think it took to find soil sources that would repeatedly reproduce those test results? Each fine grained soil sample yields less than 10 percent coarse-grained fraction so you can feel each baseline sample without interference from coarse-grained sediments. The two sand samples are washed and designed at the precise grain-size to yield contrasting Well Graded Sand and Poorly Graded Sand. Plus, each sample relates differently to their USDA counterpart for an exquisite teaching example.